Keeping values and meaning in focus.
Meshekh Chokhmah on Bereishis 33:18 expands on a medrash that makes much of Yaaqov’s camping “in front of Charan”, that he set up techum Shabbos (measured the limits of how far he may travel...
There are two ways to approach G-d through His Action. One can admire the G-d of miracles, or the G-d of nature. The medrash describes Avraham as having discovered G-d through contemplating nature. Science...
After a long introduction, we looked at Meshekh Chokhmah on the navi’s explanation to Rivqah about why her pregnancy was so odd. She wasn’t merely surprised by having twins — one attracted to idolatry,...
A 15 minute shiur on Facebook Live looking at three comments by the Meshekh Chokhmah on the story of the servant finding a wife for Yitzchaq. Rav Meir Simcha haKohein appears to find a...
Mesilas Yesharimm on the relationship between yir’as haromemus and yir’as hacheit (awe of [Hashem’s] Grandeur and fear of sinning), and the difference between yir’as hacheit and yir’as ha’onesh (fear of sin vs fear of...
If Hashem told Avraham that the Egyptians would oppress us, why were they then punished for doing His Will? Commanding the Egyptians vs speaking of future realities Speaking of the group vs speaking of...
A 15 minute shiur on Facebook Live on the Meshekh Chokhmah’s discussion of the first pasuq of parashas Noach (Bereishis 6:9) “× Ö¹Ö—×—Ö· ×Ö´Ö¥×™×©× ×¦Ö·×“Ö¼Ö´Ö›×™×§ ×ªÖ¼Ö¸×žÖ´Ö¥×™× ×”Ö¸×™Ö¸Ö–×” בְּדֹֽרֹתָ֑יו — Noach was a righteous man, he...
A 15 minute shiur on Facebook Live on the Meshekh Chokhmah’s discussion of Bereishis 1:26 “וַיֹּ֣×מֶר ×Ö±×œÖ¹×§Ö´Ö”×™× × Ö·Ö½×¢Ö²×©×‚Ö¶Ö¥×” ×Ö¸×“Ö¸Ö›× ×‘Ö¼Ö°×¦Ö·×œÖ°×žÖµÖ–× ×•Ö¼ — And G-d said, ‘Let us make man in our Image.” Audio: Video:...
Next time you hear a speaker or a rabbi speak about “the goyim” in some disparaging stereotype, ask them about this gemara. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi asks about an apparent contradiction in seifer Yechezqeil....
Tehillim 136, which Chazal call Hallel haGadol, has a long list of things Hashem did for us with the refrain “×›×™ ×œ×¢×•×œ× ×—×¡×“×• — for His Lovingkindness is eternal.” The first three call us...
התכלת ××™× ×” מעכבת ×ת הלבן והלבן ××™× ×• מעכב ×ת התכלת תפילה של יד ××™× ×” מעכבת של ר×ש ושל ר×ש ××™× ×” מעכבת של יד הסולת והשמן ××™× ×Ÿ מעכבין ×ת היין ×•×œ× ×”×™×™×Ÿ מעכבן ×”×ž×ª× ×•×ª של...
Here are three thoughts related to the siman, the mnemonic practice, of eating an apple dipped in honey. (Aside from the ear-worm you or your kid learned in preschool that starts with the words...
I The name of the Sorites Paradox comes from the Greek word for heap, “soros”, a key word in the typical formulation. If someone had one million grains of sand, they would have a...
I’m about to repeat two points by R’ Meir Simchah haKohein miDvinsk zt”l: 1- Yerushalayim is named for being the convergance of two principles: refined middos and perfected intellectual comprehension. 2- There is an...
I was asked the following question, and the author thought enough people want to know the answer that it pays to share it here: Q: “Siman“, as on Rosh Hashanah night, is translated as...
צֶ֥דֶק צֶ֖דֶק תִּרְדֹּ֑ף לְמַ֤עַן תִּֽחְיֶה֙ וְיָרַש×ְתָּ֣ ×ֶת־הָ×ָ֔רֶץ ×ֲש×ֶר־ה ×ֱלֹקיךָ × Ö¹×ªÖµÖ¥×Ÿ לָֽךְ׃ Justice justice you shall pursue, so that you will live and inherit the land that Hashem your G-d gives to you. – Devarim...
Orion asked on Mi Yodeya: Hashem’s infinite power I’ve heard many times that Hashem is infinitely powerful. But how do we know this? Perhaps he’s just very powerful or even all powerful (possessing all...
The point of mourning during Bein haMetzarim (“between the tragedies”, a/k/a the “Three Weeks”) is not to be miserable in-and-of itself. How many politicians and other famous people recently said “I’m sorry” only to...
The Medrash Tankhuma (Balaq 1) says: … וְ×Ö´× ×ªÖ¼Ö¹×מַר ×žÖ´×¤Ö¼Ö°× Öµ×™ מָה הִש×ְרָה הַקָּבָּ”×” ש×Ö°×›Ö´×™× Ö¸×ª×•Ö¹ עַל גּוֹי רָש×ָע? כְּדֵי ש×Ö¶×œÖ¼Ö¹× ×™Ö´×”Ö°×™Ö¶×” פִתְחוֹן פֶּה לָ×ֻמּוֹת לוֹמַר, ×ִלּו הָיוּ ×œÖ¸× ×•Ö¼ × Ö°×‘Ö´×™×Ö´×™×, ×—Ö¸×–Ö·×¨Ö°× ×•Ö¼ לְמוּטָב, הֶעֱמִיד ×œÖ¸×”Ö¶× × Ö°×‘Ö´×™×Ö´×™× ×•Ö°×”Öµ×...
The Mussar Institute is doing an omer series based on the 48 skills necessary to acquire Torah, listed in Avos 6:6. I was given the task of writing two entries — day 5, eimah...
כמה ישהה בין תפלה לתפלה? רב ×”×•× × ×•×¨×‘ חסד×. חד ×מר: כדי ×©×ª×ª×—×•× ×Ÿ דעתו עליו. וחד ×מר: כדי שתתחולל דעתו עליו. [Minimally,] how long must one wait between [one] prayer to [another] prayer? Rav...
The Mussar Institute is doing an omer series based on the 48 skills necessary to acquire Torah, listed in Avos 6:6. I was given the task of writing today’s — day 5, eimah (fear)....
I was kind of surprised by the reception this answer on Mi Yodeia got; the questioner didn’t even think I answered his query. Here’s the exchange: Eli asked: Are there any Rishonim who believe...
“If he shall offer it as a todah, a thanksgiving offering…” (Vayikra 7:1). The gemara reads, “Rabbi Yehudah said that Rav said: There are four who have to thank [Hashem] — those who go...
י״ט באלול תשפ״א – Fri, Aug 27, 2021
כ״ו באב תשפ״א – Tue, Aug 3, 2021
י׳ באב תשפ״א – Sun, Jul 18, 2021
The Source that a Reshus haRabbim Requires 600,000 People
י״ב בתמוז תשפ״א – Mon, Jun 21, 2021
The King’s Highway, A Metaphor
י״א בתמוז תשפ״א – Sun, Jun 20, 2021
Emunah Peshutah vs Machashavah
י״ז בכסלו תשס״ה – Tue, Nov 30, 2004
Balancing Simplicity and Authenticity
כ׳ בתמוז תש״ע – Thu, Jul 1, 2010
י׳ באדר א׳ תשע״ד – Sun, Feb 9, 2014
י״א בטבת תשס״ה – Wed, Dec 22, 2004
When Science and Torah Conflict
ט״ו בטבת תשע״א – Tue, Dec 21, 2010
