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 The Tower of Babel – Declaring War on G-d .: Viewed: 2144 times :.
What were the people who build the Tower of Babel trying to achieve? In their own words the people who settled in Shinar (Babylon) sought to make a name for themselves and to avoid dispersion (Bereshit 11:4). Focusing on the proposed height of the Tower, "with its top in the sky", the Midrash Rabba identifies the purpose of the Tower of Babel as being to challenge G-d's sovereignty. The...
Published: September 9, 2015 |
Yom Kipur's Goal - Compassion for the Needy! .: Viewed: 2415 times :.
The Mishna in Yoma 8 states, "Sins that are between a person and his friend are not atoned for on Yom Kipur." One cannot offend and harm another person and ask for forgiveness from G-d. Forgiveness must be asked and can only come from the person that we hurt, and only he can pardon us. Thus, on the morning of Yom Kipur we read the amazing words of the prophet, Yeshayahu, (Ch.58) where he...
Published: September 3, 2015 |
Shemini Atzeret - Saving the Best for Last! .: Viewed: 1855 times :.
Shemini Atzeret marks the end of the season of our Yamim Tovim. The season began with the Yemei Haslichot, Rosh Hashana, the Aseret Yemei Teshuva and Yom Kippur. It continued with Sukot and Shemini Atzeret-Simchat Torah. The literal meaning of ATZERET is "restraint". There are various interpretations as to why the term Atzeret is applied to the day immediately after Sukot, which is called...
Published: September 3, 2015 |
Mitzva of Oleh Regel – Why NOT on the Days of Awe? .: Viewed: 2192 times :.
Why does the Torah not require for us to be present in the Bet Hamikdash on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur? By Torah law, on the 3 Festivals of Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot, Jews were required to ascend to Jerusalem and visit the Holy Temple. Yet, on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, the days which are the holiest and most significant of all days, Jews were not commanded to be present in the...
Published: August 22, 2015 |
The I.O.U. PRUZBUL – It's Greek to Me! .: Viewed: 1809 times :.
When the SHEMITA year 5775 concludes, SHEMITAT KESAFIM takes effect, and all outstanding loans are cancelled. The Shulchan Aruch in Choshen Mishpat 67 rules that SHEMITAT KESAFIM (release of loans) applies also outside the Land of Israel. Thus, the Shemita year cancels all financial debts. If someone owes you money, and he comes to repay it to you after the Shemita year, you are supposed to...
Published: August 22, 2015 |
Did We Choose to be Chosen? .: Viewed: 2387 times :.
The Torah states in Parshat Reeh, “You are a holy nation to Hashem, your G-d; G-d has chosen you from all the nations of the earth to be His own treasured, special nation.” (Devarim 14). Rashi explains that your holiness comes to you from your forefathers, but also G-d has chosen you. In other words not only did G-d choose our ancestors, but each and every one of us as well, as we...
Published: August 4, 2015 |
The Joy of Tu B'Av .: Viewed: 2081 times :.
"Israel did not have any more joyous festivals as great as Tu B'Av (15th Av) and Yom Kippur."(Mishna Taanit ch.4) The Tiferet Shmuel explains that before the Rabbinic festivals of Channukah and Purim, there were 6 Torah festivals – Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Tu B'Av. How and why is Tu B'Av a Torah festival? The second Mishna is Masechta Rosh Hashana...
Published: July 27, 2015 |
How to Relate to Reform Jews .: Viewed: 2019 times :.
Recently, the Shas Minister of Religion stated that Reform Jews are not part of the Jewish People, because they are heretics who do not believe in the Divinity of the Torah. Of course he was wrong, because the Talmud in Sanhedrin states, "A Jew, no matter how sinful he is, always remains a Jew." The Chazon Ish on Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 13 states that "All heretics and sinners in Israel...
Published: July 27, 2015 |
Parshat D'varim & Tisha B'Av – Being Lonely .: Viewed: 2150 times :.
Parshat D'varim is always read on the Shabbat prior to Tisha B'Av. This year, since Tisha B'Av falls on Shabbat, we read the Parsha on that very day. The reason seems obvious. In the Parsha Moshe exclaims, "EICHA (How) can I alone bear your burdens, complaints and your quarrels?" The Talmud compares Moshe's EICHA with Yirmiyahu's EICHA in Lamentations, which is read on Tisha B'Av. The...
Published: July 13, 2015 |
Tisha B'Av during the Second Temple – Fast or Feast? .: Viewed: 2193 times :.
The prophet Zecharia, who lived at the beginning of the Second Temple Period, states (Ch. 8) that all of the 4 fasts, commemorating the Destruction of the Temple shall become days of joyous festivals and gladness. At what historical time was this prophecy fulfilled? Rabbenu Chananel states that this prophecy was fulfilled during the Second Temple Period. The Rambam...
Published: July 7, 2015 |
Arab Terror: An Ongoing Tisha B'Av .: Viewed: 2780 times :.
The Shin Bet has just informed us that Arab terror attacks are up 50% from last year. The Moslem fast days of Ramadan, which began on June 17, have coincided with a surge of murderous terror attacks against Jews.
The moving Kinah of "ARZEI HALEVANON", which is recited on TIsha B'Av states, "The martyred Jews were filled with good deeds like the seeds of a pomegranate and like the corners of...
Published: July 2, 2015 |
Aaron HaCohen's Yahrtzeit – The Only One in the Torah! .: Viewed: 3526 times :.
Why is Aaron HaCohen's Yahrtzeit the only one mentioned in the Torah? None of the Avot or the Imahot were accorded such an honor and not even Moshe Rabbenu. Only the date of the death of Aaron is mentioned. Why? Aaron's Yahrtzeit is the first day of the month of Av, and the Jewish calendar is structured so that Parshat Masei which records Aaron's death is read before Tisha B'Av. Why? The...
Published: June 22, 2015 |
Should I Make a Minyan on a Plane? .: Viewed: 1974 times :.
I will be flying to New York in August to attend my niece's wedding and to teach Torah. Those are valid reasons to leave the Holy Land on a temporary basis.
Should I organize a Minyan on the plane? The Rosh in Tractate Brachot and Shulchan Aruch HaRav O.H.:90 both rule that saying Kaddish and Kedusha in a Minyan is a fulfillment of the Mitzva, found in the verse in Vayikra 22,...
Published: June 16, 2015 |
The Key to Spiritual Growth .: Viewed: 1902 times :.
There's a strange verse in Bamidbar 21:27, "Therefore the MOSHLIM (poets) would say,' Come to Cheshbon; let it be rebuilt and established as the city of Sichon.' " The Ramban explains that this poem is quoted as proof that Cheshbon had become a city of Sichon. After Sichon's victory, let Chesbon be rebuilt as the capital city of Sichon after it was destroyed in battle. The Torah is not...
Published: June 10, 2015 |
The Spies Fall Out – Teshuva Rejected! .: Viewed: 2034 times :.
After the Sin of the Spies, as a punishment, G-d pronounced the sentence of doom on the male population from the ages of 20 -60. Therafter the Torah states, "They ascended the mountain top saying, 'we are ready, and we shall ascend to the place which G-d has spoken, for we have sinned.' "(Bamidbar 14:40) The Jewish People were embarrassed and humiliated. They finally realized that their...
Published: June 1, 2015 |
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