If someone gives you ten answers to a question, the one thing you can be assured of is that none of the answers is a very a good one. If one has a…
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The Nine Days: Aharon's Yahrzeit
“Aharon the priest ascended Hor Hahar and died there in the fortieth year... in the fifth month on the first of the month” (Bamidbar 33:…
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Shavuot: An Evolving Torah
“Rav Yossi said: It would have been appropriate had the Torah been given through Ezra, but Moshe preceded him… and even though the Torah…
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Yom Yerushalayim: Natural and Supernatural
The Jewish nation waited for close to 1,900 years to regain sovereignty over G-d’s chosen land. It took an additional 19 years until…
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Yom Haatzmaut: Thoughts at Seventy-two
“Shimon ben Azzai said: I have received a tradition from the seventy-two elders on the day when they appointed Rabbi Elazar ben Azariah…
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Pesach: Good and Comfortable
Seemingly, one of the more depressing debates in rabbinic literature is one that the houses of Hillel and Shammai argued about for two-and-half years…
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Pesach: The Simple Wise Son
Much ink has been spilled and much discussion ensued in trying to analyze the difference between the question of the chacham and the rasha. On the…
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Purim: Time for a Change
Purim marks a transition point in Jewish history. It ushers in the time period of hester panim, the transition from G-d's obvious and active…
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Chanukah: Timing the Market
Before there were clocks and standard time, time was determined in relation to the position of the sun—hence, the importance of the sundial. As…
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Chanukah: An Eternal Message
One of the painful realties of Jewish life is that the Jewish people are often judged by a double standard. What in other cultures is done with…
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Shmini Atzeret: Election Day
Tomorrow is Shmini Atzeret. It is also Election Day in Canada. While that is no doubt unfortunate for (observant) Jews, these days, Election Day is a…
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Shabbat Chol Hamoed: Opposites Attract
Sukkot is a holiday full of contradictions. At the time we celebrate our harvest, we are bidden to leave the comfort of our home and expose ourselves…
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Yom Kippur: The Day After
“It was on the next day…” (Shemot 18:13). Apparently, something of significance had happened on the previous day, yet the Torah makes no mention of…
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Yom Kippur: A Great Day!
Our society worships greatness. Whether it be athletes, rock stars, actors or successful business leaders, they are showered with wealth and…
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Aseret Yemi Teshuva: I Confess
Integral to the teshuva process is the act of vidui, confession. One can intellectually know one has done something wrong; one can even feel…
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Rosh Hashanah: Early, Late or Just Right
"And on the seventh month on the first day of the month, it shall be a day of rest. It is a sacred day for remembrance and blowing" (Vayikra 23:24). …
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Tu BAv: Coming Together
One of the lessons Nehama Leibowitz, z”l, drilled into us during the time I was fortunate to study with her was that if Rashi has two…
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Shavuot: A Forced Torah?
Our attitude towards Torah is a most fickle one. On the one hand, the Jewish people demonstrated great faith in following Moshe into a barren…