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Lights XXV

“The command of God is clear, enlightening the eyes.” (Psalms 19:9) How can we explain people who observe all the commandments and yet do not seem to have achieved ‘enlightened

Shalom Aleichem: Angel Food

The Sages (Yalkut Bereishit 82) state that the Jewish people enjoyed the manna in the merit of Abraham feeding bread to the angels who visited his home. This is an allusion to the intimate

Rabbeinu Avraham ben HaRambam: Vayishlach

The 18th of Kislev is the Yahrtzeit of Rabbeinu Avraham ben HaRambam, the only son of the Rambam, born to him by his second wife. Born in Fostat, Egypt (1186-1238). Author of Hamaspik

Countdown to Chanukah 7

“And to remove them from the Statutes of Your Will.” (Al Hanissim) Greek wisdom was entirely based on human reason. They rejected anything that did not seem logical, as false. Torah is

Lights XXIV

“The poor man and the broken man have had their fate ordained, but God will enlighten the eyes of both.” Proverbs 29:13) The poor man is a person who has never studied Torah. The

Lights XXIII

“And the Lord said, ‘Let there be light! And there was light.” (Genesis 1:3) It states, “There was light,” instead of, “and it was so,” as it says in all other places, since the contrast to

Countdown to Chanukah 8

“And to remove them from the Statutes of Your Will.” (Al Hanissim) This refers specifically to the Menorah in the Beit Hamikdash – the Temple in Jerusalem. The Talmud (Shabbat 22b)

Shalom Aleichem: Preparation

To attain a taste of the World-to-Come every Shabbat, one must have earned that distinction through one's efforts during the six weekdays preceding the Shabbat. The sages (Yalkut

The Music of Halacha: The True Meausre of A Life: Introduction

Whenever our grandfathers, the Gedolim, or great sages of the generation, would gather for a meeting, we, the grandchildren, would carefully observe everything they did, to determine for

Tags: Music of Halacha, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur

Mishlei: Applying Acquired Wisdom

“To understand parable and epigram, the words of the wise, and their enigmas.” (Proverbs 1:6) King Solomon has been guiding us in appreciating wisdom and the advantages

Vayeitzei: Bread to Eat

Rabbi Berachya said: The Holy One, Blessed Is He, responded to each one of his (Jacob's) requests. Jacob said: "If God will be with me", God responded "Behold, I am with you".

Shalom Aleichem: Coming and Leaving

"God will guard your leaving and your coming from now and forever" (Psalms 121:8). We usually associate a birth with someone coming into the world, and a death with someone leaving this

Shalom Aleichem: Ohev Yisrael: Shared Essence

The heavens or “Shamayim” are a combination of “aish” – fire, and “mayim” – water. God, so to speak makes peace between the Angels of fire and the angels of water, as in “Oseh shalom

Shema: Chidah: Holy, Holy, Holy

The great Sage Rabbi Avraham, Av Beit Din of Brisk 5775, asked in a dream why we need to say “Kadosh” three times before we can say, “His Glory fills the earth?”

Shalom Aleichem: Customs

The Ben Ish Chai would make Hafafot – circles – around his table, holding two Haddasim; one for Zachor and one for Shamor – while singing Shalom Aleichem. (Year 2, Bereishit #29. See

Shalom Aleichem: Return in Peace

“And Jacob left Be’eir Sheva and went to Charan.” Jacob left Israel, the well from which the world draws its spiritual sustenance of the Seven Lower Sephirot – the Shabbat – and went to

Shalom Aleichem: Potential

When Jacob wrestles with the angel, the angel asks him to release him. Jacob says: "I will not let you go unless you bless me". The angel's response is to switch his name from Jacob to Israel

Shalom Aleichem: A Transcendant Peek

Every seven days we have the opportunity to transcend from our daily routine to a place beyond time: the passing from our daily life, what we consider “real” onto Shabbat. Shabbat comes whether

Divrei Yisrael: Honoring God

The 13th of Kislev is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Yisrael Taub of Modzhitz, author of Divrei Yisrael (1849-1920). He was the son of Rav Shmuel Eliyahu Taub of Zvolin (1888) and the grandson of Rav

Pesukei D’Zimrah-Ramban- Making Music

“Hallelukah! For it is good to make music to our Lord, for praise is pleasant and befitting.” (Psalms 147:1) One should read this verse as, “Hallellukah! For God is good.” It is righteous to praise God

HaChaim V’HaShalom: Your Father, Adam Harishon

The 13th of Kislev is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Shalom Hadayah of Aram Tzova, Syria (1864-1944). The lineage of his father, Rav Moshe Chaim Hadayah, could be traced back to Rav

Mishkan Shiloh: Awareness of God

The 13th of Kislev is the Yahrtzeit of Rabbi Yosef Shmuel Landau, author of Mishkan Shiloh. He died on November 22, 1836. If prophecy existed, it must be essential for life. Why do we

Tags: Suffering

Shalom Aleichem: Not Just Hello

We first tell the angels "Shalom Aleichem", or "peace be upon you". This is a form of greeting. We then say: "May your coming be for peace". There is a difference between saying "hello",

Shalom Aleichem: A Sign

We might feel that we are not deserving of having angels escorting us. Those who are meticulous with the Mitsvah of Tefillin all day have a different status that those who aren't. "And all the

Shalom Aleichem: Na’aseh V’Nishma

When Israel said “Na’aseh V’nishma” and stated their willingness to Do, before Hearing, 600,000 angels flew down from heaven and tied two crowns to the head of each Jew: One for Na’aseh and

Shalom Aleichem: Wings

Each Mitzvah we do creates an Angel that will fly up to heaven and attach to God’s crown. However, when we perform a Mitzvah without love and awe of God, the Angels are created without

Shalom Aleichem: Time & Space

Rashi comments that the Angels rising and descending the ladder in Jacob’s dream, were the Angels who accompanied Jacob in Israel climbing up the ladder, and the Angels, that would protect

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