On April 16, 1986 reactor number four at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic suffered a catastrophic explosion that exposed the core and sent clouds...
Is It Not Insensitive to Interrupt Shivah for a Holiday? Interruption of Shivah A teaching in the Mishna defines the duties of a Jew who is in mourning at the outset of...
As we stood at Har Sinai, the Torah testifies that, “Vayichan sham Yisroel, neged haHar;” the Jews encamped in front of the mountain. The commentaries immediately pounce that the word...
There is a widespread custom to remain awake on Shavuos night to learn Torah. This custom spawns many halachic queries. Why should we stay up learning on Shavuos night? What...
A university professor once delivered a speech in front of a group of students, and he asked, “How many people in the room consider themselves leaders?” Very few students raised their...
It is customary on Shabuot to read Megilat Rut, and one of the reasons given for this custom is that Shabuot marks the Yahrtzeit of King David, and Megilat Rut...
The purpose of mattan Torah is to believe in Hashem. As the Vilna Gaon zt’l (Mishlei 19:22) writes, ידכב†אוה†לארשיל†הרותה†תניתנ†רקיע†הב†םנוחטב‘†ומישיש, “The Torah was given, primarily, so that they will place their...
The Magen Avraham in Orach Chaim 494:1 asks, how can we say that Shavuos, which comes out on Vov Sivan, is the time of Mattan Torah? We pasken like Reb...
A child‘s obligation to honor his parents necessarily infringes on that child’s freedom. Choosing a spouse is one of the most important decisions of a person’s life. On the one...
Why do we eat dairy on Shavuos? The Rama on Orach Chaim 494:3 quotes a widespread minhag to eat dairy foods on Shavuos. The Mishnah Berurah (ibid. s.k.12) proffers the famous...