December 2021

As the story of Joseph and his brothers reaches its dramatic climax in this week’s Torah reading, we are left with many unanswered questions regarding… Read More »Did Jacob Know What Happened to Joseph?

Hillel said, do not separate from the community, do not trust yourself till the day you die, do not judge your fellow until you reach… Read More »Chapter 2, Mishna 5(c): High Stakes Life

There are two basic opinions among the early poskim concerning the nature of the obligation of Kerias ha-Torah on Shabbos morning. One opinion[1] holds that… Read More »Listening To Kerias Ha-Torah Part 1

With Guest Author: Naomi Abrahami In Genesis, the same word, “va’yitzer,” is used to describe the creation of both man and the animals: “va’yitzer Hashem… Read More »Menu for the Soul

Yaakov sent malachim ahead of him to his brother Esav… (Bereshith 32:4) Although the word malachim could be translated as “messengers,” in this case it… Read More »Spies

“At the end of our tefillos, we say the Aleinu prayer, standing with complete concentration” (Rema 132,2). “One should say Aleinu with fear and awe,… Read More »Leaving Early

Question 92: I went to a restaurant where you first pay at the register for a drink that you want, and then get the drink… Read More »Paying For Water, Getting Lemonade

This week we read the parsha of Va’yigash. In last week’s parsha, the brothers, including Binyamin, came down to Mitzrayim {Egypt}and prostrated themselves before Yosef.… Read More »The Essence of Reproof

Pure euphoria is a transcendent feeling that passes, and then it is time to get practical. When Jacob discovered, after twenty-two years of ceaseless grieving,… Read More »First Things First

“I am Yosef. Does my father still live?” (45:3) When Yosef revealed himself to his brothers, the verse records that the brothers were unable to… Read More »Feel My Pain