July 2020

Question: Is it appropriate to remove one’s tallis katan while playing sports or engaging in strenuous activities that make one hot and sweaty? Discussion: Some… Read More »Vacation Situations

This week’s parshiyos, Matos-Masay, conclude the sefer of Bamidbar. There are numerous episodes here which reveal to us the power of our words. The first… Read More »Crossing Holiness to the Other Side of the River

“If a man takes a vow to Hashem…” (30:3) This week’s parsha introduces the laws governing “nedarim” and “shevuos” – vows and oaths. Rabbi Yehuda… Read More »Marriage Vows

So says God: What wrong did your forefathers find in Me, that they distanced themselves from Me, and they went after futility and themselves became… Read More »Backslidings

The Story Rina’s family was enjoying an evening at the beach and had brought a barbeque meal to enjoy. They spread out the blanket and… Read More »Tevilas Keilim – Dipping Your Kitchen Utensils

This week’s Torah portion begins with Hashem’s command to “Oppress the Midianites and smite them”. We are instructed to exact justice for the way they… Read More »One Nation Under G-d

The Mitzvah: Where a Jew killed accidentally, he would go into exile by fleeing to one of the established Orei HaMiklot, “Cities of Refuge” in… Read More »Cities of Refuge: Sanctuary for Survival

Yirmiyahu 2:4 This week’s haftorah continues the theme of the three weeks and introduces the month of Av. The prophet Yirmiyahu reprimands the Jewish people… Read More »Haftorah Commentary Parshas Matos – Masei

“Those who live by the sword,” the clichéd expression goes, “die by it as well.” What about those who live by other means of evil?… Read More »Tricks of the Trade — Trade of the Tricks

What is [the meaning of] that which David said, ‘Good and upright is G-d; therefore he instructs sinners along the path. He leads the humble… Read More »Chapter 6, Law 5(a) – Helping Those Who Help Themselves