VUES: Yaakov, are you of Ashkenaz or Sephardic descent? YAAKOV SHWEKEY: I’m “Sfashkanaz.” My mother is Ashkenaz and my father is Sephardic. For music purposes, this is really telling. I do...
There is an unusual formula used in the format of the Haggadah. It is revealed to us at the end of Tractate Pesachim [116a], where it states, “Maschil b’gnus u’masayim...
At a recent congressional hearing about SNAP (food stamps), a biblical debate broke out. The House Subcommittee on Nutrition held a public hearing about the “future of SNAP” and allowed...
The Rema brings down in Siman Taf Lamed that there is a minhag to say the Hagada on Shabbos HaGadol at mincha. The Ravya in Chelek Bais, Pesachim, siman Taf...
Rashi at the beginning of Parshas Vayetzei, commenting on the Torah’s focus on the fact that Yaakov Avinu left Be’er Sheva rather than on his going to Charan, comments that...
The first time I remember meeting Shlomo Zalman Ben Pesach Moshe Sprecher z’l was in 1968. The previous Spring, Mesivta Torah Vodaas had moved from Williamsburg to Flatbush. One aspect...
It’s Saturday night a mere four days after the petirah of our dear dear Chaver, Chaim Ben Kloinimus Kalman Silber z’l ( aka ‘LOBO’) the Amud Hachesed of Klal Yisroel....
Some modern thinkers–mainly Jewish universalists–express discomfort in the Seder recitation of “Shefoch chamascha, Pour out Your wrath.” In this passage of the Haggadah, we call on Hashem to punish the...
The tragic sudden passing on 9 Adar, 5777 of our sister, mother, aunt, sister in law, and bubby, Breindel Yocheved bas R’ Aharon (Mrs. Breindy [nee Gelbtuch] Reiss a”h) is...
During the Musaf Shemoneh Esrei of Rosh Chodesh we include a special Tefillah for the mizbeach. We say “Mizbeach hachadash b’Tzion tachin.” (A new mizbeach should be prepared in Tzion.) The...