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 Tisha BÂ’Av: Observing Shiva Now for Ancient Tragedies? .: Viewed: 3086 times :.
On Tisha B'Av we mourn for the destruction of the first and second Holy Temples. The Talmud in Trachtate Taanit (Page 30) states that all Mitzvot that apply to a mourner during the Shiva also apply to the entire Jewish people on Tisha B'Av. In other words, according to Halacha we are all sitting Shiva on Tisha B'Av. But, how can this be ? For the Halacha states that if a close relative has...
Published: July 18, 2012 |
The Dual Role of Tears .: Viewed: 3239 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 |
IsraelÂ’s Team vs. The Giants .: Viewed: 2282 times :.
Are we able to defeat the Giants? The Torah tells us that the inhabitants of Eretz Yisrael were y’lide ho’anaq, remnants of a race of Giants. When the M’raglim, the Spies, returned with their report, they announced: “The people that dwell in the land are fierce, and the cities are fortified and very great; moreover, we saw the children of Giants there.” (Bamidbar...
Published: June 7, 2012 |
Shavuot: Festival of Unity, not Uniformity .: Viewed: 2672 times :.
In Shemot 19:v.2 the Torah states, “They camped in the wilderness, and he, Israel, camped there in front of Mount Sinai.” Rashi asks why it says, “he… camped” in the singular when there were millions of Jews in front of the mountain. Rashi explains that we all united “like one person with one heart” in order to receive the Torah.  At the Sinai...
Published: May 16, 2012 |
Is the Temple Mount Truly in Our Hands? .: Viewed: 1852 times :.
As we approach Yom Yerushalayim, we remember G-d’s incredible miracle, encapsuled in that magic moment when IDF General Motta Gur uttered those wondrous words, “The Temple Mount is in our hands.” Since the Six Day War, the Halachic question arose whether it is permitted for Jews to ascend the Temple Mount. This may seem like only a Halachic question, but it has far reaching...
Published: May 2, 2012 |
Nadav & Avihu - The Divine Kiss of Death .: Viewed: 3129 times :.
"And Nadav and Avihu, the sons of Aaron, took both of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense, and offered strange fire before Hashem, which He did not command them. And there went out fire from Hashem, and devoured them, and they died before Hashem." ( Vayikra 10:1-2). Many Torah commentators have pondered why Nadav and Avihu died.
Was the "strange fire" sufficient cause for...
Published: April 17, 2012 |
Is a Jewish state in '48 prophesied in the Tora? .: Viewed: 2472 times :.
The year the state of Israel was born was 1948 in the secular calendar, which corresponds to the Hebrew date 5708. According to Kabalah, all the verses in the Tora correspond to the years of history. Every major event of all times will have some allusion to the verse which is linked to it by number. What is the 5708th verse in the Tora? It is Devorim chapter 30 verse 3: "And Hashem your G-d...
Published: April 15, 2012 |
Shir Hashirim: Madly in Love with the One Above .: Viewed: 2933 times :.
We have a custom to recite Shir Hashirim (The Song of Songs) on the Shabbat during Pesach. Many reasons have been offered to explain why. One is that Pesach takes place in the month of spring (Chodesh Haaviv), and Shir Hashirim is a song about spring and renewal. “Behold the winter has passed; the rains are over and gone; the blossoms have appeared in the land, and the time of pruning...
Published: March 20, 2012 |
The Mishkan’s Sacrificial Altar – Metaphor for the Human Being .: Viewed: 3070 times :.
The main function of the Mishkan is to offer up animal sacrifices to G-d. 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 Temple sacrifices. The last sacrifices were offered in 68 C.E., before the Second Temple was destroyed. Thus many people would find it hard to conceive how the sacrificial system could...
Published: March 14, 2012 |
PurimÂ’s Timely Message: Taking Pride in Judaism .: Viewed: 2672 times :.
Why does the Megila say "a Jewish man was in the capital of Shushan and his name was Mordechai," when there were many Jewish people who lived in Shushan? The sages explain that many Jews fled Shushan out of fear of Haman; Mordechai was one of the few who did not. Rav Yonasan Eybeshitz disagrees with this interpretation, because later on in the Megila, Esther instructs Mordechai to "go and...
Published: March 11, 2012 |
Megillat Esther : Today's Front Page .: Viewed: 2758 times :.
The Rambam states in Hilchos Megillah, Chapter 2, Halacha 18, that all books of the Prophets and all of the Holy Writings will be cancelled in the Messianic Era except for Megillat Esther, which will exist forever like the Torah and the Talmud.
What makes the Megillah so unique that it will be preserved for eternity, unlike other Books of the Tanach? The answer is found in the Megillat...
Published: February 21, 2012 |
A Modern Day Amalek? .: Viewed: 4323 times :.
Over 9000 rockets and mortar shells have been fired at Israel since the Gaza withdrawl and the expulsion of almost 10,000 Jews from their homes in Gush Katif in the summer of 2005. The sporadic rocket fire continues until today. Why does Hamas reject any peace with Israel or even the existence of Israel itself? Â There are the public proclamations by Hamas for the destruction of Israel and...
Published: February 8, 2012 |
The Danger of False Piety (A Wolf in SheepÂ’s Clothing) .: Viewed: 3083 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 |
Rosh Chodesh: Symbol of Israel's Miraculous Renewal .: Viewed: 2691 times :.
Why is Rosh Chodesh the first Mitzvah given to Israel while still in Egypt? Why is Parshat Hachodesh so important that it precedes the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai? Why do we say Hallel on Rosh Chodesh as Hallel is said to commemorate a miraculous event such as the Exodus? What miracle takes place on Rosh Chodesh that warrants saying Hallel?  The Zohar, in explaining the importance...
Published: January 19, 2012 |
The Exodus from Egypt: Road Map of the Final Redemption .: Viewed: 3403 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 |