September 2020

“…Perhaps it was an oversight on their part.” (Bereshith 43:12) The previous essay discussed the importance of accustoming oneself to saying, “I don’t know.” One… Read More »Ambiguous Statements III

QUESTION 64:  A friend of mine went to a mikveh (ritual bath) that costs $2. When he got there, he realized he had no money… Read More »Paying For A Mikveh

Adapted from a lecture by Rebbetzin Tehilla Jaeger The Torah holds women in high esteem and, as such, assigns them responsibilities commensurate with this status.… Read More »Glimpses of Jewish Femininity Part I

Our Sages describe the night as a time of justice and retribution. Under such circumstances the Zohar warns against falling before Hashem in Tachanun at… Read More »Dangerous at Night

Mobile phones can be dangerous to your health. Who knows what physical hazards will yet be revealed with future research, (while telltale signs of scrambled… Read More »Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Four

Torah is greater than priesthood and kingship, for kingship is acquired with 30 qualities, priesthood is acquired with 24, whereas the Torah is acquired with… Read More »Chapter 6, Mishna 6: The 48 Ways: 28-29: Love of G-d

The good which is reserved (lit., ‘hidden’) for the righteous is the life of the World to Come. This is the eternal life (lit., ‘the… Read More »Chapter 8, Law 1(a) – The Coming of the End, Part I

Malchiyos A primary aspect of the Rosh Hashana davening is the Malchiyos: accepting Hashem’s authority. In the Musaf tefila, ten verses mentioning Hashem’s rule are… Read More »Elul, II — Kingship, Love of Hashem, the Pandemic

These divrei Torah were adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissocher Frand’s Commuter Chavrusah Tapes on the weekly portion: CD # 1261 – Did… Read More »Why Not Hire a Babysitter for Hakhel?

You are all standing today before Hashem[2] One of the ways that we have traditionally understood this pasuk is as reassurance to a Klal Yisrael… Read More »Spoil the Child, and Spare the Rod