During a Q&A session at a campus J-Soc meeting with the student chaplain an undergraduate asked the Rabbi “Why does the Jewish religion seem to obcess over insignificant details? For example – how much matza do we have to eat or which spoon did I use for
Read more →Some old song Just a drop of water In the endless sea All we do Crumbles to the ground Though we refuse to see Dust in the wind Now, don’t hang on Nothing last forever But the earth and sky It slips away And all my
Read more →Author: Yisroel Ciner Rabbi Weinberg introduced a novel, but important concept: Nowadays, every single one of us has the law of an “Adom Gadol”. Wherever we find ourselves — be it in the office or in the super market or in traffic — we are in the
Read more →(based on the teachings of Rav Yaakov Weinberg zt’l) The first Rashi brings the famous question concerning Chukim. When the goyim and the satan ask us why we do certain mitzvos which don’t seem to have a reason we are to react with ‘gezaira hee, ein lecha
Read more →Passover has its Seder. Purim has its Megillah Reading. Chanukah has its Menorah. Sukkot has its Sukkah. Shavuot, however, seems to be quite a barren holiday in terms of mitzvot, rituals, and commandments. True, many have a custom to remain awake the entire night studying Torah on
Read more →“And Yaakov was very frightened and distressed.” (Genesis 32:7) Rashi comments that Yaakov was frightened lest he or members of his family be killed, and he was distressed that he might be forced to kill others. Rabbi Moshe Feinstein asks: Why was Yaakov distressed that he might
Read more →based on teachings of Rav Yaakov Weinberg zt’l No, we will not be discussing child sacrifice, but rather, the sacrifices parents make for their children. If we had to link two commandments in the Torah, there are many that would come to mind easily. What about the
Read more →Vayikra 1:2 Speak to the Bney Yisroel and say to them: when a man/adam from you will bring an offering to Hashem from animals, from cattle or from the flock you should bring your sacrifice. Rashi says that the phrase “Ki Yakriv” teaches us that this Pasuk refers
Read more →“And God called to Moses…” (Leviticus 1:1) Rosh in his commentary to the Torah explains that the aleph in the word vayikra, with which the third book of Torah begins, is reduced in size to reflect the humility of Moses. Remaining to be understood is why this
Read more →Thoughts on Korbonos. 1. Once, at the Chumash Shiur on Shabbos, he asked if we knew the famous Rambam about Korbonos. When he got a fairly negative response from the assembled, he said something to the effect of ‘you are fortunate’ (not to have heard the Rambam’s
Read more →Author: Rabbi Mark Spiro Introduction: Joke: Is there baseball in heaven There seems to be a great deal of interest in the afterlife In spite of the fact that we’re such a hands-on society Best sellers: R. Moody, Many Lives, Saved by Light Ask: Have people read
Read more →I. Beginning to learn 1. Explain some of the background: The Jews in the desert were commanded to build a “mishkan,” a temple, or literally, a home for G-d’s presence. The temple was built with the donations of all the Jewish people. When the temple was finished
Read more →The parsha discusses the mitzvo of tzedaka and promises a special bracha to one who fulfils this mitzvo b’simcha: “You will surely give to him [the poor man] and you should not feel bad in your heart when giving him; because of this thing (davar hazeh) Hashem,
Read more →Author: Jacob Berkman Jews take 5 of top 6 spots in annual list of top US givers By JACOB BERKMAN / JTA 02/09/2011 17:05 19 of 53 on Chronicle of Philanthropy survey are Jewish, though less than one quarter of money given goes to overtly Jewish causes. Talkbacks (12)
Read more →Kindness and tzeddekah are the safeguards of riches – Kesubos 66b Tzeddekah lengthens the days and years of man. Tanna de’Bei Eliyahu Zutta 1 Tzeddekah tears up all evil decrees. Zohar 2:20a No man is ever impoverished by giving tzeddekah, nor is harm ever caused by it.
Read more →Author: Nathaniel Popper If it had not been for Warren Buffett’s charitable gift of $43.5 billion last year, the world might have taken more notice of the year’s next three largest gifts — all of which were given by Jewish philanthropists.The two largest donations after Buffet were
Read more →“Take for me an offering.” (Exodus 25:2) The donations requested of the Israelites for the construction of theMishkan (tabernacle) are described as being “taken” rather than “given.”What does that mean? Moreover, God is the Master of the Universe and allthat it contains. Did He need contributions and
Read more →SEFER AHAVAS CHESED — Part II Chapter XVI “Talk is cheap,” says the world. When that talk is a pledge to charity, however, it is far from cheap. It is almost as valuable as the act of giving itself. The Chofetz Chaim relates that when a person makes a
Read more →Author: Sefer Ahavas Chesed – Part II Chapter IV footnotes Doublethink is a word coined to describe the process of convincing oneself that something is exactly the opposite of what it really is. With the yetzer hara’s able assistance, an entire town can convince itself that kindness
Read more →Author: Sefer Ahavas Chesed Day 104 – Ways to Give SEFER AHAVAS CHESED – Part II Chapter XIX Anyone who has ever encountered a pile of charity solicitations in his mailbox knows that the world is a needy place. The Chofetz Chaim explains that some of these
Read more →Author: Sefer Ahavas Chesed- Part II Chapter XII Electricity is a powerful, complex force. One perceives it only in its final manifestation; it can light up a city, make factory machinery hum, empower vast computer networks or just shed a little light on the dinner table. If
Read more →Author: Sefer Ahavas Chesed- Part II Chapter XII Following the directions set by the first six letters in the alef-beis, one could still be left with a major question: If Torah study and acts of kindness are to be the primary activities of a Jew’s life, how
Read more →The time comes, and a person wishes to leave instructions for thehandling of his estate. He understands that the money he leaves for charity is the only bequest with the power to deliver riches to his door in the World to Come. The instructions he gives, the
Read more →A good businessman knows his target market. He does not just blindlyassemble random merchandise in hopes that some of it will sell to someone.He aims precisely at the needs he is best suited to fill. In the business of tzedakah, the Torah defines the target market, assuring
Read more →Some people give charity just because they are supposed to do so. Most people, however, have other motives as well. It brings honor and recognition, protects one’s family, acts as a merit for recovery from illness, brings forgiveness for sins and provides many other tangible and spiritual
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