May 2024

But if you do not listen to Me and do not perform all these commandments and if you despise My statutes and reject My ordinances,… Read More »It Still Whispers, “Shabbos”

There are four types of students (lit., among those who sit before the Sages) — a sponge, a funnel, a strainer, and a sifter. The… Read More »Chapter 5, Mishna 18: The Gift of Selective Memory

These divrei Torah were adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissocher Frand’s Commuter Chavrusah Tapes on the weekly portion: #1293 – A Tragic Holocaust… Read More »Focusing In on The Opening Words of the Parsha – Part 1: Teleichu

Then they will confess their sin and the sin of their forefathers…and also for having behaved toward Me haphazardly. I, too, will behave toward them… Read More »No Excuses

BS”D Volume 38, No. 33 24 Iyar 5784 June 1, 2024 Our Parashah opens: “If you will follow My Chukim / decrees and observe My… Read More »Earn an ‘A’ for Effort

This week we read the double parsha of B’har/B’chukosai, thereby completing the Sefer {Book} of Vayikra. B’har begins with the laws of sh’mita–the Torah’s prohibition… Read More »A Back-Handed Compliment

The Story Sarah was thrilled to finally have her friend from across the street, Liya, come over to her house to play one afternoon. The… Read More »Arvus – Communal Responsibility

Anticipation. What a wonderful feeling. As the long-awaited event draws ever closer, we cannot help but count the days. Five days left. Four days. The… Read More »Familiarity Breeds Respect

The portion of Bechukosai begins quite simply. Hashem tells us: “If you will walk in My ordinances and observe My commandments and perform them. Then… Read More »Toil Trouble

Last class we reviewed the sixteenth blessing of the Shemoneh Esrai, the Shema Koleinu blessing and its emphasis on a request that HaShem hear our… Read More »Transitioning to Thanksgiving