The Torah in Parashat Vaet’hanan (4:2) introduces the prohibitions known as “Bal Tosif” and “Bal Tigra” – adding onto the Torah’s laws and detracting from the Torah’s laws. Rashi explains that this refers to adding onto or detracting...
Last week, wildfire smoke took over the skies in the US Northeast. It was eerie. The sun turn apocalyptic red. What was a vibrant blue sky, with puffs of white clouds, became a milky-white...
Yosef Vs. Moshe “G-d became angry with me because of you, and He did not listen to me,” Moshe states in the beginning of this week’s parsha (Vaeschanan). “G-d said to me, ‘It is too much for you! Do...
After rising for many years, the divorce rate in the United States today is lower than it was a decade ago. But before you celebrate, the reason is not because of a sudden increase in blissful marriages; it’s...
I. Secession and Authority On July 28, 1876 — 150 years ago — the Prussian parliament passed a law allowing secession from a Jewish community without formally renouncing affiliation with Judaism. Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch had lobbied heavily for this...
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...
Once, as I was giving a class about the halachot of Tishah B’Av, I mentioned the law regarding work on this day – that Halachah permits working on Tishah B’Av, but the Rabbis teach that one who...
You shall not light a fire in all of your settlements on the Shabbos day. Shemos 35:3 Introduction Occasionally, one may find himself as a Shabbos guest in the home of someone who is not particularly knowledgeable regarding the...
It’s easy to accuse someone else of being defensive. It is no coincidence that Parshas Devarim is always read on the Shabbos before Tisha B’Av, as Moshe recounts the tragedy of the meraglim. Chazal teach that this episode...
The idea was good in my eyes. (1:23) Parashas Devarim begins with Moshe rabbeinu reviewing the main events that occurred in the 39 years since the Jewish People left Har Sinai. In recalling their request to send meraglim...