torah

Yehuda ben (son of) Tabbai and Shimon ben Shatach received the transmission from them [the previous generation of scholars, listed in Mishna 6]. Yehuda ben… Read More »Chapter 1, Mishna 8: Shaping Minds

How we admire people who combine great wealth with great social consciousness, who not only take from society but give something back as well. We… Read More »The Epitome of Righteousness

“And G-d said to Balaam ‘Do not go with them [the emissaries of Balak] and do not curse [the nation of Israel] for it is… Read More »Uncommon Courtesy

We are all fascinated by inanimate or animal objects that speak. The ’60s had TV viewers kvelling over talking horses, even talking cars. And an… Read More »Sorry for Nothing

In Psalms, King David writes that the honor and beauty of a Jewish woman is contained in her unique quality of inwardness. By contrast, today… Read More »Privacy: Is it a Feminine Trait?

QUESTION 81: CLOTHES INTENDED FOR CHARITY As I gained weight, I put aside some clothes to give to charity. I assumed that since the clothes… Read More »Clothes Intended for Charity

“My beloved is like a gazelle or like a young hart; behold he stands behind our wall, he looks in the windows” (Shir Hashirim 2,9).… Read More »Gazing through Windows

And his mother [Rivka] said to him [Yaakov], “Your curse will be on me. Just listen to what I said and go and take [the… Read More »Sticking Up For Mom

Friday Night AS THE EXPRESSION goes, “Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it.” The story of Bilaam is a classic… Read More »Destructive Hope

Nittai of Arbel said, distance yourself from a bad neighbor, do not befriend a wicked person, and do not despair of punishment. The theme of… Read More »Chapter 1, Mishna 7: Jewish Ghettos