It seems like the world had a good first couple of days, and then, early Friday morning Adam and Chava ate from the Eitz Hadas. This was the beginning to where we find the world in Parshas Noach. People had a complete lack of respect for each other, robbery and murder was rampant and God […]
Every morning we awaken; what a miracle! Hashem has returned our soul to us after it ascended Above to give a testimony of how we spent our day; “Well, he may have done this wrong… but look, he didn’t eat non-kosher, he didn’t kill, he didn’t steal. Don’t you see how holy he is! Lord […]
In Parshas Eikev Moshe is continuing his goodbye speech to Klal Yisrael. He cautions us to guard all of the mitzvos, even the ones that seem minor and one could figuratively trample with their Eikev – a heel. He then continues his review of the events of the Jewish nation’s 40 years in the desert. […]
The Baal Shem Tov was once walking with a few Chasidim when they witnessed someone davening with his hands waving all over the place. Some of the Chasidim said he looked insane, but The Baal Shem Tov was quick to respond; “If someone was drowning and they were waving their arms around trying to stay […]
We, together, are in Galus. It was not too long ago that observant Jews in America had to start a new job every Monday because they refused to work on Shabbos. It was not too long ago that Jews, observant or not, were murdered, beaten and worked to death in Europe during and before the […]
Something we do every day is eat. And just like all the other things we do daily, we easily forget how special it can be. Eating is perhaps one of the holiest things we can do. Rav Tzvi Hirsch of Ziditchov once said, “When I was young, I prayed to be able to reach the […]
The roman governor Turnus Rufus constantly debated with Rabbi Akiva, one exchange is told in Bava Basra (10a); he asked Rabbi Akiva, “If your God loves poor people why did he make them poor?” Rabbi Akiva replied, “So that others have the opportunity to give charity and fix our own mistakes through this deed.” Turnus […]
Marriage is such a Holy thing, but first you must find your soul mate. The Gemara in Sotah (2a) tells us that, “Finding your soul mate is as difficult as splitting the Yam Suf”, it’s odd that finding a wife is compared to splitting the sea since marriage is all about the importance of unity. […]
We most often hear a person “bench Gomel” when they return from an overseas trip, but according to the Gemara (Brachos 54b) we don’t only bench Gomel when we survive an international flight in coach, a person is obligated to bench Gomel if they were gravely ill and were healed, imprisoned and freed, or survived […]
Parhsas Bechukosai starts off with the pasuk, “Im Bechukosai Tailechu – If you follow My laws, guard My commandments and observe them.”(26:3) Rashi explains that this means to toil in Torah. The dictionary definition of Toil is; “long strenuous fatiguing labor”. Ah, so our reward for such intense devotion for Torah must be more time […]
