For many in Israel, on the surface, life is going on as normal. Children are in camp, coffee shops and malls are full, families are taking vacations, some within Israel and others abroad. And yet, beneath the...
The narrative involving Bilaam, Zimri ben Saluh, and the subsequent command to Moshe to take vengeance on Midian in Parashat Pinchas raises several complex questions about the biblical perspective on the actions of various nations towards Israel. When examining the...
Dear Rabbi and Shira , Hi, last week I had Zoom date with a woman, and it went well. We laughed a lot, and seemed to hit it off. I just...
The time of the three weeks is a time when activities. Why do we refrain from activities? What are included in these activities? Below we halachos of the three weeks. Introduction We live in a world today where it is...
The last two weeks we’ve been extrapolating many disciplines for life from the profound game of chess. Before we continue, I thought I’d share with you an interesting chess vignette of my own. There was a shomer Torah...
People communicate with words, but Hashem has other forms of communication. For example, Hashem told Eliyahu HaNavi (I Malachim 17:9) “Arise, go to Tzarfat which belongs to Tzidon and sojourn there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” The Chofetz Chaim...
I am a frequent traveler and sometimes I find myself in a motel with a kitchenette. Am I able to go to the local fish store and purchase kosher fish? A: You certainly cannot buy fish that is cooked...
Parashat Balak tells the famous story of the attempt made by Balak, the king of Moav, to annihilate Am Yisrael by hiring a gentile prophet, Bilam, to place a curse on them. G-d intervened and protected Beneh...
This week’s parsha tells us of Balak, King of Moav, and Bilaam, a sorcerer and practitioner of black magic. Balak saw Bnei Yisroel’s large encampment, their vast number of tents, and became filled with feelings...
The Sleeper Izzy is sitting in shul one Shabbos morning when he falls asleep and starts to snore. The shul caretaker quickly comes over to him, taps him softly on his shoulder and says, “Please stop your snoring, Izzy,...