Parsha Hashavuah
Hey There! Someone is Talking to You!
After the participation of all the tribes in the inauguration of the Tabernacle, the Torah tells of Moshe's entry into it to hear the word of G-d. Several...
Parshas Nasso - Headlights On
So, there I was, standing and talking with my brother-in-law outside of Shul one evening. He pointed to a car driving nearby and said, “Hey, there’s a car d...
Parshas Naso: For All the Right Reasons
The beginning of Sefer Bamidbar is truly a magical time. Klal Yisroel has received the Torah. They have been given instructions for and built the Mi...
Sivan Rahav-Meir / The Daily Portion / On Being Escorted By The Torah
All of us are familiar with the celebration that is held when a new Torah scroll is brought into a synagogue. But what happens when a Torah scroll is torn or it...
The Bnei Gershon
“Naso es rosh bnei Gershon – Count (lift) the sons of Gershon” (Bamidbar 4:22). In a sense, we are all the Bnei Gershon. Rav Gershon Edelstein, the manhig...
Sivan Rahav-Meir / The Daily Portion / Eternity's Ambassador
Rabbi Gershon Edelstein, one of the Charedi leaders, passed away yesterday at the age of 100. I remember after the great Rabbi Steinman passed away (at th...
Parshas Naso: Never "Get Over It"
"Let the stranger praise you, but not your own mouth". This proverb from Mishlei implies that often, outsiders, are better able to distill the virtues which we ...
Sivan Rahav-Meir / The Daily Portion / Shavuot Sunrise at the Kotel
I do not have any pictures of this magnificent scene and that is for the best. What follows is an attempt to describe in words what I witnessed when the sun ros...
Shavuos 5783: One Collective Heart
When HaShem came to B'nei Yisrael and offered them the Torah, we collectively answered unequivocally in the affirmative. This response is documented twice:...
Bring Your Shabbos Table Alive with Your Own Copy of ‘TableTalk’: Shavuos 5783/2022
Baltimore, MD – May. 2023 - Every Shabbos table offers every Jewish family an incredible opportunity by which they can share their joy for Shabbos, for Yiddis...
Shvuah on a Shvuah on Shavuos
In Meseches Nida 30b it says a child in not born until he swears that he will keep the Torah. He will be a Tzaddik not a Rasha. The question arises why do we ma...
Rabbi Zvi Teichman on Shavuos 5783 - No Hate, Just Love
More and more displays of hatred seem to be proliferating in the world. Not only between warring nations is this evident, but even within sovereign nations wher...
Shavuot 5783: Ten Commandments for Religious Zionists
What are the core beliefs for religious Jews, sometimes referred to as Religious Zionists, who also view Medinat Israel as authored by Hashem? The radical polit...
Listen to Rabbi Moshe Hauer: Shavuos - The Joy of Torah (Audio)
Baltimore, MD - May 22, 2023 - On Shavuos, we are required to have a feast and to celebrate, in order to demonstrate our excitement and joy at receiving the Tor...
Taking Full Advantage: A Shavuot Cheshbon Hanefesh
A Day To Appreciate Shavuot, the holiday that celebrates the giving of the Torah, is the time when both Hashem and the Jewish people reflect upon our relations...
Watch: Rabbi Yonah Sklare Shavuos: Celebrating What WE Have Become (Video)
Rabbi Yonah Sklare is a Rosh Kollel in Baltimore, MD as well as Magid Shiur at Congregation Shomrei Emunah. His refreshingly creative approach to learning as we...
Understanding Eruv Tavshillin: Insights and Observations
Since Yom Tov begins on Friday, a rare occurrence, we must prepare an eruv tavshillin, whether we live in Eretz Yisrael or in Chutz La’Aretz. Question #1: ...
Parshas Bamidbar - In The Middle Of It All
In the beginning of this week's parsha, at the beginning of the second month of the second year since yetzias Mitzrayim, B'nei Yisrael ...
Parshas Bamidbar - The Sweetest Sound
There is a funny but sad joke that goes something like this: I asked an old man, “Even after 95 years, you still call your wife ‘Darling’, ‘Honey’, an...
Watch: Let's Talk Kashrus - Burgers, Fries, & Kashrus Please - The Canteen Conundrum (Video)
With summer around the corner, Rabbi Moshe Kaufman, Kashrus Administrator for KVH Kosher ~ Rabbinical Council of New England, describes the AKO camp initiative ...
Parshas Bamidbar - He is Counting on You!
The book of Numbers begins precisely with just that — a census. A precise date is given — the first of the second month in the second year after their exodu...
Rabbi Shmuel Silber - Parsha Perspectives: Lineage & Lagacy (Bamidbar)
The Lord spoke to Moses in the Sinai Desert, in the Tent of Meeting on the first day of the second month, in the second year after the exodus from the land of E...
Bring Your Shabbos Table Alive with Your Own Copy of ‘TableTalk’: Bamidbar 5783/2022
Baltimore, MD – May. 2023 - Every Shabbos table offers every Jewish family an incredible opportunity by which they can share their joy for Shabbos, for Yiddis...
Watch Rabbi Yonah Sklare - Shavuot: Can We Outdo Hashem? (Video)
Rabbi Yonah Sklare is a Rosh Kollel in Baltimore, MD as well as Magid Shiur at Congregation Shomrei Emunah. His refreshingly creative approach to learning as we...
Listen to Rabbi Moshe Hauer: Preparing for Kabbalas HaTorah Part IV - The Power of Speech (Audio)
As we come closer to Kabbalas Hatorah, we continue to discuss different elements that distinguish man from animal. One of the most famous distinctions is man�...
Parshas Behar-Bechukosai: The Price of Tea in China
This coming Sunday, 23 Iyar, is the 13th yahrtzeit of my great aunt, Lady Amélie Jakobovits, a"h. The shtikle is dedicated le...
Parshas Behar-Bechukosai: Every Word Teaches Something
Behar Our Torah contains many Dinim, Chukim and Mishpatim. By definition, some of theses Mitzvos have reasons that are known to us or obvious, and others...
Rabbi Shmuel Silber - Parsha Perspectives: Timeless Value (Behar/Bechukosai)
“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the children of Israel and say to them: When a man expresses a vow, [pledging the] value of lives to the Lord ...
Parshas Behar-Bechukosai: You Are Priceless
If a man articulates a vow, בערכך נפשות לד' — regarding a valuation of living beings to G-d. (ויקרא כז ב) So begins the portion that...
Watch: Let's Talk Kashrus - S’more Kashrus, Please; Keeping it Kosher at Summer Camp (Video)
With summer around the corner, Rabbi Moshe Kaufman, Kashrus Administrator for KVH Kosher ~ Rabbinical Council of New England takes us on a guided tour through a...
Sivan Rahav-Meir / The Daily Portion / What Do We Do On Lag BaOmer?
Good morning from Meron! The following is being written from Meron where the prayers last night included a wish for success of the military operation in Gaza an...
Drew Maggi's Incredible Journey and Lag Baomer
A 15th-round pick in 2010, Drew Maggi climbed the Pittsburgh Pirates' system to Double-A Altoona but was released in 2015. He bounced around the minors wit...
Watch Rabbi Yonah Sklare - Lag B'Omer: Why R'Akiva's Talmidim Matter Today (Video)
Rabbi Yonah Sklare is a Rosh Kollel in Baltimore, MD as well as Magid Shiur at Congregation Shomrei Emunah. His refreshingly creative approach to learning as we...
Sivan Rahav-Meir / The Daily Portion / To All Your Prayers, Amen
This week the last corona hospital department in Israel closed. I heard this news as I was unpacking boxes from New York that I had packed during the first days...
Rabbi Reuven Taragin on Pirkei Avot: World of Tens
בַּעֲשָׂרָה מַאֲמָרוֹת נִבְרָא הָעוֹלָם. וּמַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר, וַהֲלֹא בְמַאֲמָר...
Litvaks and Lag B’Omer
So what’s the deal with Lag B’Omer? The Gemara in Yevamos famously tells the story of Rabi Akiva’s 24,000 talmidim who all died between Pesach and Shavuo...
Parshas Emor - Our Festivals
In this week's parsha, we find another enumeration of the festivals. After an introductory pasuk, the Torah surprisingly begins (23:3) with a dis...
Parshas Emor - Begin Fueling Now
So, there I was, by a gas station, getting ready to fill up my car with gas. Why? Because that’s what you do at a gas station. I pulled out my credit card and...
Parshas Emor - Time For an Oil Change
The Kohen,הגדול מאחיו — who is exalted above his brethren — upon whose head the anointment oil has been poured… (ויקרא כא י) A Ko...
Daily Dvar Halacha - May. 3, 12 Iyar - Why Bonfires On Lag Ba’Omer & May 4, 13 Iyar - Weddings Music Haircuts. How soon on Lag Ba’Omer? (Video)
Why Bonfires On Lag Ba’Omer Weddings Music Haircuts. How soon on Lag Ba’Omer? ...
Rabbi Shmuel Silber - Parsha Perspectives: Emor-Free but Priceless
From the time we are young children, we count down to exciting life events. We count the days until a birthday and the end of school. As we get older, we stil...
Watch: Let's Talk Kashrus - Pour Decisions? (Video)
In this follow-up episode, Rabbi Nochum Rabinowitz, Senior Rabbinic coordinator at OU kosher clarifies for us the difference between Mevushal & Non-Mevushal...
Bring Your Shabbos Table Alive with Your Own Copy of ‘TableTalk’: Emor 5783/2022
Baltimore, MD – May. 2023 - Every Shabbos table offers every Jewish family an incredible opportunity by which they can share their joy for Shabbos, for Yiddis...
Watch: Rabbi Yonah Sklare Sefirat HaOmer: The Art of Being both Tolerant & Opinionated (Video)
Rabbi Yonah Sklare is a Rosh Kollel in Baltimore, MD as well as Magid Shiur at Congregation Shomrei Emunah. His refreshingly creative approach to learning as we...
Rabbi Reuven Taragin on Pirkei Avot: Owing What We Own
רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אִישׁ בַּרְתּוּתָא אוֹמֵר, תֶּן לוֹ מִשֶּׁלּוֹ, שֶׁאַתָּה וְשֶׁלָּךְ ...
Parshas Acharei Mos/Kedoshim: Sanctity Amidst Struggle: The Paradox of Nadav and Avihu and the Path to Holiness
Sefer Shemos ends with the construction of the Mishkon. Sefer Vayikroh begins with korbonos. Parshas Shemini describes how Moshe put up the Mishkon, but the She...
Parshas Acharei/Kedoshim – Eisoptrophobia
Have you ever heard of Eisoptrophobia? Don’t worry if you didn’t, I too never heard about it until I heard about it. Eisoptrophobia is an unhealthy fear of ...
Parshas Acharei Mos/Kedoshim: Cry, Baby, Cry
The laws outlining the Yom Kippur service is first introduced in the context of it being instructed 'after the death of Aharon's two sons, when they a...
Rabbi Shmuel Silber - Parsha Perspectives: Acharei Mos – Pouring and Planting
There are many prohibitions in the Torah. Refraining from violating these prohibitions and maintaining our allegiance to God can be challenging at times. Yet, t...
Watch: Let's Talk Kashrus - Wine, or Wine Not? (Video)
In this enlightening episode, Rabbi Nochum Rabinowitz, Senior Rabbinic coordinator at OU kosher clarifies for us the differences between Yayin Nesech and Stam ...
Bring Your Shabbos Table Alive with Your Own Copy of ‘TableTalk’: Acharei Mos/Kedoshim 5783/2022
Baltimore, MD – Apr. 2023 - Every Shabbos table offers every Jewish family an incredible opportunity by which they can share their joy for Shabbos, for Yiddis...