Monthly Archives: ‍‍ Tamuz / Menachem Av 5768 - August 2008

AishDas

Posted on ‍‍27 Menachem Av 5768 - August 28, 2008 by micha

I was recently interviewed by Steve Savitsky, the president of the OU, for his radio show “Around the Dining Room Table“. Here is their description of the show: Not excited about Jewish practice? Have trouble tolerating fellow Jews and their … Continue reading →

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Ben Chamishim le’Aitzah

Posted on ‍‍27 Menachem Av 5768 - August 28, 2008 by micha

… בן חמישים לעצה … – יהודה בן תימא, אבות ה:כא וּמִבֶּן֙ חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה יָשׁ֖וּב מִצְּבָ֣א הָעֲבֹדָ֑ה וְלֹ֥א יַעֲבֹ֖ד עֽוֹד׃ – במדבר ח:כה שמייעץ את אחיו ומלמדם לשמור משמרתם – רש”י שם וְהִגִּישׁ֤וֹ אֲדֹנָיו֙ אֶל־הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים וְהִגִּישׁוֹ֙ אֶל־הַדֶּ֔לֶת א֖וֹ אֶל־הַמְּזוּזָ֑ה וְרָצַ֨ע … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Heroism

Posted on ‍‍26 Menachem Av 5768 - August 26, 2008 by micha

I was recently asked for help preparing material for a va’ad on heroism. Shirah Bell, one of the other recipients of the initial email offered this as a typical definition of heroism: The state or quality of mind or spirit … Continue reading →

Posted in Middos | 1 Comment

Three Desires

Posted on ‍‍21 Menachem Av 5768 - August 21, 2008 by micha

In the last entry, I quoted part of Even Sheleimah, 2:1, by the Vilna Gaon. The full paragraph reads: The sum of all evil middos are ka’as[1] (anger), ta’avah (desire), and ga’avah[2] (egotism), which are “haqin’ah vehata’avah vehakavod — jealousy, … Continue reading →

Posted in Naran | 1 Comment

Hatred

Posted on ‍‍7 Menachem Av 5768 - August 8, 2008 by micha

Do not hate your brother in your heart; לֹֽא־תִשְׂנָ֥א אֶת־אָחִ֖יךָ בִּלְבָבֶ֑ךָ; you should surely rebuke your neighbor, הוֹכֵ֤חַ תּוֹכִ֨יחַ֙ אֶת־עֲמִיתֶ֔ךָ and do not carry a sin because of him. וְלֹֽא־תִשָּׂ֥א עָלָ֖יו חֵֽטְא׃ – Vayiqra 19:17 There are a number of … Continue reading →

Posted in Anger, Middos | 4 Comments

Gender Differences: Oaths

Posted on ‍‍5 Menachem Av 5768 - August 5, 2008 by micha

The Torah uses two different words for husband: ish, in particular when used with the feminine possessive “ishahh” (her man); and ba’al. Interestingly, in the beginning of parashas Matos, the section on annulling vows, only ishahh is used (v. 8, … Continue reading →

Posted in 4- Bamidbar | 1 Comment