Vain Tears At the surface, it seems like a very unfair response, recorded in the Talmud: The Torah—in Numbers and again in this week’s portion of Devarim—relates how when the twelve spies returned from scouting the Land of Canaan...
On April 11, 1944, a young Anne Frank wrote in her diary: Who has made us Jews different from all other people? Who has allowed us to suffer so terribly until now? It is God Who has made...
Leading to the sad day of Tisha B’Av, we read Haftarot with the rebukes of the prophecies. These rebukes are meant for us, and we should take them seriously. At the same time, it’s worthwhile to learn from...
Dear Rabbi and Shira, Thank you so much for your column. I enjoy reading it each week. I have been in the dating parsha for about a year now. My problem is...
In this issue we will discuss the halachos nine days. During the nine days we are not allowed to do many more actions than those that are customarily not done from Shivah Asar B’Tammuz through during the time before Rosh Chodesh...
I. Four Exemptions Soldiers in the field are often pressed for time and lack access to basic necessities like water. Of course, they have to eat to sustain their strength. Must a soldier wash his hands ritually before...
ONE POT MUSHROOM SPINACH ARTICHOKE PASTA INGREDIENTS: 12 ounces fettuccine 1 (14-ounce) can quartered artichoke hearts, drained 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, thinly sliced 1 large onion, thinly sliced 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced 1/2 teaspoon dried basil 1/4...
One of the prohibitions that apply on Tishah B’Av is that we do not wear normal shoes. In the olden days, people would walk about barefoot on Tishah B’Av, whereas nowadays we have non-leather shoes or slippers...
“You have enough, circle the mountain, and turn to the north (tzafonah).” (Devarim 2:3) The Kli Yakar lived during a time when the Jews enjoyed prosperity, and he did not approve of the way they dealt with it. He...
During the Nine Days, we practice habits of mourning over the destruction of our two Batei Mikdashos, our two Temples, and the millions of Jewish lives that were lost in the wake of their ruin. The Gemora teaches us...