Monthly Archives: ‍‍ Adar / Nisan 5767 - March 2007

This Year in Jerusalem

The first Satmerer Rebbe, R’ Yoel Teitelbaum, writes the following thought in Vayo’el Moshe. When Yaakov first meets Rachel, he is at a well with some shepherds, waiting for enough to come by to move the stone that protects the … Continue reading

Posted in Pesach, Yom Tov | 9 Comments

Pesach: Freedom from Preconceived Limitations

I appreciated this video from YU‘s Center for the Jewish Future. Something to think about: What does this notion of cheirus (freedom) say about the appropriate thoughts to have while cleaning the kitchen this Sunday? What does it say about … Continue reading

Posted in Pesach | Leave a comment

The Mishkan and its Utensils

The Gemara (Berakhos 55a) says that when Hashem told Moshe to appoint Betzalel to lead the building of the Mishkan, He first told Moshe to describe the building of the Mishkan itself, and then told him to describe each of … Continue reading

Posted in Machashavah | Leave a comment

The Invisibility of Providence — How?

The fact is that Hashem hides His Presence from us. The question of why is an interesting one. Here I would like to look at part of the question of “How?” (I have no current plans for a part II, … Continue reading

Posted in Theodicy | 2 Comments

Qinyan and Ba’alus

“Qinyan” is usually translated “acquisition”, and “ba’alus“, “ownership”. I would suggest that neither translation is precise. Qinyan Although a wedding is called qinyan, and the laws are derived from Avraham’s acquisition of a field from Efron, there are a number … Continue reading

Posted in Absolutism, Ta`amei haMitzvos | 1 Comment

Esther’s Modesty – Adar’s Joy (Anavah and Anvanus)

Yoshiahu’s Downfall The only qinah, elegy, that we recite on Tish’ah beAv that dates back to the days of Tanakh (other than the Book of Eichah itself) is Yirmiyahu’s qinah for King Yoshiahu. Yoshiahu was raised by one of the … Continue reading

Posted in Anavah | 4 Comments