Eruvin Oct 19, 2020

Two of the most fundamental mitzvot are those of prayer and Talmud Torah. Observant Jews pray three times a day, and for those who daven with a…

Breisheet Oct 16, 2020

"G-d took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden to work it, l'ovdah, and watch it, l'shomrah" (Breisheet 2:15…

Shemini Atzeret Oct 9, 2020

The Jewish holidays have two distinct themes. The shalosh regalim, three pilgrim festivals of Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot, occurring at key…

Sukkot Oct 7, 2020

For many years, students were introduced to the study of Talmud with Eilu Metziot, the second chapter of masechet Bava Metzia, focusing on the…

Eruvin Oct 6, 2020

“One cannot compare one who learns the chapter 100 times to one who learns it 101 times” (Chagiga 9b). The mitzvah of Talmud Torah…

Sukkot Oct 2, 2020

For seven days a year, one is to “make his home temporary and his Sukkah permanent”. Ideally, we move our finest furniture, china, and…

Sukkot Sep 30, 2020

As important (if not more so) as what one says is how it is said, when it is said, and what is not said. This is equally true regarding both our…

Yom Kippur Sep 27, 2020

“We work and get reward and they work and do not get reward?” This statement, said when one completes a Talmudic tractate, articulates a…

Haazinu Sep 25, 2020

Sinning is meant to be enjoyable. If not, there would be no point to it. How ironic, then, when a person sins and does not derive any pleasure. A…

Yom Kippur Sep 23, 2020

“In a place where ba’alei teshuva stand there, not even the fully righteous can stand” (Brachot 34b). This teaching is generally…

Rosh Hashanah Sep 18, 2020

Man has a tremendous capacity for self-deception. We easily see faults in others; somehow, we miss them in ourselves. Teshuva, repentance,…

Rosh Hashanah Sep 16, 2020

The Yamim Noraim of the year 70 must have been quite traumatic. The Temple had been destroyed less than two months earlier and thousands lay dead,…

Vayelech Sep 11, 2020

We tend to think that the names of the weekly parshiot have little intrinsic meaning; they are just taken from the opening word or two of the parsha…

Eruvin Sep 10, 2020

One of the hardest hit industries of the pandemic has been the restaurant industry. Many restaurants have permanently closed; surely, many more will…

Ki Tavo Sep 4, 2020

Those of us living in Canada are especially sensitive to the importance of language to the fabric of a country. The language that one speaks is, more…

Ki Teitzei Aug 28, 2020

"All of man's earnings are decreed on Rosh Hashanah, except for expenses regarding Shabbat and Yom Tov and expenses…

Shoftim Aug 21, 2020

"The hand of the witnesses should be against him first to put him to death, and the hand of the nation at the end" (Devarim 17:7). Giving…

Eruvin Aug 17, 2020

The focus of masechet Shabbat is the definition of the parameters of the 39 prohibited melachot, creative activities prohibited on Shabbat. Of the 39…

Re'eh Aug 14, 2020

One of the most vexing issues we face today is how to deal with those who violate, wilfully or not, the precepts of the Torah. Whether our approach…

Shabbat Aug 11, 2020

“For there will never cease to be needy within the land. Therefore, I command you, saying, you shall surely open your hand to your brother, to…

Eikev Aug 7, 2020

"And now, Israel, what does G-d, Ma Hashem, want from you but just to fear the Lord your G-d, to walk in all His ways, to love Him and to…

Shabbat Aug 6, 2020

“Mitzvot were given only to purify people” (Breisheet Rabba 44). By refraining from gossip, not bearing a grudge, not giving…

Tu B'Av Aug 5, 2020

One of the best-known wedding customs is the breaking of a glass during the chuppah. The common explanation given for this custom is that it serves…

Va'etchanan Jul 30, 2020

The most obvious connection between Tisha b’Av and parshat Vaetchanan—which is always read on the Shabbat following this…

Taanit Jul 29, 2020

A Jewish wedding consists of two distinct parts: eirusin and nisuin. In eirusin (also known as kiddushin), the …

Tisha B'Av Jul 29, 2020

If someone gives you ten answers to a question, the one thing you can be assured of is that none of the answers is a very a good one. If one has a…

Shabbat Jul 27, 2020

“Rav Yehuda said in the name of Shmuel: Three thousand halachot were forgotten during the days of mourning for Moshe…

Devarim Jul 23, 2020

The true state of health of any society can be determined by an examination of the justice system that it provides for its citizens. Are rich and…

Tisha B'Av Massei Jul 21, 2020

“Aharon the priest ascended Hor Hahar and died there in the fortieth year... in the fifth month on the first of the month” (Bamidbar 33:…

Tisha B'Av Massei Jul 21, 2020

“Aharon the priest ascended Hor Hahar and died there in the fortieth year... in the fifth month on the first of the month” (Bamidbar 33:…

Massei Jul 17, 2020

Canada is a wonderful country, and as residents of this country, we are obliged by Torah law to abide by its laws and also pray for its welfare.…

Pinchas Jul 10, 2020

Parshat Pinchas presents us with at least three distinct models of leadership. Our parsha gets its name from the zealotry of Pinchas who, without…

Chukat Jul 3, 2020

"Take Aaron, and Elazar his son, and bring them up to Mount Hor; and strip Aaron of his vestments, and dress Elazar his son in them; Aaron shall…

Korach Jun 26, 2020

It is most difficult to solve a problem if the protagonists will not meet with each other and hear each other out. While there is no guarantee that…

Behaalotecha Jun 11, 2020

It is amazing how selective our memory can be. People often yearn for the good old days: days full of poverty, pogroms and peddling. The ability to…

Shabbat Jun 9, 2020

One of the distinguishing marks of many successful companies is the encouragement they give to employees to experiment, encouraging innovation and…

Naso Jun 5, 2020

Judaism has long insisted that we give people the benefit of the doubt: one is innocent until proven guilty. It is always difficult to…

Shavuot May 29, 2020

“Rav Yossi said: It would have been appropriate had the Torah been given through Ezra, but Moshe preceded him… and even though the Torah…

Shavuot May 29, 2020

“Rav Yossi said: It would have been appropriate had the Torah been given through Ezra, but Moshe preceded him… and even though the Torah…

Shabbat May 28, 2020

That we are living in unprecedented times hardly needs to be stated. It is hard to believe that less than three months ago we in the west were living…

Yom Yerushalayim May 21, 2020

The Jewish nation waited for close to 1,900 years to regain sovereignty over G-d’s chosen land. It took an additional 19 years until…

Yom Yerushalayim May 21, 2020

The Jewish nation waited for close to 1,900 years to regain sovereignty over G-d’s chosen land. It took an additional 19 years until…

Bechukotai May 15, 2020

A mark of a good book is a clear and coherent structure. The opening chapters set the tone, themes are appropriately developed, and the conclusion…

Shabbat May 15, 2020

One of the changes accompanying the creation of the State of Israel is the flourishing of the study of Tanach. Returning to our ancient homeland, and…

Shabbat May 12, 2020

When our Sages entered the vineyard in Yavne, Rabbi Yehuda, and Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Yossi, and Rabbi Shimon were there, and a question was…

Emor May 8, 2020

“You shall count seven complete weeks from the day following the Shabbat from the day you brought the omer as a wave offering seven…

Shabbat May 7, 2020

“Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel says: The laws of hekdesh, consecrated items; terumot; and ma’asarot, tithes, are the…

Shabbat Apr 30, 2020

The Torah is full of mitzvot relating to farmers. Whether one is plowing, planting, or harvesting, the Torah has clear guidelines to direct…

Yom Ha'atzmaut Apr 29, 2020

“Shimon ben Azzai said: I have received a tradition from the seventy-two elders on the day when they appointed Rabbi Elazar ben Azariah…

Shabbat Apr 22, 2020

“And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your G-d demand of you but l’yirah, to revere the Lord your G-d, to walk only in His paths,…