יום שישי, א׳ אלול תשפ״וFriday, August 14, 2026
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By Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum
Ball And Bat Substitutes 'Cut Palm Branches' (Shabbos 50a)
Question: What is unique about Modern Orthodoxy?
Rabbi Moshe Tzvi Weinberg, mashgiach ruchani of Yeshiva University’s SBMP (Irving I Stone Beit Midrash Program) was born and raised in Philadelphia. Rabbi Weinberg currently lives in Bergenfield NJ with his wife and three daughters.
By Rabbi Yaakov Klass and Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum
Can’t Have It Both Ways ‘A Minor Who Reaches Maturity’ (Niddah 46a)
In this week’s parshah Balak hires Bilam to curse the Jews. The Gemaras in Berachos 7a and Avodah Zarah 4a say that there is a very brief moment during each day when Hashem allows himself to get angry. The Gemara says that no one was ever able to exact that moment except for Bilam the rasha, as it says: “veyode’a das elyon – and he knew Hashem’s knowledge.”
Question: Many people stay awake Shavuot night and learn Torah. Is this proper considering that one’s davening the next morning may lack kavannah as a result? Wouldn’t it make more sense to get a good night’s sleep and then learn with more fervor the next day? No Name Please (Via E-Mail)
The fourth dibrah of the Asseres Hadibros that is read in this week’s parshah says, “Zachor es yom haShabbos lekadsho – remember to sanctify the Shabbos.” The Gemara in Pesachim 106a derives from this pasuk that one must recite Kiddush on Shabbos over a cup of wine.
August 14, 2026 
