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The Music of Halacha: Rambam on Intention

We began the Music of Halacha series on Shabbat by focusing on the intention of our actions. We find similar concepts in the laws of The Laws of Murderers and the Protection

Tags: Music of Halacha, Shabbat

Mishlei: The Adornment and The Necklace

“Hear, my child, the discipline of your father, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother. For they are an adornment of grace for your head and a chain for your neck.” (Proverbs 1:8-9)

Awe of God Toolbox: X

The absolute best tool to develop Yira’at Shamayim is never to speak Lashon Hara. This is because the level of awareness that is demanded by not speaking it is so overwhelming, that

Tags: Lishon Harah

Pesukei D’Zimrah: Psalm 150: Unification

"Kol haNeshama Tehallel Kah", "All the soul will praise God". All five levels of the soul will praise God. And then, the praise itself which becomes the soul's garment, the soul that is

Awe of God Toolbox: IX

Look at the bracha before reciting the Sh’ma: “Enlighten our eyes in your Torah, attach our hearts to your commandments, unify our hearts to love and fear your Name, so that we won’t

Tags: Shema

Awe of God Toolbox: VIII

Every time you open a sefer to learn, if you appreciate that this is Truth, that this comes from God, that these words that have been learnt by generations, and that these words are described

Pesukei D’Zimrah: V’charot Imo Habrit: Holding Our Hand

"And You established with him (Abraham) the covenant." Why does it say that God made the Brit 'with' him? Because we know that Abraham asked the Holy One, Blessed Is He:

Awe of God Toolbox: VII

Rambam says that Yir’ah will be a natural result of Ahava. That is, as you learn about God, you will want to learn more. As you learn more about God, you will realize how unbelievably

Awe of God Toolbox: VI

If you like verses, whether they are from davening, or from elsewhere in Tanach, if they really touch you, make them part of your vocabulary. I don’t know if you’ve ever experienced

Morning Blessings-Pesach-Marror-From Bitter To Sweet

In the second part of the first blessing of the Torah, we say: "Sweeten, please, God our Lord, the words of Your Torah, in our mouth and in the mouths of your people the House of

Awe of God Toolbox: V

My Uncle Noach zt”l always described this feeling with a story: You’re walking down a dark alley. All of a sudden this dog comes out from the shadows, growling and roaring. Which

Awe of God Toolbox IV

The last issue that we spoke of is that true awe is perceived to be degrading. At some point, a person will say, “Ahh! This person is so great, and I am a nothing.” This is because

Awe of God Toolbox III

The next issue is that you’re going to lose some autonomy. Let me ask you something. If you could feel free of your life patterns, that is patterns of behavior, is that losing autonomy?

Awe of God Toolbox II

The second issue is that many people fear that Yira’at Hashem will limit them. Have you ever heard of those stories when a mother sees her son, God forbid, hit by a truck, and she goes

Awe of God Toolbox: I

Awe or Yirah, related to the word, Yir’ah, meaning ‘to see.’ But first, you must realize that, even more than the previous four Mitzvot, there is an internal conflict within yourself to fight

Awe of God Toolbox: Introduction

The Foundation Stone honors the great victory won by the Jewish midwives in Egypt by virtue of their awe of God, one of the Six Constant Mitzvot by sharing some practical tools to

Benjamin-Rabbeinu Bachya – Vayechi

“In the morning he consumes a foe.” (Genesis 49:27) Benjamin combined within him the two “Great” emanations of “Gedula and Gevurah.” This is why the Temple, the home of the

Asher: Alshich Hakadosh – Vayechi

“Asher’s bread will be rich.” (Genesis 49:20) Asher’s part of the land is due to his specific merit. In order to indicate this, the verse begins with the letter “mem,” as if to say,

Gad-Ohr Hachaim Hakodesh – Vayechi

“Gad, a troop shall troop upon him.” (Genesis 49:19) Jacob links his blessing to his name, interpreting Gad’s name as meaning a troop or camp. The Sefer HaAruch defines Gad as meaning

Naftali-Rabbeinu Bachya – Vayechi

“Naftali is a hind let loose.” (Genesis 49:21) The “hind let loose,” is an allusion to the concept of Tzaddik, the truly righteous. The word is reminiscent of a messenger, “shaliach,”

The story is told of a young man who came to the Chatam Sofer requesting approbation from the great rabbi for his scholarly book. Rabbi Sofer read the book and responded, “I don’t mind when you quote my words as your own, but please, don’t...

Tags: Vayechi

Yissachar-Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh – Vayechi

“He saw tranquility that it was good, and the land that it was pleasant, yet he bent his shoulder to bear and he became an indentured servant.” (Genesis 49:15) Issachar correctly evaluates

Zevulun-Rabbeinu Bachya – Vayechi

“Zebulun will reside along the coast of the seas.” (Genesis 49:12) It is important to understand that the very name, Zebulun, alludes to what is called the “Kav Ha’emtza’I,” the

Yehudah-Alshich HaKadosh – Vayechi

“He will tie his donkey to the vine.” (Genesis 49:11) The Midrash states that if Israel deserves it the Messiah’s arrival will be hastened by God, if Israel does not merit it, the Messiah

Reuben-Maor Vashemesh – Vayechi

“Reuben, you are my firstborn, my strength and my initial vigor, foremost in rank and foremost in power.” (Genesis 49:3) The Sages teach (Bereishit Rabbah 84:19) that Reuben was

Shimon & Levi-Ma’or Vashemesh – Vayechi

“Simeon and Levi are comrades, their weaponry is a stolen craft. Into their conspiracy, may my soul not enter! With their congregation, do not join, O my honor! I will separate them within

Vayigash: Eternal Bond

When Joseph left him, Jacob knew with which chapter of study he had left him, for he was teaching him. When Joseph's brothers came and said to him, "Joseph is still alive", his

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