Is one permitted to bathe, take a haircut or listen to music on Taanis Esther? The Meiri (Sefer Magen Avos 23) writes that Taanis Esther is different than other communal...
When the Founding Fathers included the pursuit of happiness as an American right and entitlement, it is almost as if they conceded that happiness can be pursued, but it is unlikely to ever be attained. If you look around, you...
We read in the Megilla of how Ahashverosh wanted to repay Mordechai for saving his life, and he summoned Haman to ask him what would be an appropriate way of...
The mazal of the month of Adar is Dagim. The Klausenberger Rebbe zt’l said that this month, which is represented by fish, is a month of happiness, since while lions...
LEARNING FROM A UNCOUTH DICTATOR HOW TO CELEBRATE LIFE The Farmer A Texas farmer was touring England. He happened to meet an English farmer and asked him, “What size farm do you have?” The Englishman proudly announced, “Thirty-five acres!” “Thirty-five acres?”...
On the Shabbat before Purim – “Shabbat Zachor” – we fulfill the com mandment to remember Amalek’s attack on the Jewish People shortly after they left Egypt. This mitzvah is...
The Taz in his commentary on the Shulchan Aruch (end of Orach Chaim), quotes from the Mordechai the following: from the simple reading of the mishna in the first perek...
The last pasuk [verse] in the Megilla reads “For Mordechai, the Yehudi, was viceroy to King Ahashuerus; he was a great man among the Jews, and found favor with the multitude of his brothers (ratzui l’rov echav); he sought the...
INGREDIENTS: 11 ounces dark beer 3 tablespoons sesame seed oil 5 large cloves of gar1ic minced 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper 3-4 pounds...
INGREDIENTS: For kreplach dough: 2 cups flour Pinch of salt 2 eggs 1 T plus 1 t lukewarm water For the filling: 1/2 medium onion, chopped 1 lb. beef, chopped meat 1 egg Salt and pepper DIRECTIONS: On Purim its traditional to...