When is the optimal time to light Chanukah candles? The Talmud (Shabbos 21a) relates that Chanukah candles should be lit when the sun disappears from view, and should remain lit for half an hour. This 672:1)....
Guarding Against Esav the ‘Biter’ as well as Against Esav the ‘Kisser’ This week’s parsha teaches us how Yaakov has to deal with Esav in order to survive in Galus [exile]. We...
These days, people are so busy that they always want to be multi-tasking. The housewife dices onions and cuts the carrots while listening to a shiur on Kol Haloshson with...
Bob was a software developer whose internet browsing history revealed the following typical schedule: 9:00 a.m. – Arrive and surf Reddit for a couple of hours. Watch cat videos 11:30 a.m. –...
Time to go back. Many years have passed since Yaakov left his parents’ home, in fear of his brother Eisav. He lived in exile with his uncle Lavan, working for...
We read in Parashat Vayishlah of the angel that attacked Yaakob Abinu as he made his way back to Eretz Yisrael from the home of Laban. The Rabbis teach us...
I. Singling Out a Teaching When you say something, sometimes the loudest part is what you leave unsaid. The Gemara (Bava Basra 164b) warns against praising someone because that can lead...
The Torah tells that when Yaakov and Esav reunited, after not having seen one another for many years, they embraced, and Esav kissed Yaakov. Rashi points out that in the...
DISASTER One afternoon a man came home from work to find total mayhem in his house. His three children were outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud with empty...
In this week’s parashah (34:25) the Torah tells us that when Shimon and Levi attacked Shechem, they possessed bitachon. As it states, ויבאו†אל†העיר בטח†≠†, “And they came to the city with bitachon.” Shimon†and†Levi†were†two†people†fighting†an...