What did Moshe receive at Sinai, machloches, rules for psak. To view the PDF on mobile click
Read more →Author: Nachman Elsant 1) The Torah was not given to individuals it was given to one unified nation. Spend 5 minutes a day thinking what you could do to promote unity amongst the Jewish nation. Chose a plan and start taking steps to bring it to action, 2) Go
Read more →One of the most prominent features of Shavuos is the universal Minhag (custom) for men to stay awake all night learning Torah. The Magen Avraham explains the reason for this Minhag; he brings Chazal who say that the Jewish people went to sleep on the night of Matan Torah (the giving of the Torah)
Read more →Every Shavuos, we read Megillas Ruth, the story of the conversion of the Moabite Ruth, and her subsequent marriage to Boaz, which led to the birth of David HaMelech and ultimately the future Mashiach. Analyzing aspects of the story can help us deepen our understanding of the lessons
Read more →The Gemara in Pesachim teaches us a fascinating lesson about Shavuos; the Gemara brings a machlokes (disagreement) between Rebbe Yehoshua and Rebbe Eliezer with regard to how a person should conduct himself on the Yamim Tovim. Rebbe Yehoshua holds that one should devote part of his time to spiritual pursuits,
Read more →Shavuos is a time of appreciation for the giving of the Torah. On Shavuos, we demonstrate our love of Torah by spending the whole night immersed in the greatest mitzvah, that of Torah study. As we approach this holy day, it is important to develop an accurate
Read more →In the April issue of Commentary, a scholar dared to raise one of the few remaining issues still considered impolite these days for public discussion: Jewish intelligence. In an essay entitled “Jewish Genius,” political scientist and writer Charles Murray – who is not Jewish – outlines the
Read more →A Chag Called ‘Weeks’? Rav Yaakov Weinberg ZTL once said a shmues which he was mechadesh(it seemed) on the Yom Tov of Shavuos itself and he was very excited about the chiddush. He asked, what kind of a name do we give the Yom Tov of Kabbalas HaTorah. Shavuos-Weeks? Wouldn’t you
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 →The holiday of Shavuot is upon us. It is a funny holiday. Although it is one of the three main festival holidays along with Passover and Succot, little is know about it amongst non-observant Jews. This is strange given the fact that it commemorates the most important
Read more →I once had a dramatic demonstration of the close link between the loss of faith in the future and this dangerous giving up. F?, my senior block warden, a fairly well known composer and librettist, confided in me one day: “I would like to tell you something,
Read more →Preparations Shmos 19:10 Immersion (Ibn Ezra, Rashi 24:6) Shmos 19:12 Set boundaries Shmos 19:15 Separate from physical relationsThe Mountain Shmos 19:16 “And it came to pass on the 3rd day, when it was morning, that there were thunderbolts and flashes of lightning and a heavy cloud upon
Read more →Author: Adapted from the Seder Ha’doros 1st year in the Desert End of Nissan Yisroel arrive at Moroh. The miracle of the bitter water. They are given some mitzvos, i.e. Shabbos, Poroh adumoh, monetary laws (and acc. Of some, also ‘Kibbud ov vo’em’.) Iyar I A man
Read more →Author: Rabbi Gavriel Rubin The chain of events surrounding the giving of the Torah is very difficult to follow, because, according to Rashi’s understanding, the verses are not arranged chronologically, and a number of jumps must be made in order to reconstruct the sequence of events. The
Read more →“All holidays are opportunities” Each one has a unique agricultural name. Each holiday is only part of the process. “What is the holiday of Shavuos?” Commemorates the Relevation of Mt. Sinai. “Why only 1 day when both Pesach and Succos are more?”The Talmud calls Shavuos by the
Read more →Topics covered in this class: I. Oddities of the Shavuos Holiday II. Customs of Shavuos III. Standing during the reading of the Decalogue I. Oddities of the Shavuos holiday. Shavous is a strange holiday. For a few reasons: The Torah gives it no specific date unto itself.
Read more →It is the time of year that we stop and commemorate the anniversary of the giving of the Torah. But is it merely marking a time where we received a book? It is much more. Shavuos brings not only celebration, but a deep reminder of how the
Read more →Chapter 4 Author: Rabbi Moshe Cohen 4:1 Why did Boaz not speak privately to Tov? He was afraid that Tov would stall for time, and Ruth would have to endure the pain of waiting for an uncertain outcome. This was intolerable. Therefore he went up to the Sanhedrin
Read more →Chapter 3 Author: Rabbi Moshe Cohen 3:1 We do not see that Naomi made any effort for Rus other than telling her to trust in HaShem. The harvest was at an end and still Boaz had not given any indication that he would be the redeemer. Furthermore now
Read more →Chapter 2 Author: Rabbi Moshe Cohen 2:1 Note the contrast: Ruth and Naomi are isolated and helpless. Boaz is a wealthy man. He does not offer his help. They do not beg. “ool’Naomi modah leesha” This perek begins by informing us that they had a rich and influential
Read more →Chapter 1 Author: Rabbi Moshe Cohen Why do we read Ruth on Shavuos? There are several standard answers: The story takes place at the beginning of the barley harvest and continues until the end of the wheat harvest. Just as the Jewish people entered into a bris
Read more →V’hayu nechonim l’yom hashlishi (Shomos 19: 11). And you should prepare yourselves for the giving of the Torah on the third day. The Torah’s introduction to kabolas Hatorah contains the secret of successfully ascertaining Torah knowledge, hashkofah, and becoming a true Torah personality. Every morning in birchas
Read more →2. G-D And Emunah – Ikrei Emunah – Kiddush Hashem AND 9. Chumash And Nach – Chumash – 3. Vayikra – 8. Parsha Emor ————————————————————————————— To Climb the Highest Mountain Parshat Emor 7. Shabbos And Chagim – Shavuos ——————————————————— Shavuot R. Simcha Barnett The holiday of Shavuot
Read more →Ruth Ruth was a Moabite princess who married a Jew. After her husband died, Ruth chose to become Jewish and to move to Israel with Naomi, her mother-in-law. Ruth later married Boaz, the leader of the Jewish people. Their great-grandson was King David. Her dedication to G-d and Judaism has made
Read more →