Before Yaakov Avinu’s death, Yosef came to visit him with his two sons, Efrayim and Menashe. Yaakov gave them a blessing, and then pronounced, “that forever more, when Jews bless their sons, they will do so by saying,...
Pizza: Hamotzi versus Mezonos. Which bracha? If the dough for the pizza is old fashioned dough, flour and water, it’s going to be a question of hamotzi. If it’s made with a different type of liquid, such as fruit juice,...
Parashat Vayigash features one of the most dramatic stories in the entire Torah – Yosef’s revelation to his brothers. Many years earlier, when Yosef was just seventeen-years-old, his brothers threw him into a pit, with the intention...
This Shabbos, Parshas Vayigash, we read of the emotional moment when Yosef revealed his true identity to his brothers. “Ani Yosef, I am Yosef, ha’od avi chai, is my father still alive? And the...
Do You Know Who I Am? It was the final examination for an introductory Biology course at the university. Like many such freshman courses, it was designed to weed out new students, having over 500 students in the class! The...
In his book, “The Anatomy of Hope: How People Prevail in the Face of Illness,” Dr. Jerome Groopman shares the following story: Barbara received another three courses of chemotherapy, but the tumor seemed to shrug off the drugs....
Someone in a place where songs associated with idolatry are played, such as during the Christian holiday season, is not prohibited from hearing them. However, it is correct to refrain from enjoying them, as doing so is distasteful. The...
Dear Rabbi and Shira , Hi. I’m engaged to a great guy. My issue with him is that he seems very indecisive in terms of which career to pursue. After many...
A visitor to a supermarket is struck by the vast array of chocolate items for sale, such as candies, chocolate cake, chocolate milk, chocolate cookies and the like. There is also a vast array of halachic issues which apply to chocolate. Is...
