“On the eve of Pesachim, one may not eat adjacent to mincha time until it gets dark; …
Ki-Tisa: Where is Moshe
The mark of a great leader is the ability to inspire others—even in their absence. A great company…
Pesachim 99: What's to Eat
“On the eve of Pesachim, one may not eat adjacent to mincha time until it gets dark” (…
Tezaveh: Beyond Clothes
One of the key ways by which groups self-identify is through the medium of clothes. Almost all…
Purim: Shaping Jewish History
Rare is the person who has the opportunity to knowingly shape the course of Jewish history. Most…
Parshat Zachor: Defeating Evil
"He shall surely be put to death." "They shall be pelted with stones and thus stoned to death." "…
Pesachim 66: Anger Management
Judaism eschews extremism. “The two extremes in each and every tendency are not a good…
Pesachim 66: A Wise Leader
The Shulchan Aruch, the most accepted code of Jewish law, consists of four sections: Orach Chaim,…
Mishpatim: Sequel to Sinai
It is common after a major event to have difficulty getting back into our daily routine. Whether it…
Yitro: A Perfect Ten
In the Western world, the number ten represents perfection. Not surprisingly, this concept seems to…
Beshalach: Who's Up First
The problem of theodicy—why there is evil in this world—has bothered thinking people…
Pesachim 50: Time to Work
There is a fascinating debate amongst the medieval greats as to whether one is obligated to act…
Pesachim 50: That's My Minhag
In one of his teshuva derashot, Rav Soloveitchik lamented the fact that, while there are many…
Bo: The First Born
In the non-egalitarian society of the Bible, it was evident that the bechor, the firstborn…
Pesachim 49: A Great Family
Language is much more than a method of communication. It conveys the values and culture of those…
Pesachim 50: A Very Clear World
I am on occasion asked by my (generally non-observant) students questions about the afterlife…
Vaera: 137 and Counting
One hundred and thirty seven is not a number that would appear to have much significance, at least…
Pesachim 43: Chametz at the Seder
In our last post, we discussed the fascinating view of Rabbi Yehuda (at least, as understood by…