Our Sages defined a chacham as one who is roeh et hanolad, who foresees the results of his actions…
Fiscal Responsibility
What is it about leaders that so many of them seem to be embroiled in ethical controversy? We in…
Pesach: A Long Short Story
“And it was at the end of four hundred and thirty years, in the middle of that very day, that the…
The Four Questions of Jewish Education
I write these words just days before Pesach, the holiday that, more than any other, focuses on…
Acharei Mot: Celebrating Pesach on Yom Kippur
It is quite rare to read parshat Acharei Mot on Shabbat Hagadol. In non-leap years, it is generally…
Beitza 5: The Wrong Note
It is doubtful the Jewish life would exist as we know it if not for the leadership of Rav Yochanan…
Beitza 4b: The Second Day of Yom Tov
I have a confession to make. I really like Yom Tov and look forward to having an extra…
Beitza 4: Take Your Time
The very first teaching in all of rabbinic literature[1] is the saying of the Men of the Great…
Beitza 2: Protecting the Neglected
The Rambam, in discussing the prohibition of ba’al toseef (Devarim 4:2), the prohibition of…
Some Opening Thoughts on Masechet Beitza
“An egg that was laid on Yom Tov: Beit Shammai says it may be eaten, and Beit Hillel says it…
Rabbi David Stav to Speak on Thursday, May 15
Rabbi David Stav will speak on Thursday, May 15, on the topic "The Struggle for Jewish…
Some Concluding Thoughts on Masechet Sukkah
As we have studied Masechet Sukkah together, we have stressed two themes: that of simcha, joy; and…
Sukkah 52: The Greatest Joy
“Whoever did not see the celebration of the drawing of the water (simchat beit hashoeva) has…
Rabbi Alex Israel to be Scholar in Residence on March 29
Rabbi Alex Israel will serve as scholar in residence on the Shabbat of March 29 at Zichron Yisroel…
Sukkah 48: Pass the Water
In a recent post, we discussed the opposition to the mitzvah of placing the arava on the altar. An…
Sukkah 46: A Daily Dose of Blessings
“Rav Yehuda said in the name of Shmuel: lulav, seven; and sukkah, one” (Sukkah 45b). So…
Sukkah 45: Seeing Double
The arava, the willow branch, has a dual function on Sukkot. It is the last of four species that…
Sukkah 43: My Lulav Is Better Than Yours
Despite the explicit command to take the lulav on the first day of Sukkot--…