The Smuggler Tony comes up to the Mexican border on his bicycle. He’s got two large bags over his shoulders. Joe, the border guard, stops him and says, “What’s in the bags?” “Sand,” answers Tony. Joe says, “We’ll just see...
And you shall make for Me a sanctuary, and I will dwell among you. Shemos 25:8 Introduction Yeshiva students have a tendency to keep late hours, often diligently extending their learning late into the night. This leads to...
Now that we’ve read Mishpatim, we can proceed to Terumah. The Beis HaLevi, Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik zt”l (d. 1892), makes a sharp point in his opening remarks on this week’s Torah portion. Parshas Terumah begins the...
STEAK TIPS WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS INGREDIENTS: For the Marinade • 1 cup ketchup • 1⁄2 cup Coca-Cola • 1⁄2 cup sugar • 1⁄2 cup extra virgin olive oil • 1⁄4 cup red wine vinegar • 1⁄2 cup Worcestershire...
Stop pursuing it and start experiencing it. 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...
We are finally entering the happiest month of the year — Adar. This month is inherently joyful, yet even those who do not feel that joy are obligated to rejoice, as Chazal teach (Taanit 29): when Adar...
Dear Rabbi and Shira , I’m not sure what to do. After a very long three months of both of us working on large professional projects, my husband and I went...
During the days and weeks before Purim the mail is full of letters requesting matanas l’evyonim. In this issue we will discuss which people one has to give to, how much to give, when to give and other relevant halachos...
Drinking coffee raises a surprising halachic difficulty. Coffee seems to have entered the Jewish world during the 15th and 16th centuries. Yet it was only in the 17th century that a major halachic question regarding its blessing was addressed. One...
Parashat Terumah tells of the construction of the Mishkan, the place where Beneh Yisrael offered sacrifices to Hashem in the desert and until the Bet Ha’mikdash was built. The commentaries explain that the Mishkan is symbolic of the...