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 The CURE For Election Fever .: Viewed: 1338 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 |
The Danger of False Piety (A Wolf in SheepÂ’s Clothing) .: Viewed: 2872 times :.
To our sorrow, these past few months we have witnessed painful divisions and shocking hatred within Israeli society. What is particularly tragic is what triggered these divisions and animosities. It was the criminal actions of a small group of hooligans. The fact that they were dressed in Charedi garb should not deceive us. Their acts of verbal abuse and other degrading behavior constitute a...
Published: February 1, 2012 |
The Dual Role of Tears .: Viewed: 2996 times :.
We have all cried – sometimes from joy, more often from sorrow. Why do we express both opposite emotions in the exact same way? Why is G-d, usually so generous with the wondrous resources with which He has endowed us, so restricting in this respect? Was there not some way to differentiate more clearly between joy and sorrow? On a physiological level, the encyclopedia informs us,...
Published: June 24, 2012 |
The Educational Message of the Ten Plagues .: Viewed: 3032 times :.
We are all aware from the Haggadah of Pesach of R’ Yehudah’s having abrreviated the ten plagues as דצ '' ך ( Detzach), עד '' ש ( Adash), באח '' ב (Be’achav). However, what’s his point? Abarbanel finds a surprising distinction between these three groups that emerge and therefore attributes a...
Published: March 28, 2007 |
The Eternal Message of the MANN .: Viewed: 1584 times :.
“And now, our life is dried up, there is nothing, we have nothing but the MANN” (Bamidbar 11). Rashi states that G-d remarked, “Look at what my children complain about, the wonderful and delicious MANN”.
My Rebbe, Rav Pam says that G-d’s comment continues to reverberate to this very day – “Look what my children complain about”.
Rav Pam...
Published: June 4, 2017 |
The Evil Gives Proof of the Coming Good .: Viewed: 1810 times :.
King David tells us in Tehillim 100, “to serve G-d with joy.” The Mishna in Avot 1 tells us that we should “greet and welcome everyone with a joyful countenance”. Avot D’Rabbi Natan 13 states that a happy and pleasant facial expression is considered equal to giving a person the most treasured gift in the world. How is it possible to be in a joyful mood when we...
Published: October 25, 2015 |
The Exodus and Moshe’s Donkey .: Viewed: 1468 times :.
When G-d sent Moshe to Egypt to free Israel, the Torah states, “And Moshe took his wife and sons and mounted them on the donkey” (Shmot 4:20). Rashi makes a strange comment on this verse, “the Donkey that Moshiach will utilize to usher in the Final Redemption”. How do we understand this odd comment of Rashi’s? Can a donkey live for thousands of years? And why will...
Published: January 15, 2018 |
The Exodus from Egypt: Road Map of the Final Redemption .: Viewed: 3187 times :.
“And Moshe took his wife and sons and mounted them on the donkey.”(Shemot 4:20) Rashi makes the cryptic comment, “The donkey that Moshiach will utilize to usher in the Final Redemption.” How do we understand this strange comment of Rashi? Can a donkey live for thousands of years? The explanation is that Rashi is speaking metaphorically. Rashi means that when G-d...
Published: January 15, 2012 |
The Exodus Message for CORONA .: Viewed: 1482 times :.
L’ILUI NISHMAT ASHER SHMUEL CHAIM Z”L ben EPHRAIM v’TZIONA
What can the events leading up to the Exodus teach us about dealing with Coronavirus? Rav Soloveitchik posed the question on the verse in Parshat Shemot, “And G‑d saw the suffering of the children of Israel and He knew He must help them.” Rav Soloveitchik asks that if G‑d knew that He must help us, then...
Published: March 30, 2020 |
The Formula for Success in Life .: Viewed: 1350 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 |
The Four Sons: Four Blessings .: Viewed: 3048 times :.
כנגד אבעה בנים דברה תורה (הגדה של פסח) The four sons occupy a key place in the Haggadah. The author states their questions and then spells out the answers, both of which are based on Biblical texts. The Torah is realistic;...
Published: May 24, 2011 |
The Goal of the Exodus - Don’t Slander! .: Viewed: 1436 times :.
"You shall not defile yourselves through any creeping thing that creeps on the earth. For I am G-d who elevates you from the Land of Egypt." (Vayikra 11:44,45)
What is the connection between the Exodus from Egypt and the prohibition of eating insects? Why does the Torah juxtapose these two subjects? HaRav Mordechai HaCohen in his sefer, Al HaTorah, gives a profound explanation. Certain...
Published: March 26, 2019 |
The Goal of the Exodus: Don't Eat Bugs .: Viewed: 2141 times :.
"You shall not defile yourselves through any creeping thing that creeps on the earth. For I am G-d who elevates you from the Land of Egypt."" (Vayikra 11:v.44,45) What is the connection between the Exodus from Egypt and the prohibition of eating insects? Why does the Torah juxtapose these two subjects? HaRav Mordechai HaCohen in his sefer, Al HaTorah, gives a profound explanation. Certain...
Published: March 6, 2013 |
The Half Shekel - Light My Fire .: Viewed: 1908 times :.
The Torah states, "This is what they shall give, all those who pass by the officers to be counted, – half a shekel…"(Shmot 30:13). Rashi quotes the Midrash that G-d showed Moshe a coin made of fire weighing half a shekel and told him, "This is how you shall give." The half shekel was made of silver, so why did G-d not show Moshe a silver coin?
The Baal Shem Tov...
Published: February 23, 2015 |
The Helpmate Who Opposes! .: Viewed: 2489 times :.
God said, “It is not good for man to be alone. I will make for him a helpmate who is against him.” (Genesis:2:18) Â At first sight this verse seems to be a paradox: a helpmate assists, she does not oppose. The Talmud (Bavli Yevamot 63a) phrases the question as follows. The Hebrew word, Ezer, is a “helper”, and K’negdo is “against him”?! The Talmud...
Published: September 27, 2011 |