The Midrash (Vayikra Rabba) teaches that on Rosh Hashanah, G-d sits on the “throne of judgment,” ready to carefully judge and scrutinize every individual. But when we sound the shofar, G-d rises from the “throne of judgment”...
This week, the final Shabbos of 5784, we read parshas Nitzavim and Vayeilech. Nitzavim opens, “Atem nitzavim hayom kulchem...
On Rosh Hashanah we produce three sounds via the shofar. The first sound is called tekiah, a single whole note. The second is shevarim, three shorter “broken” notes, which sound like three sighs. The third is called teruah, nine...
If you submitted the script to Hollywood, it would be rejected for being too outrageous and unbelievable. If you proposed it as a plan, it would likely be dismissed for being too high risk, with too many things...
As the war in Lebanon has raged on for nearly a year, recent explosions have taken a significant turn, neutralizing thousands of Hezbollah’s advanced fighters and high-ranking commanders. This blow to the terrorist group, which poses a serious and...
Dear Rabbi and Shira, I have been dating a guy for 2 months now. We really get along well, but I am curious to meet his family. I feel like meeting his...
This week’s parsha contains the terrible Tochacha – the 98 curses delineated in graphic detail, through which the Almighty warns us of what we will be subject to if we do not keep His Torah. Before the Tochacha begins, the...
As we go about reflecting on our lives getting ready for Rosh Hashannah, the Day of Judgement, it is imperative to think about the following Gemara in the beginning of Masechtas Berachos. The Gemara mandates, “L’olam yirgaz adom yeitzer...
Shulchan Aruch teaches that ideally, a shofar should come from a ram, and it should be bent. The Mishnah Berurah explains that the shofar should be from a ram to arouse Heaven’s memory of akeidas Yitzchak, and it should be bent...
Parashat Ki-Tabo begins with the Misva of Bikkurim, which requires landowners to bring their first ripened fruits to the Bet Ha’mikdash, and present them to a Kohen. The Torah commands, “Ve’samta Ba’teneh” – that the fruits must...