This week’s parshah tells us of Balak, King of Moav, and Bilaam, a sorcerer and practitioner of black magic. Balak saw Bnei Yisroel’s large encampment, their vast number of tents, and...
As summer approaches there is an annual migration to our favorite vacation spots. In the tristate area, over a half million people make the annual pilgrimage to the Catskills summer...
I. Close Your Ears The Gemara in Kesubos (5a-b) says, “What does it mean: ‘And you shall have a shovel among your weapons (azenekha)’ (Deut. 23:14)? Do not read it as:...
In his book “Other People’s Money and How Bankers Use It,” Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis famously wrote, “Publicity is justly commended as a remedy for social and industrial diseases....
In this weeks parasha, Parashat Balak, the prophet Bilam, who intended to curse the Jewish people, looked out upon them and declared "How fair are your tents, O Jacob, Your dwellings, O Israel" (Bamidbar 24:5). In many prayer books, the...
There are many halachos which apply to leaving food in the hands of a non-Jew. Is there a difference between sending food in the hands of a non-Jew and basar shenisalem min ha’ayin? Which foods does this halacha apply...
Bilam ha'rasha was a novi, but at the same time he is always referred to as Bilam ha'rasha - the evil one. One may wonder - was his external appearance that of a novi or that of a...
Parshas Balak contains the well-known story of Balak the King of Moav worrying about the imminent approach of the Jewish people. Moav correctly surmised that, given the fate of the...
A person was heading to his friend's home to request a loan. As he walked, he thought to himself, "Nah, he won't give me a loan. He'll chase me away, and I will be embarrassed that I even...
Our kids are growing up in a very, very scary world. The devices they carry in their pockets enable them to see EVERYTHING. Which means they are aware of every major news story. They hear...