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Shalom Aleichem: Sefat Emet: Upper & Lower Worlds

We say in the Friday evening prayers; “Who spreads a Succah of Peace over us.” This Succah of Peace is what makes us whole, as in Shaleim, for everything has a spiritual root in the Highest

Shalom Aleichem: Angels of Peace

The quality of Shalom, peace, is related to ‘Shleimut,’ being whole. While many consider Shalom the absence of conflict, that is the lowest level of peace. In its highest manifestation,

Shalom Aleichem: Shabbat Gifts

We receive a Nesham Yeteira, an additional soul, on Shabbat, representing enhanced abilities and opportunities to perceive holiness. Its purpose is to enable the person to draw out and realize

Morning Blessings-Chidah: No Worries

“Who removes sleep from my eyes.” Why do we not respond Amen to this blessing? Why did the Sages make this the introduction the prayer that follows, “Who bestows beneficent kindnesses upon

Morning Blessings: Rav Chazkal Sarna: Removing Sleep

“Who removes sleep from my eyes.” How does this connect with the concluding blessing, “Who bestows beneficent kindnesses upon His people, Israel?” This is based on the Mishna (Sanhedrin 71b):

Countdown to Chanukah 13

The blessing over the Chanukah candles has thirteen words: “Baruch Ata Hashem Elokainu Melech HaOlam Asher Kidishanu B’Mitzvotav V’Tzivanu Lihadlik Ner Chanukah.”

Lights XVIII: Amudei Ohr: The Light of Awe

The Eleventh of Kislev is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Yechiel Heller, Rav of Sovalk [Suvalk]. Among his sefarim are Shailos U'Teshuvos Amudei Ohr, Ohr Yesharim on the Haggadah, Oteh

Chasdei Hashem: The Three Crowns: Three Types of Acquisition

The Eleventh of Kislev is the Yahrtzeit of Rabbi Moshe Mordechai Margolis of Krakow, author of Chasdei Hashem, a powerful book on the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy. He passed away

Even HaEzel: Crying Out on Shabbat

One who visits the ill on Shabbat should say, “Though the Shabbat prohibits us from crying out, may a recovery come speedily.” (Rambam, Hilchot Shabbat 24:5) How do we go from. “Though the Shabbat

Even HaEzel: Illness on Shabbat

The Tenth of Kislev is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer (1870-1954), author of Even HaEzel, rosh yeshiva of Slutsk and Eitz Chaim-Yerushalayim. He was a disciple of the Netziv,

The Mitteler Rebbe: Shema: Hashem Echad

The Mittler Rebbe teaches that when we say “Hashem Echad” – God is One – in our Shema, we are actually praying for His help in constantly being aware of His Unity, which is so far beyond human comprehension. (Introduction to Imrei Binah)...

Amidah: Blessing Seven: See Our Affliction

“Please See our affliction, fight our battles and redeem us speedily with a complete redemption”. We want the Redemption, we say ‘redeem!’, we want our battles to be waged, we

Haftarah Discussions: Vayeitzei

I. Contradictions: “My people is unsure about returning to Me; it is summoned to the Most High One, but it does not rise in unity.” (Hosea 11:7) Do not read “it is summoned to the Most

Tags: God, Haftarah, Hosheia, Love & Fear of God, Vayeitzei

Amidah: Blessing Fifteen: Mei Marom: Living With Salvation

“For we hope for Your salvation all the day.” – When a soul is brought forward into its final judgment they ask her, “Did you await salvation?” (Shabbat 31a) The questions is; “Did you

Chasdei David: The Chesed of Torah

The Eighth of Kislev is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Dovid Borenstein of Sochotchov, the Chasdei Dovid (1876-1942). Born to Rav Shmuel (the Shem MiShmuel), who was the son of the Avnei Nezer. His primary teacher was his grandfather. In 1906, he became the Rav of Vishogrod, Poland. He moved to Lodz in the

Mishlei: Strategies of Wisdom

“That a wise one may hear and increase his learning, and a discerning one may acquire strategies.” (Proverbs 1:5) Strategy is an important theme throughout Proverbs. As the Ramchal

Morning Blessings: External Enemy

In the “Yehi ratzon” we recite after the morning blessings (Nusach S’fard), we ask that God rescue us “from an evil person, from the evil inclination, from an evil friend, from an evil neighbor”.

Mei Marom: Shema: Reflections of Wisdom

“How great are Your works, God, You make them all with wisdom, the world is full of Your possessions.” (Psalms 104:24) We know that only human beings possess free will. We tend to

The Ibn Ezra’s Letter of Shabbat

The Ibn Ezra published a pamphlet, Iggeret HaShabbat on Octorber 30, 1158, the 7th of Kislev: “A burdensome prophecy concerning Duma (Edom): He calls out to Me because of Seir:

Darchei Hora’ah: Acquiring Wealth of Wisdom

The Sixth of Kislev is the Yahrtzeit of Rabbi Yonatan ben Mordechai, author of Darchei Hora’ah. He died on November 20, 1898. A person may acquire wealth in one of three ways:

Pesukei D’Zimrah: Mei Marom: Yehi Chivod

“May the glory of God endure forever, let God rejoice in His works.” (Psalms 104:31) The purpose of creation is the complete revelation of the glory of God’s soveriengty, and that

Morning Blessings: Mei Marom: Dignity

The Sixth of Kislev is the Yahrzteit of Rav Yaakov Moshe Charlap (1883-1951). Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Merkaz Harav and Rav of Yerushalayim's Sha'arei Chessed neighborhood.

Blessing after the Shema: A Lesson in Education

“And His words are alive and enduring; faithful and pleasant”. This phrase can provide us with a fundamental key to education. “Alive and enduring”-We want our teachings to be lasting;

Pesukei D’Zimrah: Ashrei: From One Generation to The Next

“Generation to generation will praise Your work, and Your mighty deeds they will recount”. Some events start in one generation and end in the next. Those of that second generation are

The Music of Halacha: MySpace Rabbinic Style

Tractate Shabbat opens with a discussion of the forbidden labor of transferring an article from one domain to another: “Transfers prohibited on Shabbat are of two types that are actually four

Tags: Music of Halacha, Shabbat

Looking For Permanence II

People often ask me about the Jewish problem with tattoos. I believe that it is an issue with the idea of permanence. (See Looking For Permanence) One of the Jewish inmates I served as a prison chaplain had a tattoo of a heart with a long...

Haftarah Discussions: Toledot

I. “The Masa of the word of God to Israel through the hands of Malachi: “I have shown love to you,” says God, but you say, “How have you shown love to us?” (Malachi 1:1) Malachi’s prophecy

Tags: Haftarah, Malachi, Man's Soul, Prophecy, Toledot

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