This article is dedicated to the memory of my longtime friend, Stephen Tolany, who passed away on May 14, 2026. I discussed this issue with him many times, and he repeatedly said that he admired this approach. I. Misplaced Priorities Religious...
It is customary on Shavuot to read Megilat Rut, which tells the famous story of Rut, a woman from the nation of Moav who decided to join the Jewish Nation. There is a certain irony in the...
If Not For This Day, We Would Just Be ‘Another Joe’ All brachos, with the exception of Birchas HaMazon, are Rabbinic in origin. However, The Shaagas Aryeh (Rav Aryeh Leib ben Asher Gunzberg; 1695-1785) argues that the bracha...
NO BAKE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE INGREDIENTS: For the crust: 2 cups crushed graham crackers 4 tablespoons melted butter 1 tablespoon sugar Cheesecake 16 oz chocolate - melted in microwave or double boiler 1/3 c sugar 12 oz cream cheese - must...
As we celebrate the wonderful Yomtov of Shavous, one of the things that we recall is the historical and admirable proclamation of Klal Yisroel, “Na’aseh v’Nishmah – We will do and we will listen.” This was such a monumental...
The purpose of mattan Torah is to believe in Hashem. As the Vilna Gaon zt’l (Mishlei 19:22) עיקר נתינת- התורה לישראל- הוא ,writes was Torah The “, בכדי שישימו -’בטחונם בה given, primarily, so that they...
If someone has only one oven at home and it is used for fleishigs, how can they bake milchig foods for Shavuos? The easiest option is to double-wrap the dairy food and make sure nothing leaks out...
And Yosef prepared his chariot and he went up to greet his father Yisrael. And he appeared to him and he fell on his neck and he wept profusely on his neck. ~ Rashi But Yaakov did not...
It turns out, Har Sinai wasn’t so small after all. Young children are taught many songs before Shavuos, including the classic where Har Sinai cries that it is not tall or wide enough to host Matan Torah. But...
Tradition teaches that the souls of all Jews who would ever live until the end of time were present at Mount Sinai when the Torah was given. This concept actually finds halachic expression, in the concept of “Mushba...