יום ראשון, כ״ח חשוון תשפ״זSunday, November 8, 2026
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I didn't mean for it to be taken, said Mr. Fisher. I was just getting it out of the way. Still, you should have moved it aside to a safe place, replied his wife, not on the curb on pick-up day.
One day Zayda heard the tragic news. Everyone had been killed in the gas chambers. There was no one left. Zayda was the only one who had survived. My mother watched as her father, in one of his most terrible moments of his entire life, gave out an anguished cry to the heavens above.
The reason why the day is called Lag B’Omer and not Lag L’Omer is that Lag B’Omer is the gematria of the word Moshe. This emphasizes the belief that Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai was a reincarnation of Moshe Rabbeinu and that he reached the same levels of greatness that Moshe did.
Rabbi Akiva gathered five students and taught them Torah. The fact that whereas previously thousands had gathered to hear and savor his every word and now he had only five did not deter him.
The question isn’t whether it’s proper to own a smartphone; the question is: are we responsible enough to use smartphones wisely?
After hearing the sides, beis din concluded that the liability for the repairs was subject to an unresolved dispute between the poskim.
The Daughters Are Mine, The Sons Are Mine “Grandchildren Are Like Children” (Yevamos 62b)
According to a number of authorities, a mohel is not required to inconvenience himself and forgo spending Shabbat with his family in order to perform a brit.
For frum Jews there is a much more significant concern because the earliest time for Shacharis may be well after 8 a.m. Having to daven so late will complicate things for the masses who need to be at work by 9 a.m. or earlier, as well as for our yeshivos.
The Decree Of 1587 “Two Kabs Of Dinars Were Given… To King Yanai” (Yevamos 61a)
Rav Asher Weiss discusses the Jewish minhag of Shlissel Challah.
Although there is no mention of any restrictions on listening to music during sefira in any of the early halachic codes, it has become a widespread custom8 to refrain from doing so.
Ever Vigilant ‘When Unworthy, One’s Number Of Years Is Reduced’ (Yevamos 50a)
When Yom Tov begins on Wednesday night (in Galus), the eruv tavshilin ceremony is performed on Wednesday and when Yom Tov begins on Thursday night it is performed on Thursday, in each case by the head of the household.
Where Frequency Matters ‘… We Forbid Haircutting and Laundering...’ (Yevamos 43b)
Leah just called to say that they would like to come for the Seder! Mrs. Brand told her husband. It seems that her in-laws are sick. Do we have enough matzah for them?
Although ideally the Omer should be counted immediately at nightfall, it is pushed off in deference to ma'ariv and the recitation of Shema, which must be recited first.
Achashveirosh was concerned that in an effort to mitigate his shame, Haman would mumble the words he was instructed to repeat. In this way, Haman’s proclamation would just sound like ranting gibberish.
In its crudest sense, d’chak refers to “pushing” somebody out of his spot with the intention that somebody else will take his position; in that case, the main intention is not to hurt the one who is pushed away but to benefit the one who replaces him.
Pesach was meant to be celebrated in the land of Israel. That is the Torah’s clear intention, and even if there is no formal mitzvah of aliyah l’regel today.
If one is unsure whether or not a particular food item is subject to the penalty of chametz she'avar alav hapesach, one is permitted to derive benefit from the item, though it remains forbidden to be eaten.
Informing The Decision “Found To Be With Child” (Yevamos 35b)
The rule is that you cannot use maaser kesafim (tithing) for obligations that are incumbent on you, replied Rabbi Dayan. This is true even when the money will be used for poor people.
Rabbi Wein would caution us to remember every word we tell our parents as 16-year-olds because we will hear it repeated verbatim 25 years down the pike.
It is the tradition of the Jewish people that matters, proponents argue, and the fact that the Geonim and many Rishonim endorse the 600,000 standard demonstrates that divine providence has orchestrated its inclusion in the halachic canon.
As far as the Torah is concerned the opposite may be said: we are to make the pursuit of the spiritual our life mission and make do with what we have in the material realm.
The survey itself is skewed, written in a style that clearly wants to advance identifying publicly with flags representing grave sins. This is dishonest and unethical in itself.
In this story, the witnesses were paid to deliver false testimony, Reuven said. What about honest testimony, though?
The Ban Of The Communities “Impaired Chalitza” (Yevamos 26b)
Many companies manufacturing baby wipes claim that the wipes are manufactured with the objective that the soapy liquid remain on the surface of the wipe and not be overly absorbed into it.
Interestingly, the word galach came to mean [Christian] priest in Medieval Hebrew and Yiddish, because such priests typically shaved their heads.
What struck me about Rav Chaim’s response was not only the brevity and humility of it, but also that he had taken the time to reply at all.
A month later, Mr. Leibowitz came to return the loan. I actually only got $4,900, he said to Mr. Oshri. I have a two percent processing fee whenever I swipe a credit card. I'm happy to pay you $5,000, though, if there's no ribbis prohibition.
Law Abiding Citizen “That Which Is Crooked Cannot Be Made Straight …” (Yevamos 22a-b)
It is also said in the name of the Rebbe of Ruzin that the deadlines allotted to the various prayers are only binding on those who pray on behalf of their own needs.
Is it proper to have a shorter Seder so guests will not have to struggle to stay awake?
These trivial disagreements have become an essential component of social media culture. The fact that there can never be a definitive answer to the questions doesn’t seem to make any difference to the debaters.
Can I give the delivery man $5 from money that I intended for matanos la'evyonim?
For Appearance’s Sake ‘Shammai Did Not Follow Their Own Ruling’ (Yevamos 13b 14a)
Other authorities disagree and insist that matanot la’evyonim should be performed first.
We may look at a pair of tefillin and admire how beautiful they are, while a non-Jew will try to figure out what’s so beautiful about leather straps connected to black leather boxes.
Ultimately, everyone should clarify their familial and communal custom and conduct themselves accordingly.
Although there is no custom to make a banquet when a girl reaches maturity (on her 12th birthday), she should nevertheless rejoice on that day, and wear her Shabbos clothes.
On Shabbos afternoon, Yehoshua said to Mordechai: If Rabbi Shpiel wants to pay us after Shabbos, I don't think we can take the money. In the end, we didn't make the minyan.
Being Overly Burdensome “My Sabbaths Shall You Observe” (Yevamos 6a)
Mysteriously absent from the mitzvah to remember Amalek is the frequency that the mitzvah must be performed.
No one wears a better costume than the holiday of Purim itself!
If children are very young, it’s very difficult to expect them to stay quiet for a long stretch of time. As they grow older, the time they spend in services can be gradually increased.
A Miraculous Visual Treat “They Lifted It Up To Show…” (Chagiga 26b)
What's the problem? someone asked. Mr. Garcia lent him the money, and was allowed to charge interest. You're not lending to Mr. Cohen; you're just buying the loan from Mr. Garcia!
The feeling is that people, especially on college campuses or newly graduated young adults, are more interested in fortune and fame than finding their Jewish roots.
The rush to fold one’s tallit soon after Shabbat has ended is based on the Kabbalistic teaching that an unfolded tallit attracts klippot, impure spiritual forces.
In a certain way, our commitment to upholding the teachings of Moshe became more entrenched after his passing. While he was alive the nation was able to rely on Moshe to teach them and remind them of the Torah he taught them.
The idea that a makom kavuah is, essentially, private property whose owner is entitled to designate who may and may not use it, is well-founded in the classic halachic literature.
Mr. Appel was concerned. "That means that Mr. Moskowicz took the computer on Shabbos!" he said to himself. "I never sell things on Shabbos! What about the money?"
Chatzitza And Its Applications ‘Greater Stringency Applies To Hallowed Things…’ (Chagiga 20b –21a)
A number of authorities are of the opinion that the prohibition against kissing in the synagogue only applies to one’s children and not to other people. This is because the feelings that one has for one’s children are unlike those one has for other people.
We must realize that to pray effectively, we don’t need to be at Kever Rochel, it doesn’t have to be Purim or Yom Kippur, and we don’t even need a Tehillim or a siddur.
Obviously, people come to synagogue not only to pray…but to socialize.
A Role Reversal “Return, O Wayward Sons…” (Chagigah 15a)
Mr. Fink worked hard to amass and set aside $3,000, which he gave to Mr. Birnbaum. "One loan you agreed to cancel, so I'm paying the other," he said. "Thank you," said Mr. Birnbaum, "but you still owe $2,000 to complete the $5,000. Since I am the one to forgo, it's up to me to choose which loan I cancel."
Throughout the year, many people feel they don’t belong – that they don’t measure up and therefore don’t deserve to be counted among certain other Jews.
It is explained that the pinky is associated with the sense of hearing because it is used to clean out one’s ears allowing one to hear better. This recalls the Jewish people’s “na’aseh v’nishma – we will do and we will hear” when asked if they wanted to receive the Torah.
It is best, and more rewarding, when others tell us the accomplishments of our offspring, which we accept humbly and graciously.
What A Miracle “Why Bring the Infants to Hakhel” (Chagiga 3a)
There is another principle, whose practical application sometimes leads to what might seem like an exception. The principle is that the descendants of a person most often stand in his place to inherit, when that person predeceases his inheritors.
The very fact that our families sit together for two meals each week, without any electronic distractions, discussing and sharing Torah thoughts and ideas, and hopefully singing and laughing together, makes it an invaluable gift.
While the custom of not seeing each has become normative and should be observed, a number of authorities have counseled waiving the custom when observing it will be overly inconvenient.
Some people buy luxury cars/homes/jewelry because they see these things as signs of “success.” They wish to impress others with their wealth. It’s a classic stereotype of the “newly rich” that they want to flaunt their riches.
A Blast At A Funeral? “R. Hamnuna Came To Daramutha…” (Moed Kattan 27b)
If they wanted us to buy a new car, they could have earmarked the money for that. I can't justify second-hand furniture when they expect to see a proper living room and dining room set!
Shabbos is a day of outpouring of blessings, so one should take too many croutons/noodles to put in the soup, so that he/she has soup with croutons, and not the other way around.
There are additional grounds for leniency if one personally adds sugar and/or milk to one’s coffee. This is because, for most people, coffee is considered to be “incomplete” and unfit for drinking until these condiments are added.
Izevel was notoriously wicked, so her name should probably be avoided. Besides, it means "island of garbage."
Mrs. Jacobs thought for a moment, and then asked, Are you liable for the money? It's going to be very hard for us to cover such a sum.
Untimely News ‘…We Deduce That A Mourner Is Forbidden To Wear Shoes…’ (Mo’ed Katan 20b)
More damaging than any external gremlin, however, are the gremlins within us. These are the voices of negativity and doubt.
If one wishes to play video games, or to allow children to play, one needs to be quite disciplined.
The Torah explicitly states that there is only one man who may not marry a widow: the Kohen Gadol.
Discretion ‘…Vendors Of Fruits, Clothing…May Sell In Private…’ (Mo’ed Katan 13b)
It is taught that dogs have the ability to see the angel of death.
One can become a believer by appreciating the wonder of the food he eats.
What are we, a nation of sailors? We are a kingdom of priests and a holy nation!
The truth is, I barely used that sweatshirt, replied Hillel. If you lost mine, I'd rather you pay me its value. I'm almost the next size already.
An Outcast “He Shall Dwell Outside His Tent” (Moed Katan 7b)
One should take the opportunity afforded by Tu B'Shvat to reflect and thank G-d for the fruits that He has created for our enjoyment.
Perhaps the most important idea to know about spiritual growth is that it’s never all or nothing.
If one fears possible threats against Jews, it is prudent not to flaunt one’s Jewishness.
In today’s age, it can be particularly challenging when much of our communicating takes place through typing or texting, where we may allow ourselves to use words digitally we wouldn’t use verbally
The financial arrangements between landlords and tenants are contractual, replied Rabbi Dayan. Therefore, they depend mostly on the contract between the two parties.
Pondering A Kapandria “It Should Not Be Used As A Shortcut” (Megilla 29a)
Yes, you are so lucky. Hashem made such a big beautiful world and here you are able to see it.
Of course, he could have just told them. But he wanted them to have the written note that they could reread many times.
What is often overlooked, however, is that not only does bread take priority over wine, but cake (mezonot) takes priority over wine as well.
Not only is it improper to reject a shidduch on that basis, it is foolish, and not just because marrying outside one’s ethnic heritage broadens the gene pool.
In many situations a court order of bankruptcy would exempt the debtor from his debt also according to halacha.
The Gender Factor ‘…Where There Is Loss Of Work…[Only] Three Are Called To The Torah’ (Megillah 22b)
It is not widely known that the practice of securing and publishing haskama letters originated with the Catholic Church.
One of our greatest needs is for validation. No one likes feeling like he or she is crazy or out of control.
For some, the new year is a purely secular event; for others, it has religious significance.
November 6, 2026 
