יום רביעי, ה׳ תשרי תשפ״זWednesday, September 16, 2026
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By Ann Goldberg
It’s written, it says, with all the segulos for shalom bayis and you gave it as a gift to a chassan and kallah.
Thinking about how much we can do in comparison to what we have done serves as a corrective against pride and arrogance.
Let us shake the heavens. Let us not stop until our boys and all our people are liberated from bondage.
Yehoshua knew that the outcome of the battles would depend not on military might, but on the spiritual strength of Klal Yisrael.
Twelve of the greatest leaders of the nation, one from each shevet, were dispatched to survey the land. The results of that mission were catastrophic.
Are pessimists just rationalists, and is hope just naiveté?
Loving-kindness can cure the anger and bitterness in our poisonous world.
While Moshe was the most unique prophet, he was also alone.
Question: I recently returned from a trip abroad and wanted to say HaGomel. When I mentioned this to the officers of my synagogue, however, they told me – as per the instructions of the synagogue’s rabbi – that I would have to wait until Shabbos to do so. I was not given any reason for this and did not wish to display my ignorance, so I quietly acquiesced. Can you please explain why I had to wait? Name Withheld (Via E-Mail)
As I listed the litany of tragedies, as I perceived them, my mother responded by saying: “Who’s had a terrible life? I’ve had a wonderful life. I had your father for 40 years until he was taken from us. I had you and your brother. I lived to see grandchildren.”
By Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum
Pidyon Haben In The Afternoon? ‘…The First Reads Hallel Out Loud’ (Rosh Hashanah 32b)
"David is also entitled, since he is also learning," Moshe replied. "He'll be back in a few minutes. Anyway, I'm on a diet and didn't take one for myself, so I don't see any problem taking for him."
Of even greater significance, once the miraglim made their mistake and concluded that Hashem wasn’t powerful enough to bring the people into the land, what they then spoke wasn’t lashon hara at all
According to the Bach, Rosh Hashanah is referred to as moed, festival, the same term the Torah uses to describe Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot.
Question: When someone puts on a talit to lead services, should he recite a berachah?
The pasuk says that since the halacha concerning a Mechallel Shabbos was uncertain, the mekoshesh was placed in custody until the halacha was clarified.
The story of the spies, in this week's Torah portion, is viewed as an episode revealing the Jews' basic lack of faith in God.
It isn't beneath G-d to personally interfere in the workings of this world, to liberate a persecuted nation from the hand of their oppressors.
Now that she has entered her husband’s domain, they become extremely close.
Rabbi Fohrman delves deeper into the Priestly Blessing and its relevant lessons
Ultimately the Torah is a book that reflects a system of ethics that comes from God.
The Hebrew word for coincidence is mikreh, which comes from “karah min Hashem – it happened from G-d.”
If the survival of Judaism is dependent on the next generation, there is no doubt that the most important person in the synagogue is the Candy Man.
To gain power or distract the population from their suffering, a monarch would look for a place to put the blame.
Question: I recently returned from a trip abroad and wanted to say HaGomel. When I mentioned this to the officers of my synagogue, however, they told me – as per the instructions of the synagogue’s rabbi – that I would have to wait until Shabbos to do so. I was not given any reason for this and did not wish to display my ignorance, so I quietly acquiesced. Can you please explain why I had to wait? Name Withheld (Via E-Mail)
Shlomo called Rabbi Dayan. "I lent someone money, and he now denies the loan," he began. "If the opportunity presents itself, am I allowed to grab money from him?"
By Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum
The Shofar On Shabbos ‘Rosh Hashanah That Fell on Shabbos’ (Rosh Hashanah 29b)
The question still remains on how to reconcile all of the different drashos that are derived from this pasuk.
The multitudes among them experienced a desire for meat and wept.
By Naama Klein
Our son-in-law e-mailed tickets for us to print out and bring along to allow us admittance. Simple enough.
Question: A number of synagogues feature bar mitzvah celebrations for elderly Jews. Is this proper?
One who loves can buy a factory-made knick-knack for his partner, but a personal hand-made gift is infinitely more precious.
Life is what you make of it. And if our lives are defined by Torah, then these weeks of Sefira are all about making the most of it.
The 49 days between Passover and Shavou'ot are dedicated to enhancing one's behavior, following in the footsteps of the Jews, who forged/enhanced their own national character during the 40 years in the desert.
The Shulchan Aruch notes that a priest who is in mourning for one of the seven close relatives does not bless the people during the Shiva period.
Generally there is an issur de’oraisa to erase Hashem’s name, but here the Torah explicitly permits it.
Question: I recently returned from a trip abroad and wanted to say HaGomel. When I mentioned this to the officers of my synagogue, however, they told me – as per the instructions of the synagogue’s rabbi – that I would have to wait until Shabbos to do so. I was not given any reason for this and did not wish to display my ignorance, so I quietly acquiesced. Can you please explain why I had to wait? Name Withheld (Via E-Mail)
"I have no doubt you should pay the full value of the repair," replied Zvi, "but I'm willing to ask Rabbi Dayan how much you owe."
By Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum
Sanctified For Now And Thereafter ‘In Front of the Sun or Behind It?’ (Rosh Hashana 23b)
Why can’t a man just admit it is wrong to steal but he wants to do it anyway?
Is parsha Naso teaching us how we should treat our children?
From this decree on, the two days of Rosh Hashanah, unlike the two days of Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot, were no longer celebrated out of doubt but out of certainty.
Hashem understood their complaint and therefore selected the ritual mitzvah of sukkah to test them.
By dvora
“Daddy,” I exclaimed, “Is this how you daven?” Daddy’s response was a hearty laugh. I felt so proud of myself.
May we feel the pain of what is happening in Israel not merely as members of the Jewish nation but as members of our own family.
Saying “thank you” to people to whom we are indebted is humbling – especially if we’ve been raised in a culture of entitlement.
By Rachel Weiss
The girl who had remarkably survived the accident had previously not led a religious lifestyle - which unsurprisingly changed after this event.
Separating fun from happiness can liberate, regarding (a) time, (b) money and (c) jealousy.
Why did we merit exiting the gas chamber alive when so many others did not?
Question: Why is Shavuot celebrated as a two-day Yom Tov?
Only mitzvos that are clearly stated in the pasuk may be counted as one of the 613 mitzvos.
One of the quirks of human nature is that the average person assumes he is smarter than the average person.
"Why are we allowed to read the magazine without paying for it?" asked Mr. Schreiber. "Shouldn't there be at least a mitzvah of hashavat aveidah?"
By Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum
An Art Collector’s Dilemma! ‘Rabban Gamaliel Had The Form Of Various Moon Shapes…’ (Rosh Hashanah 24a)
Question: I recently returned from a trip abroad and wanted to say HaGomel. When I mentioned this to the officers of my synagogue, however, they told me that I would have to wait until Shabbos to do so. I was not given any reason for this and did not wish to display my ignorance, so I quietly acquiesced. Can you please explain why I had to wait? Name Withheld (Via E-Mail)
Without Joseph laying the foundation for them in Egypt, they never would have survived the exile spiritually intact.
Rabbi Fohrman gives us insight into what it truly means to be a teacher.
To his very last day he struggled to transcend his pain so that he might impart Torah to all who visited him.
Evaluating forces us to consider the gift of every moment we have.
The question begs: how in the world can we accept that Bnei Yisrael en masse did not ever keep the mitzvah of shemittah?
"Hillel's name was omitted from the raffle," Mr. Simon said to Rabbi Dayan. "The winner is willing to settle with him, but another participant wants to invalidate the lottery entirely. Must it be redone?"
By Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum
Appreciating His Infinite Mercy ‘I Am He Before The Person Sins…’ (Rosh Hashanah 17b)
When Hashem created man, He took these two diverse segments and mixed them together, creating a new synthesis called man.
Question: I have two questions regarding Pirkei Avot. First, is there a specific reason that the last chapter is read on the Sabbath before Shavuot, or is this just a quirk of the calendar? Second, in that last chapter we find a list of qualities that enable one to acquire Torah knowledge, including anavah, humility. I find this difficult to believe in light of the Gemara in Gittin that chastises one of the scholars for his anavah, saying that it ultimately caused the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash. Zvi Kirschner (Via E-Mail)
Why distinguish between parts of the Torah to say that this part came from pi Hagevurah while the other part came from pi Moshe?
G-d gave us our ammunition. Torah, prayer, and loving kindness are our most powerful weapons.
In this week's parsha a stark choice is presented: follow God and live, or abandon Him and die.
We should remember not only the difficult moments of life but also the blessings we too often take for granted.
Question: Can one fulfill the mitzvah of Sefirat HaOmer via shome’a k’oneh (listening to someone else say the necessary words without saying anything oneself)?
By dvora
She always had a smile, and put her best foot forward – as hard as that might have been.
And yet, the Gemara in Megillah clearly states that the halacha about the tochacha only applies to the tochacha in Vayikra, not to the tochacha in Devarim.
It is one thing to do a chesed for someone one time or when it is convenient. But for a person to go a few hours out of his way every year for a stranger demonstrates incredible selflessness.
Eretz Yisroel's resting during the shmittah year proclaims Hashem as the Creator of the world just as Shabbos does, for the init of time - seven - is solely connected to the creation of the world.
By Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum
Hillel’s Innovation ‘The Second Month Of Solomon’s Rule’ (Rosh Hashanah 2b)
Question: I have two questions regarding Pirkei Avot. First, is there a specific reason that the last chapter is read on the Sabbath before Shavuot, or is this just a quirk of the calendar? Second, in that last chapter we find a list of qualities that enable one to acquire Torah knowledge, including anavah, humility. I find this difficult to believe in light of the Gemara in Gittin that chastises one of the scholars for his anavah, saying that it ultimately caused the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash. Zvi Kirschner (Via E-Mail)
Sometimes, we even force people not to act this way but to let others benefit.
The Torah is teaching us that even a mature adult faced with a difficult trial will be greatly influenced by what others are doing.
By Naama Klein
In fact, if the Mother of the Year Award featured a category for best worrier, I would be a major contender.
The Minchas Chinuch first suggests that the obligation to be mafkir one’s produce may not be a time-sensitive mitzvah.
What does it mean, conceptually, to see Shabbat in different worlds?
Painful stories of non-observant Jews mocking and attacking their religion and their religious brethren were all too commonplace.
Let us resolve to connect ourselves powerfully to Eretz Yisrael and Jerusalem.
The more we are aware of Hashem's involvement in our lives, the more we will act accordingly.
Parshas Emor appears to be as diverse as a parsha can be.
Question: Is it permissible for kohanim to bless Jews outside the context of Birkat Kohanim?
Question: I have two questions regarding Pirkei Avot. First, is there a specific reason that the last chapter is read on the Sabbath before Shavuot, or is this just a quirk of the calendar? Second, in that last chapter we find a list of qualities that enable one to acquire Torah knowledge, including anavah, humility. I find this difficult to believe in light of the Gemara in Gittin that chastises one of the scholars for his anavah, saying that it ultimately caused the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash. Zvi Kirschner (Via E-Mail)
The more a person focuses on his purpose in the world, the more he values the Torah.
By Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum
A Woman’s Oneg Yom Tov ‘You Shall Call The Shabbos A Delight’ (Beitzah 34b)
One difference between these two approaches is when one is aware that the fetus is a male, i.e. through ultra sound.
Put a coin in the Meir Baal Haness box every day and ask Reb Meir Baal Haness to find the lost kallah,” Ella told me.
He flipped through the pages, looking for some identification. "Absolutely no marks; it's brand new," Yosef said. "Since there are no identifying marks, the item is hefker [ownerless] and can be taken; I'm taking it for myself."
Offering korbanos is not a substitute to living a proper life.
September 11, 2026 
