It is well known that the mitzvah of tzitzit is a classic case of a mitzvah aseh…
Lech Lecha: Counting Sheep
"And there was an argument between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of…
Menachot 44: A Slap in the Face
There is little that turns one off from religion more than corruption in the religious sphere. When…
Menachot 43: Missing No Longer!
Our generation has been blessed with the renewal of two mitzvot that had, for all…
V'zot HaBracha: A Man of G-d
Even though Parshat Vezot Ha'beracha is read over and over again during Simchat Torah it is…
Menachot 28: The Temple Lulav
The opening Mishna of masechet menachot teaches that just because one lacks proper intent…
Sukkot: The Beauty of the Etrog
Judaism is not oblivious to the power and even importance of physical beauty. Phrases such as yefat…
Menachot 29: Moshe Meets Akiva
“Rav Yehuda said in the name of Rav: When Moses ascended on high, he found the Holy One,…
Haazinu: Action Reaction
Jewish thought teaches that the physical and spiritual worlds are meant to function harmoniously.…
Yom Kippur: Welcoming the Evil Inclination
“For the sin that we sinned before you with the evil inclination”. The double…
Menachot 29: The Death of Rabbi Akiva
One of the most moving parts of the Yom Kippur davening is the recital of the asara…
Let's Listen To Some Lashon Hara
“Rav Yehuda said in the name of Rav: the majority [of people sin] regarding theft, a minority…
Menachot 18: Loving Torah
“Blessed are Torah scholars for whom the words of Torah are very dear to them” (…
Nitzavim: Near and Dear
One of the most vexing issues in Biblical interpretation is the relationship between pshat, loosely…
Menachot 12: Time over Space
There is no area of Jewish law as regimented as that of sacrifices. There are strict rules as to…
Ki Tavo: The Presence of G-d
In the secular world in which we live it can be—and often is—hard to feel the presence…
Ki Teitzei: Demanding More
When studying Torah we must study not only its content, but also its form; not just what the…
Menachot 6: Benefitting Sinners
In 1977, the New York State Legislature passed the “Son of Sam law”. Named for serial…