January 2021

For a writer, the worst sight is a blank page. You stare at it, wondering how you are going to start. I have started this… Read More »Chapter One Hundred Forty-Five

The Kotzker Rebbe once explained the quest for holiness in this world with the following parable: Hashem has fashioned a ladder that reaches from Heaven… Read More »Heavenly Bound

[NOTE: The first part of this law, as translated in the past class, posed the question why the Torah promises us reward and punishment in… Read More »Chapter 9, Law 1(c) – Physical and Spiritual Rewards

These divrei Torah were adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissocher Frand’s Commuter Chavrusah Tapes on the weekly portion: #1146 – Polling Place/AA Meeting… Read More »What Was the Kal V’Chomer?

The birth of Moshe, in last week’s parsha, concerned Shevet Levi. “A man from the house of Levi married a daughter of Levi…” At first,… Read More »Moshe the Levi

QUESTION 72:  I’m an attorney. I have to record my hours for each case I work on. Although I try to be strict with my… Read More »Billing Hours Worked

The Shulchan Aruch was written as a halachic guide and generally does not describe the severity of transgressions. Yet with regards to someone who talks… Read More »Too Much to Bear

“And he took the gold rings and bracelets and placed them on her nose and hands. Then he asked, ‘Whose daughter are you?’” (Bereshith 24:22-… Read More »Matchmaker

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: Way 48(b): Leaving it up to G-d – Part II

Rabbi Meilech Biederman, a well-known teacher in Jerusalem, shared an incredible message this week, one that is worth sharing almost verbatim. Hashem told Moshe to… Read More »Pharaoh’s Secret Power