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 Noach's Flood? .: Viewed: 1765 times :.
The prophet Yeshayahu in Ch. 54 refers to the Biblical Flood as "MEI NOACH" (Noach's Water). Why is Noach blamed for the Flood? The Torah describes him as "ISH TZADIK TAMIM" (a perfectly righteous man).
The Zohar explains that Noach's name is connected to the Flood because he was in a certain indirect way responsible for it. Noach did not pray to G-d to spare the people, nor did he take any...
Published: September 21, 2015 |
Prayer - The ORIGINAL Soul Food .: Viewed: 1764 times :.
The Talmud (Berachot 26b) says, "Tefilot Avot Tiknum" – "Prayer was established by the Avot". The Talmud then uses the following verse (Bereshit 19:27) to prove how Avraham established Prayer: "Vayaskem Avraham baboker el hamakom asher amad sham et pnei Hashem" – "And Avraham got up early in the morning to the place where he had stood before G‑d".
The connection here is in the...
Published: November 4, 2019 |
What Miracle Do We Celebrate On Chanuka? .: Viewed: 1761 times :.
The motto of Chanuka, ""NES GADOL HAYA PO" (a great miracle occurred here) makes us think of the one day supply of oil that burned for 8 days. It is striking that the Chanuka liturgy omits mention of this miracle entirely.
The AL HANISIM addition to the prayers and even the paragraph HANEROS HALALU (these candles) introducing the lighting of the Menorah, express praise and thanks to G-D...
Published: November 27, 2016 |
The Mystical Meaning of the Sacrifices .: Viewed: 1757 times :.
Sefer Vayikra is taken up with sacrificial laws and rituals. For many people, it is easier to relate to narrative portions of the Torah or Mitzvot that apply in our day than to those dealing with Mishkan sacrifices. The last sacrifices were offered in 68 C.E., before the Second Temple was destroyed. Many people would find it hard to conceive how the sacrificial system could actually be...
Published: April 23, 2015 |
Written In Stone! .: Viewed: 1755 times :.
Parshat Eikev states, “At that time G-d said to me, carve out two tablets of stone like the first…. And I (G-d) will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets… And I put the tablets in the Ark which I made.” (D’varim 10)
Rav S.R. Hirsch notes that whenever the Torah discusses the LUCHOT – TABLETS, it mentions the material,...
Published: August 20, 2016 |
The Third Temple-Larger Than The Temple Mount? .: Viewed: 1750 times :.
The Haftora of Parashat Tesaveh deals with the construction of the Third and Final Temple. A major problem is that Yehezkel's vision of the Third Temple in Ch. 48 describes a sanctuary of enormous dimensions. It will be so huge, that Abarbanel claims it will be even larger than the entire Temple Mount. It will be so big, that the Malbim in Zechariya Ch. 2 claims that Yehezkel's Temple...
Published: February 11, 2016 |
Why Celebrate Judgement? .: Viewed: 1748 times :.
Rosh HaShana is a puzzling Yom Tov for us. On the one hand, we are facing an awesome judgment; on the other hand, we celebrate the day as a joyous holiday. One can hardly imagine someone facing a life and death judgment enjoying himself on that very day. Yet, the Halacha states that we must celebrate on Rosh HaShana by feasting on meat and wine. What is even stranger, we not only celebrate...
Published: August 31, 2017 |
The Key to Spiritual Growth .: Viewed: 1746 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 |
Shavuot: Mitzva Lite & Minhag Heavy .: Viewed: 1741 times :.
Where is the section called, "Hilchot Shavuot" in the Shulchan Aruch? In fact, Hilchot Shavuot does not appear, because Shavuot does not have its own section in the Shulchan Aruch. Instead, the last chapter of Hilchot Pesach is called, "Seder Tefillat Chag HaShavuot", and it contains just 3 short sentences. The Shuchan Aruch simply lists the order of davening for Shavuot, and which Torah...
Published: May 27, 2016 |
May We Invite A Shabbat Traveler To A Shabbat Meal? .: Viewed: 1729 times :.
May one invite a guest for Shabbat dinner knowing that he will violate Shabbat either coming or going to our house? The Torah states, "You shall not place a stumbling block before the blind" (Vayikra 19). The Talmud interprets this verse that we may not cause another Jew to sin through our actions.
Thus, Rabbi Shmuel Wosner (Shevet HaLevi 8) and Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv both rule that...
Published: July 14, 2016 |
Yom Kippur's Magic Moment .: Viewed: 1718 times :.
Rav Avraham Yitzchak Kook draws our attention to a strange phrase at the end of the Al Chet confession, which is said on Yom Kippur. "My G-D, before I was formed I was of no worth, and now that I have been formed, it is as if I was not formed."
Rav Kook explains that the first part of this confession is easy to understand. Before I was formed I was obviously of no worth, since I did not yet...
Published: September 22, 2016 |
The heros of the Korach Mutiny .: Viewed: 1717 times :.
The heros of the Korach Rebellion were Korach’s sons and Mrs. ON Ben Pelet. Let us learn about their acts of heroism. The Torah states, “And Korach separated himself with Datan and Aviram… and ON Ben Pelet…” (Bamidbar 16:1).
In his revolt against the authority of Moshe and Aharon, Korach was supported by Datan and Aviram and by ON Ben. Pelet. This opening...
Published: June 14, 2017 |
Why Did G-D Harden Pharaoh's Heart? .: Viewed: 1716 times :.
Why did G-D need to harden Pharaoh's heart? Why was there a need for the Ten Plagues? Why couldn't G-D bring about the Exodus by having Pharaoh come to the realization that it was to his benefit to get rid of his Hebrew slaves? Hadn't Pharaoh expressed his fears that in the event of war, the Hebrew nation would join our enemies and wage war against us (Shemot 1:10)? If he was so afraid that...
Published: January 20, 2017 |
Love your Friend as Yourself - Really? .: Viewed: 1711 times :.
This verse is one of the most mistranslated verses in the Torah. Can the Torah command something which is not humanly possible? Unlike other religions, that have fancy slogans not meant for the real world, Judaism is based on realty.
Thus, Rav Soloveitchik explains that this is not what the Hebrew verse actually says. It is all about knowing where to place the comas. For example, I had a...
Published: April 17, 2015 |
Moshe's Improper Rebuke of Korach .: Viewed: 1710 times :.
Moshe says to Korach, "It is too much for you (RAV), you sons of Levi" (Bamidbar 16:7). The Talmud in Sota 13 states, "With the word RAV (too much), Moshe rebuked Korach and the other Levites. Therefore, with the word RAV (too much), G-D rebuked Moshe that he would not enter Eretz Yisrael." Rashi explains that Moshe was held accountable for the improper way he spoke to Korach and the other...
Published: June 16, 2016 |