No one likes to pay taxes. Yet taxes are the lifeblood of our society, paying for our security, health, public education and the thousands of other…
“For the sin we committed by wronging a neighbour, for the sin we committed by bribery, for the sin we committed in our business dealings”. On and on…
“For the sin we committed by wronging a neighbour, for the sin we committed by bribery, for the sin we committed in our business dealings”. On and on…
The term am ha'aretz has come to mean an ignorant Jew, and is generally used in a pejorative manner. However, in Talmudic literature, an ignorant…
A common feature of Talmudic editing is to group together a series of statements made by the same person. Generally, it is that person making a…
We human beings are naturally biased. Products of our environment, we are influenced by our cultural milieu, by our background, our life experiences…
David, Karen, and Beca Bookman wish their parents, families, friends, and the Or Chaim Minyan a Happy and Healthy Shana Tova, and a Shana Tova to…
David, Karen, and Beca Bookman wish their parents, families, friends, and the Or Chaim Minyan a Happy and Healthy Shana Tova, and a Shana Tova to…
A striking feature of Talmud study is how it seamlessly moves from subject to subject; and how, almost out of the blue, one finds oneself discussing…
Jewish law prescribes not only that we make a blessing on food, but that we do so in the correct sequence. Thus, to cite a very basic example, we…
As the Talmud is, at its core, an oral tradition—with the words before us a summary of “classroom”” discussion—it is…
The opening Mishnah of the sixth chapter of Brachot discusses the various blessings one makes on different types of food. The Talmud attempts, but is…
In Talmudic times, the norm was that the chazzan literally prayed on behalf of the congregation. The people would listen and answer "amen," thus…
Man has an innate desire to see the fruit of his own efforts. When life's blessings are handed to one on a silver platter, those blessings are…
One of the exciting aspects of Talmud study is the range of ideas presented, and the openness to expressing radical ideas—including those…
The Talmud spends a good deal of time discussing the proper frame of mind for prayer. In a rather obvious remark (yet, much easier said than done),…
The Gemara (Brachot 27a), in discussing the propriety of making an “early Shabbat”, records that Rav Yirmiya davened just behind his…
Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney recently called on Canadian corporations to start spending the over 500 billion dollars of cash, “dead…
Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney recently called on Canadian corporations to start spending the over 500 billion dollars of cash, “dead…
Until modern times, travel was viewed as something best avoided. It was slow, uncomfortable, and often quite dangerous. As we learn in Brachot 29b-…
This week's d'var Torah is dedicated in honour of the upcoming wedding of Estie Roz and Avner Zeifman. May they share much happiness and…
This week's d'var Torah is dedicated in honour of the upcoming wedding of Galit Sone and Adam Samuel. May they share much happiness and build a bayit…
We are happy to welcome home the travelers from the Journey Through Jewish History: Central Europe tour as they return to North America. Under the…
Raising an independent nation is no easy task. The generation that left Egypt was (understandably) not up to the task. Whether or not their children…
One of the fundamental beliefs of Judaism is that of reward and punishment. Keep the mitzvoth and get rewarded. Violate the laws of the Torah and be…
"Mei’emati korin et hashema b’arvit, from what time may one begin reciting the evening shema?" So begins the Talmud Bavli, the…
We are delighted to report that Dr. Bryna Levy will be delivering part two of her "Leadership and Family: Challenges and Concepts" lecture series on…
“Do not be afraid of [any] man”. Parshat Devarim, which is always read on the Shabbat before Tisha B’Av, begins with Moshe’s exhortations regarding…
“Do not be afraid of [any] man”. Parshat Devarim, which is always read on the Shabbat before Tisha B’Av, begins with Moshe’s exhortations regarding…
Tonight, at Yeshivat Or Chaim, 159 Almore Ave., Toronto, Lt. Col. Zuri Genish will speak about his experiences. Uprooted from his home during the…
“And these are the travels of the children of Israel”. We know little of many of the places the Jewish people encamped during their stay in the…
The d'var Torah this week is dedicated in honour of the participants on the inspiring Journey Through Jewish History - Italy 2012. “And it was after…
Our Italy trip is underway, and photos have been posted to our Facebook page.
This week's dvar Torah is sponsored by Golda Brown and Harry Krakowsky in memory of their dear son, Moshe Chanoch, obm. The law of the red heifer…
Join Torah in Motion and Dr. Marc Shapiro for a unique and intellectually inspiring trip to Central Europe designed especially by Dr. Shapiro. Visit…
Join Torah in Motion and Dr. Marc Shapiro for a unique and intellectually inspiring trip to Italy. We'll be visiting Rome, Tuscany, Florence, Pisa,…
The 4th International Jewish Medical Ethics Conference will take place the weekend of August 16-19, 2012. The conference will take place at the…
Join us for coffee, refreshments, and a discussion with one of the most dynamic speakers in the Jewish world today at our special keynote speech, "…
This series of blog posts seeks to discuss, if only preliminarily, the journey of ba’alei teshuvah (loosely defined as those who were not raised in a…
The mark of maturity is the ability to disagree with others respectfully; to be able to appreciate the integrity and sincerity of an argument even as…
Like many a great leader, Moshe—the greatest of all leaders—had difficulty delegating authority. Knowing you can do the job better than…
As summer approaches, day school parents will soon be getting notifications regarding tuition fees for next year. Undoubtedly, fees will—as…
As summer approaches, day school parents will soon be getting notifications regarding tuition fees for next year. Undoubtedly, fees will—as…
During shul this past week, I was reading the notes of the Hertz Chumash, as I often do. This likely puts me in small company as the Hertz Chumash…
Jewish Music Week in Toronto: From Bible to Broadway will be taking place from June 3 to June 10, with concerts taking place all over the Greater…
Of all possible wrongdoings, only one does not allow for the possibility of teshuva, repentance. Causing a chilul Hashem, a desecration of G-d's…
Rarely has an op-ed piece (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/14/opinion/why-i-am-leaving-goldman-sachs.html) generated as much discussion as Greg Smith’…
Mark Steyn put it quite simply in America Alone: “Experts talk about root causes. But demography is the most basic root of all.” Prognostications…
Our tradition asserts that there are 613 mitzvoth in the Torah. Among these 613 are such beautiful concepts as proper treatment of the stranger and…
In his groundbreaking book, The Heretical Imperative, Professor Peter Berger argued that modernity—and its emphasis on freedom of choice—has…