Posts by Channel 613

As restated by Rabbi Yair Hoffman L’zecher Nishmas R’ Tzvi Dovid ben R’ Moshe Introduction to the Korban Pesach  In instructing Klal Yisroel to set aside a sheep to be brought as a korban Pesach, Hashem says, “V’haya lachem l’mishmeres.” In explaining these words, Rashi says, “Zehu lashon bikur.” The word, “mishmeres,” is an expression…

Introduction In this week’s parsha of Va’eira, we find the daled leshonos of geulah, which are “Vehotzeisi,” “Vehitzalti,” “Vego’alti,” and “Velokachti.” The Medrash at the beginning of the parsha tells us that these four leshonos weren’t just expressions of geulah – they were, in fact, four independent geulahs. Each represents an entirely new stage of…

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman Whether one is a Democrat or a Republican, everyone is in full agreement of one thing:  It is not going to be a boring four years, with President Donald Trump at the helm.   Everyday someone will come over and say, “Did you hear what Trump just said?” Or, “Did you hear…

The Emotional Reality The current crisis involves our own family members – elderly Holocaust survivors, children, and mothers – held in horrific conditions by Hamas terrorists. This personal dimension cannot be ignored when examining the halacha. Core Halachic Sources The Mishna in Gittin 45b prohibits redeeming captives above their value, citing “mipnei tikkun olam” to…

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman What do Larry King, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Pryor, and Eminem, all have in common?  You guessed it.  They all re-married their ex-spouse.  The question is, however, is there actually a bone-fide Mitzvah in doing so?  A recent and very prestigious email list entitled “emailing baTorah” ( a play on “Amailim baTorah…

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman THE SCIENCE Before we get to the halacha, it may pay to first discuss the science.  According to Metro.co.uk, not only is it a gross habit, but it is also dangerous.  Using a cell phone in the restroom risks exposing yourself and others to germs like Salmonella, E. Coli and C.…

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman In the great yeshivos of Europe, Eretz Yisroel and America, the advanced Yeshiva student would deliver something called a “chaburah” in which the talmid presents a chidush that would answer a number of problems.  And yet, unfortunately, rare is the Yeshiva graduate today who continues in this mehalech.  As teachers we…

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman We all hope and daven for Moshiach’s imminent arrival. One way to bring it about faster is to keep his arrival foremost in our mind and deal ahead of time with some of the practical issues.  The Gemorah clearly holds that when this happens, Eliyahu haNavi will arrive and resolve all…

What was Rav Yisroel’s Mussar theory? He posited that there is an ideal method of behavior specific toeach person’s personality, intellect, and capabilities in every life situation. The pathway in which toarrive at this ideal method is not only to improve some specific character traits, but to train ourselves inthree specific areas of knowledge.These three…

Everyone grew up with it and it signifies the end of the Pesach Seder. Father bought the kid (a sheep orgoat) for two zuzim. But the bobcat came and ate the kid. The dog came and bit the bobcat. The stick hitthe dog. The fire burned the stick. The water extinguished the fire. The ox…

“Dad, we know this already.”“Ta, you said that vort last year.”“Uncle Ira asks the same questions every year.”“Another Hagaddah? Last year you bought two and you didn’t use the second one.”Many of us have heard these quotes before. And it seems that these quotes are not a recent innovation,but they have been with us for…

The world is filled with micro-organisms called yeasts that surround us.They are found everywhere – on the ground, on plants and trees, on human beings and even in the veryair that we breathe. These airborne yeasts enter everywhere. They even enter into Matzoh dough, andfeed upon the starches that are in the flour. The yeasts…

Although the halacha allows for both cooked wines and non-cooked wines for the recitation of Kiddush(See Ramah SA OC 272:8), some people are stringent and try to use wine that is not cooked at all (seeMishna Brura 272:23 and Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 77:6). However, there is a downside to this stringency.The downside is that non-cooked…

The custom of abstaining from Kitniyos is one that is far older than many religions, including bothProtestant Christianity and even Islam. Below is a history and a deeper look at it.HISTORYThe origins of the minhag to not eat kitniyos (often defined as “legumes”) on Pesach dates back,according to some, to the times of the Geonim…

Every year there are new haggadahs being written and printed. Yet, shockingly, we have not seen anypost-Moshiach Hagaddah yet. This is a shame because it seems that there would be a number ofdifferences. Since the month of Nissan is the month of Geulah, it would seem that if we are not writingor buying such a…

Moshe Rabbeinu enacted that we must study the halachos of Pesach 30 days before it begins as well ason Pesach itself. A minority view (Ran and Rashba) has understood this to mean that if two studentspose questions, one on Pesach laws and the other on another law, we answer the one on Pesach first —but…

It is surely not one of our run-of-the-mill Minhagim.Generally, our Minhagim deal with simanim – signs that indicate good mazel rather than bad fortune.They deal with eating or not eating specific foods- Example: Shvuos we eat milchigs, Chanukah – latkes,Rosh HaShana – honey. We don’t eat nuts or chrein during Yomim Noraim. Our other Minhagim…

Picture in your mind some serious money being transferred. Now realize that this is how it should be forMatanos L’evyonim- at least according to the Rambam and Mishna Brurah. We should be spending moremoney on this Mitzvah than all the others. That includes the seudah, shalach manos and the costumes.But let us start at the…

It is late Thursday night. Your daughter is up late at night studying for an exam in Mishlei. But wait. Youhear her memorizing Psukim. You vaguely recall that there is some issue with memorizing Psukim. Whatis the halacha here?In fact, the custom to make girls memorize Psukim seems pretty prevalent. They often memorizenumerous Psukim in…

Being joyous and celebrating Shabbos Nachamu is a custom with deep historical roots.  The Maharil inhis Minhagim (27) explains that the entire nation should rejoice on this special Shabbos.  He furtherwrites that we should express our faith and conviction in the arrival of the redeemer who will surelycomfort us.Because of this, it is worthwhile to…

It is the question most asked by observant Jews when they enter the workforce:“Is it halachically permitted to attend the office Xmas party?”Before we get to that question, however, there is another question that is now also being asked. “As aboss of gentile workers, may I throw a holiday office party?”Let’s start with the latter…

The origin of the word “nightmare” is rather interesting. According to Anatoly Lieberman, the “mare”has nothing to do with a female horse. Rather, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, it comes fromOld English maere. In 1300, the word night-mare referred to an evil spirit or goblin that would rest onthe sleeper’s chest and cause a…

It was Adar, and some of the kids incorrectly took the notion of Mishenichnas Adar Marbin b’Simcha – toan extreme. One of them had pulled the fire alarm. The bells sounded, the fire department came, and –needless to say, the school got a firm warning about the matter.The reaction from the hanhala was fast and…

Question: What do Yeshiva Bochurim and seminary girls, Spanish Salsa music fans of Marc Anthony, andFrench Muslim fans of Algerian Rai music all have in common?Answer: They all dance to the very same music. The Yeshiva boys and Sem girls all know it as the music to the song, “Hashem Melech, Hashem Malach,Hashem Yimloch l’olam…

From a Torah perspective, racism in all forms is inherently wrong and immoral. There are a number ofreasons for this.This author recalls Rav Yisroel Belsky zt”l being asked this question at a Q&A session in Camp Agudah.Rav Belsky explained that all people were created B’Tzelem Elokim, in Hashem’s image. He cited PirkeiAvos where Rabbi Akiva…

Shabbos has always been viewed as the symbol or flag of the Jewish nation. Just as patriots look at theirflag as more than a mere dyed cloth with fancy designs, so too is Shabbos viewed in the eyes of theJewish people. It is a sign of our deep belief in G-d’s absolute Oneness – He…

So how should we celebrate a Bas Mitzvah? The stores on Central Avenue in Cedarhurst and Lawrencemay really like this one. But read on. The Gemara (Niddah 45b) tells us that a girl becomes an adult at the age of 12. This tradition washanded down to us by Moshe from Har Sinai as were all…

Rosh Chodesh Elul has special significance in regard to “second chances.” On Rosh Chodesh Elul, Moshewent back up Har Sinai to receive the second set of Luchos. The second set replaced the first set ofLuchos that was broken because of the collective sins of Klal Yisrael. Moshe Rabbeinu spent 40 days and 40 nights there,…

Once, a number of years ago, there was a minyan for an Avel somewhere in Suffolk County. There wereonly ten people present, one of them was a Rav. The Rav realized that the minyan was barely a minyanand that one of those that were gathered was disqualified in being counted for a minyan. The Ravannounced…

It is a quandary that many non-observant Jewish families face: For one reason or another, the couplecannot have a child of their very own. As a consequence, they would like to adopt. They may have frumrelatives, and they are very proud of being Jewish.Can they adopt a gentile child and convert him or her through…

“If you don’t give me your notes, we will not be friends.”“You idiot, I am going to hurt you during recess.”“Is cancer contagious?” asked a group of seventh-graders of another seventh-grader whose motherpassed away from cancer. The child was distraught from the teasing and bullying, and did not come backthe following year.A girl with a…

A young woman had some extra heart tissue which caused an irregular heartbeat due to the extraelectric activity. She had ablation surgery, and she is fine now. Do her parents have to disclose thesurgery to a prospective shidduch?Another young woman is partially deaf in one ear. Must her parents disclose?A third young lady has alternating…

It is the fulfillment of the Biblical Mitzvah of V’Ahavta L’rayacha Kamocha to attempt to make aShidduch. Indeed, in this one act, one fulfills two of these Mitzvos simultaneously, since one isbenefitting two people.One is also fulfilling the Mitzvah of emulating the Creator, since Hashem was the very first Shadchan,having created and put together Adam…

They watch our children while we go out to a wedding, or to a restaurant to eat. They will often agree tocome on a moment’s notice.   And yet, at times, we will violate Torah commandments in how we treatthem financially.“Sorry, I did not get a chance to go to the bank.  Can I get you…

Part of the Mitzvah of Ahavas Yisroel involves being concerned for the well-being of others – even theirfinancial well-being. Every so often monetary struggles or similar things come up that can seriouslyaffect Klal Yisroel.  Excessive pricing and rising economic costs is one example.  The halacha is filled withillustrations of great Torah leaders who were concerned…

Perhaps one way in which we can help address the unprecedented stabbings and car attacks that istranspiring in Eretz Yisroel is through strengthening ourselves in the Mitzvah of v’Ahavata l’rayachakamocha.To this end, it is worthy to note that there is a Sefer highlighting the Psakim of the Posek HaDor, HaGaonHaRav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv zatzal was…

FOUR MAIN REASONSThe reasons for the prohibition of leaving Eretz Yisroel cited by the authorities are actually rather varied:The Ramban (Bamidbar 33:53) explains the prohibition on account of the mitzvah to settle in EretzYisrael. The Ramban, if we recall, is of the opinion that the Torah mitzvah to settle the land of Israel isapplicable nowadays,…

In 1967 (55 years ago as of this printing), for the first time in nearly two millennium, the Temple mountcame under Jewish control.  There were open miracles in the battle, where enemy forces threatened toannihilate Eretz Yisroel and its people.  A bomb landed on the Mirrer Yeshiva in Yerushalayim. Miraculously it did not detonate. And of…

At the sheva brachos recited both under the Chupah and after bentching at every Jewish wedding – wesay the blessing of Sos Tasis. It is blessing #5 of the seven blessings of a Jewish wedding. The blessing is,“May the barren one rejoice and be glad as her children are joyfully gathered to her. Blessed are…

There is a famous story cited in the book, “HaGaon HaChasid MiVilna” originally appearing onYashar’s biography of the Chofetz Chaim (p. 253-254). It was late on a Friday afternoon in Vilna. Rav Chaim the tailor of Vilna was in a bind. It seems a questionhad a risen on the Kashrus of the chicken being cooked…

It was why Yaakov Avinu married Leah before Rochel, and it is something that comes up over and overagain. Yet, notwithstanding its frequency, people have only vague ideas of when it is okay for a youngersibling to marry first and when it is not. Some people wonder about the actual source of the practice.Others aren’t…

BaHaB is observed on the Monday, Thursday, and Monday after the Shabbos after the Rosh Chodeshafter Pesach.  It is also observed after Sukkos following the same formula.  The word BaHaB is anacronym of letters where the Gematria is 2,5,2 referring to the second day of the week, the fifth day ofthe week, and the second…

“I work hard shopping, cooking, and preparing the Shabbos meals.  The least you can do is make surethat we are singing beautiful Shabbos Zmiros!”This is a scene that plays out in both America and in Eretz Yisroel.  The mother, or wife is not too pleasedwith the lackluster Zmiros performance at the Shabbos table.  The husband…

It may come as a shock to most people but the Friday night Kabbalas Shabbos piut of Lecha Dodi isactually an elaborate introduction to a different Tefillah. It is a Tefillah that is made up of two words andit comes at the very end of the Lecha Dodi (right before the last refrain).  The two…

The goal of life is to develop a relationship – a strong relationship with Hashem and to emulate Him in allthat we do.  Dveikus is the highest level of this relationship where we cleave to Him.  One method orpath to this relationship is through Tefilah.There is both a fascinating debate among the Rishonim, however, as…

A wealthy philanthropist in shul, about to turn sixty, had just scheduled a colonoscopy.  Interestinglyenough, he had scheduled the test not because his doctor recommended it, but rather because he wasabout to turn sixty. His concern is that he wants to make sure that he has not incurred the penalty ofKareis – the penalty of…

You had everything you needed for the 4 th  of July barbeque, but you forgot the mustard.  You scour thefridge, but it is no where to be seen. The solution?  A quick hop to the local grocery store.  You jump in,but alas – there is no parking.  There is, however, parking on the other side…

“YOU’RE NOT MY MOTHER! SO I don’t have to honor you.”“Yes you still do, young lady.”Everyone knows about the Mitzvah of honoring parents – it is one of the Ten Commandments, Indeed,according to the Gemorah in Kiddushin, it is also one of the natural laws that the entire world is wellaware of. But what about…

Klal Yisroel loves Segulos. We run for this Segulah and that Segulah. But there is another Segulah that ismentioned in the Torah that really works. It is the Mitzvah of Kivud Av v’Aim – honoring one’s parents.The Torah itself assures us that one who is careful with it will merit long life.The Talmud Yerushalmi writes…

Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l was once asked an interesting question (Derech Sicha p, 174): Should a womandelay her surgery so that it can be done on her birthday?Where was this question coming from? Some people are of the opinion that noticing and or celebratingbirthdays is not a particularly Jewish action. They note that the only…

They raised us, loved us, and nurtured us. They gave all they had for us. And we observe their yahrzeitsby saying kaddish, lighting a yahrtzeit candle, learning in their memory, and fasting.But what are the reasons behind our custom to observe a Yahrtzeit? Is it a Torah Mitzvah or aderabanan? Below we find 17 reasons…

Utilizing the latest ground-penetrating radar technology, a team of archaeologists had claimed, anumber of years ago, that, in fact, rumors of William Shakespeare’s skull having been stolen areprobably true. If true, the famous bard’s skull was stolen from Shakespeare’s grave in his hometown ofStratford-upon-Avon, England at the Holy Trinity Church burial site.The new discovery brings…

It is a question that many ponder. Philosophers, scientists, and great men have explored this questionsince the dawn of time. What happens to the soul after death?The Torah sources teach us that the soul is immortal. This is a foundation of Torah-true Judaism. Thiscan be seen from the emphasis that is placed upon Shabbos observance.…