Our generation has been blessed with the renewal of two mitzvot that had, for all intents and purposes, lay dormant for centuries.…
The opening Mishna of masechet menachot teaches that just because one lacks proper intent when slaughtering an animal, the korban remains…
“Rav Yehuda said in the name of Rav: When Moses ascended on high, he found the Holy One, Blessed be He, sitting and tying ketarim, crowns…
One of the most moving parts of the Yom Kippur davening is the recital of the asara harugei malchut, the ten rabbinic leaders martyred…
“Blessed are Torah scholars for whom the words of Torah are very dear to them” (Menachot 18a). One can tell much about a person by seeing…
There is no area of Jewish law as regimented as that of sacrifices. There are strict rules as to the type of animal that may be brought, when and…
In 1977, the New York State Legislature passed the “Son of Sam law”. Named for serial killer David Berkowitz’s adopted name, the…
There is seemingly no better proof for a Talmudic viewpoint than support from a biblical verse. Expressions such as dik’teev, “…
“Now it came to pass after many days, that Cain brought of the fruit of the soil an offering, a mincha, to the Lord” (Breisheet 4:3…
The fashion industry is a one that employs millions of people worldwide and both reflects and molds societal trends. Top designers are paid…
One of the frequent questions Rashi asks in his commentary to the Chumash is lamah nismicha, why are two parts of the Torah juxtaposed next to…
“The ox and goat of Yom Kippur are slaughtered in the north” (Zevachim 47a). As we discussed in our last post, the fifth perek …
Other than belief in G-d, there is almost nothing in Judaism that is not subject to debate. Does G-d have a body? Should Biblical stories be…
One of the classic debates of the Talmud – and one with no clear resolution – is whether or not mitzvoth tzreechot kavanah. The term…
One of the first innovations of the Reform movement was the removal from the siddur of all references to Zion and the Temple. The emerging…
One of the benefits of learning Daf Yomi is that it “forces” one to learn subject areas that would otherwise be ignored. Each one of the…
We have often commented on the fact that our tradition does not shy away from pointing out the weaknesses and failings of our great Sages. This idea…
Not every question has an answer and not every problem has a solution. This may be depressing for some, especially the young and idealistic (all…
Judaism has long rejected the notion that the ends justify the means. One of the most basic of Talmudic rules is that a mitzvah haba b’…
In his best-selling book, Predictably Irrational, Dan Ariely notes how very rare it is for humans to make decisions in absolute terms. Rather,…
In the days before instant replay took over much of sports officiating[1], the rule of thumb was that the ‘umpire is right even when he is…
One of the most inspiring aspects of the Torah is its very real portrayal of its personalities. People—heroes and villains alike – are…
It is the rare business that looks to create competition for itself. In fact, the success of a CEO is often judged less by profits than by market…
Imagine going to the barber and fearing that barber may take his razor and slit your throat. Or going to a doctor who may purposely give you medicine…