13 Jan THE UPSHERIN
A male child’s first haircut is called an upsherin, which is taken from the German words “sherr” (cut) and “up” (off). It is also called chalakah. The mitzvah accomplished by cutting the hair is forming peyos on the child....
A male child’s first haircut is called an upsherin, which is taken from the German words “sherr” (cut) and “up” (off). It is also called chalakah. The mitzvah accomplished by cutting the hair is forming peyos on the child....
I. The Illusion of a Free Gift There is a fairly common practice for charity organizations to send people free gifts—calendars, books, Chanukah candles—and expect a donation in return. If you receive such a gift, are you required to...
Therefore, say to the Bnei Yisrael: I am Hashem. And I will take you out from under the burdens of Mitzrayim, and I will save you from their work, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm...
They don’t call them “the magic words” for nothing. Continuing our theme from last week, Rashi (Shemos 7:19) writes that Moshe Rabbeinu could not be the one to set off the plagues of blood and frogs by...
How could Moshe be the right man for the job?! We are so used to the idea of Moshe leading the Exodus, that we might not realize that he was, ostensibly, an inappropriate choice for the...
Hashem told Moshe to tell the nation (3:16) Pakod Pakadti Eschem, “I have surely remembered you...
Should a hashgacha put on the product they certify the beracha one should make on that product? We at the OU are constantly getting calls about what’s the right bracha. I’d say the two...
Parashat Shemot tells of the Egyptians’ enslavement of Beneh Yisrael. We read that as Beneh Yisrael rapidly reproduced, and their population grew, Pharaoh feared that they would turn against the empire and join with Egypt’s enemies. He thus...
The Inaugural Vision The inaugural vision in which Moshe was appointed to become the leader of the Jewish Nation and its eternal teacher, we should assume, contains within it the essence of Judaism. Moshe, shepherding his father-in-law’s sheep in the Sinai...