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 Ruth - Transforming Vice to Virtue .: Viewed: 1828 times :.
How can we understand the fact that our Mashiach, King David, descends from sullied and problematic lineage? His paternal ancestors, including his great grandfather Boaz, were the result of an act of incest between Yehuda and his daughter-in-law Tamar. She deceived Yehuda by posing as a harlot in order to have his child. Yet Yehuda is the father of the tribe from whom the Mashiach will emerge...
Published: May 21, 2019 |
The Menora – Symbol of Israel .: Viewed: 1827 times :.
The Menora in the Mishkan was not just a candelabrum to provide light. G-d does not need our light, He is the Light of the Universe. The Menora symbolizes the Eternal Covenant between G-d and the Jewish People. Representing spiritual light, the Menora is a symbol of the unique mission of the Jewish People, as the Prophet Yeshayahu states, “We are to be a Light unto the nations”....
Published: May 27, 2018 |
The Song of the Sea Turns Bitter .: Viewed: 1826 times :.
After the joyous Song of the Sea praising G-D has been sung, the Jewish Nation is in a state of euphoria. Thus, the Jewish People are not prepared for the failures and bitterness that we encounter in the second half of Parashat BeShalach. "Moshe led Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the desert of Shur, and they went 3 days in the desert, and found no water. And they came to Mara...
Published: January 17, 2018 |
The Formula for Success in Life .: Viewed: 1820 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.
This event took...
Published: June 21, 2018 |
Tisha B’Av during the 2nd Temple - Were We BI-POLAR? .: Viewed: 1820 times :.
This year, because Tisha B’Av falls on Shabbat, we will be Feasting instead of Fasting. The Tisha B’Av Fast is pushed off until Sunday. What about Tisha B’Av during the Second Temple Period? Did the Jewish People fast during those 420 years that the Second Temple stood? The Prophet Zecharia, who lived at the beginning of the Second Temple Period, states (Ch. 8) that all of...
Published: July 4, 2018 |
Holy Rebels .: Viewed: 1819 times :.
G‑d told Moshe to conduct a test that would demonstrate the error of Korach and his fellow rebels against Moshe. Offering up incense is part of the Mishkan service that was allowed to be performed only by the Kohanim and only at specific times.
The Jewish People had previously witnessed how Aaron’s sons, Nadav and Avihu, had died on account of having offered up an unauthorized incense...
Published: June 9, 2020 |
Prayer for CORONA Victims during SEFIRA .: Viewed: 1816 times :.
What do hope to accomplish when praying for a person stricken with CORONA? G‑D knows exactly what we need. My Rebbe Rav Pam, would repeat the question a cancer patient asked him in all sincerity. If pain and suffering are caused by one’s sins (Shabbat 55) and serve as a purifying process to spare the person from suffering in Gehenom, how may one pray that G‑D remove the pain?
Does a...
Published: May 8, 2020 |
Making Each Day Count! .: Viewed: 1815 times :.
Sefirat Ha'Omer commands us to make time count. We count each day, to make every day count. My friend and mentor, Rav Chaim Wilschanski SHLITA explains in his book that the word SFIRA (to count) is related to the word SAPIR (Sapphire). Each day should be cherished, treasured and unwrapped like a precious sapphire.
The counting of the Omer links the physical freedom of Pesach to the...
Published: May 6, 2019 |
PURIM - The Endless Miracle! .: Viewed: 1812 times :.
On Purim, as on Chanukah, we recite Al Hanisim. In this thanksgiving prayer, the stories of the miracles of both Festivals are related in a short and concise synopsis.
However, there is an obvious difference. In the Al Hanisim of Chanukah there is a finale, "Afterwards your sons came to Your House, they cleansed Your Sanctuary, purified Your Place of Holiness and lit lights in Your Holy...
Published: March 12, 2019 |
We All Shine On .: Viewed: 1807 times :.
“Behold, You (Israel) are today like the stars of Heaven in abundance.” (Devarim 1:10) The Torah compares the Jewish People to the stars in the heavens. But there is another verse in Devarim 7 which seems to contradict this verse. There the Torah states “For You (Israel) are the fewest and the least of ALL Nations.”
Rashi on Devarim 1:10 deals with this problem. He...
Published: August 7, 2019 |
The CURE For Election Fever .: Viewed: 1795 times :.
Many people in Israel are now afflicted with Election Fever. This "malady" causes politicians from different political parties to verbally abuse, shame and attack each other. This is classic Lashon Hara V' Sinat Chinom.(Baseless hatred.) How can we who support different political parties avoid falling into this vicious cycle?
The Chofetz Chaim offers a profound explanation of the root of...
Published: January 10, 2019 |
Get a Life .: Viewed: 1791 times :.
“Now Korach took upon himself (to mutiny against Moshe)…..along with ON ben Pelet…” ON ben Pelet also was a member of the Korach mutiny against Moshe. But then he completely and totally disappears from the scene. What happened to him? The Talmud in Sanhedrin relates that his wife talked him out of it and saved him from his mad folly.
The Talmud explains that the...
Published: June 19, 2019 |
Was Pharaoh in DE-NILE? .: Viewed: 1790 times :.
“And I (G-d) shall harden Pharaoh’s heart” (Shmot 7:3). This verse raises a difficult and basic question. How could Pharaoh be punished for not releasing Israel, when it was G-d Who prevented him from doing so? How do we explain the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart? Did G-d suddenly turn Pharaoh into a puppet? Did He take away Pharaoh’s human free will? Rambam...
Published: March 12, 2018 |
Elul - Give Me Shelter .: Viewed: 1777 times :.
“You shall separate 3 cities for yourself in your land, which Hashem your G-d, is giving you to inherit.” (Devarim 19:2)
The Torah commands us here to designate cities of refuge and shelter. These refuge cities are for the person who commits an accidental murder, where he would run, to receive protection from the GOAL HADAM (The redeemer of blood). These cities of refuge are...
Published: September 1, 2019 |
I Did It My Way! .: Viewed: 1775 times :.
Our Holy Torah, G-d’s most treasured possession, which He gave us on Shavuot, contains exactly 304,805 letters. There is not even one extra letter in our Holy Torah, let alone an extra verse. So why does the Torah in Parshat Naso repeat the Tribal Princes’ offerings which they brought to dedicate the Altar in the Mishkan 12 identical times? The Torah could have simply given the...
Published: May 29, 2019 |