I. The Promise This week, Israel is celebrating the 78th anniversary of its independence. It was not always a given that there would be a first anniversary, much less a 78th. But Rav Yitzchak Herzog was personally convinced that...
A fable is told of an egg in an eagle’s nest high in the branches of a towering tree, that fell out of the nest and landed in the middle of a chicken coup. It soon...
The end of Parshas Achrei Mos contains the section of the Parsha that deals with forbidden relationships (Arayos). This parsha, which is also read during the Mincha service of Yom Kippur, is introduced with the exhortation “Like the deeds...
As we engage in the seasonal mitzvah of counting the sefira and observe the national period of mourning for the tragic deaths of the 24,000 disciples of Rabbi Akiva, we should take the time to reflect upon what...
And Hashem spoke to Moshe after the death of Aharon’s two sons, when they drew close to the presence of Hashem and they died. Vayikra 16:1 Introduction Due to the Jewish community’s generosity and desire to help others during difficult times,...
I was tossed 15 feet by an unexpected gust of wind into the street with moving cars and sustained serious injuries requiring a joint replacement. I wrote a piece from the heart which I...
The Kohen shall order two live pure birds, cedar wood, crimson stuff, and hyssop to be brought for the one to be purified. Vayikra 14:4 Since tzara’as comes as a punishment for slander, which is done by chattering, birds are...
Think before you tweet.A most unusual ritual is performed as part of the purification process of a Metzora, a person stricken with tzaraas as a consequence of speaking lashon hara. Two identical birds are brought: one is...
The Pesach memories are slowly fading. Our calendar is moving on. We are in the midst of counting Sefira, the days leading up to Shavuos, the yom tov commemorating HaShem’s giving us the Torah,...
Where Is G-d? A couple had two little mischievous boys, ages 8 and 10. They were always getting into trouble, and their parents knew that if any mischief occurred in their town, their sons would get the blame. The boys’...