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לא תירא לביתה משלג כי כל ביתה לבש שנים.

“She fears not snow for her household, for all of her household is clothed in scarlet wool.”
The Aishes Chayil protects and cares for her family’s wellbeing. The Midrash (Mishlei 31) states that this verse refers to Rachav who invited Yehoshua’s spies into her house for protection. In repayment for her deed, when the Jews wiped out her city of… Continue reading

 The Ins and Outs of Mechiras Chometz 

By Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff

 As we all know, a Jew may not own chometz on Pesach, which is included in the Torah’s double prohibition, bal yira’eh and bal yimatzei. Furthermore, the Torah commanded us with a mitzvas aseh, a positive mitzvah, to destroy any chometz left in our possession after midday on Erev Pesach.

 According to most poskim, these… Continue reading

לא תירא לביתה משלג כי כל ביתה לבש שנים.

“She fears not snow for her household, for all of her household is clothed in scarlet wool.”
The Aishes Chayil is a most caring mother. She sets her children up to succeed. Colored clothing grants the best protection against the cold weather (Rashi). The Aishes Chayil cares for the spiritual and physical wellbeing of her family. This verse also expresses… Continue reading

One of the catchiest songs of the seder comes all the way at the end. “Who knows one? I know one! One is Hashem!” We go through the entire list of numbers from 1 thru 13 that cover the core of Jewish values. 1 God, 2 Luchos, 3 Patriarchs, 4 Matriarchs, 5 Books of the Torah, 6 Books of the Mishna, 7 days of the week (Shabbos), 8 days for… Continue reading

כפה פרשה לעני וידיה שלחה לאביון.

“She spreads her palm to the poor man and extends her hands to the destitute person.”
The Midrash (Mishlei 31) tells us that this verse expresses the greatness of the Tzorfasi woman who took care of Eliyahu HaNavi with bread and water (see Melachim I:17). The Batei Midrashos (II:16:12-13) breaks up the words “she spreads her palm…” to refer to the Tzorfasi woman… Continue reading

The Torah tells us that one who suffered from tzaras had to go through an atonement process when the tzaras began to get smaller. The beginning verse in our Parsha states that when the Metzora thought that he was ready to be reexamined by the Kohen (14:2) “…the Metzora should go out to the Kohen.” The next verse seems to contradict this by saying, “The Kohen should go out to… Continue reading

If someone found that he or she was inflicted with Tzaraas, he would contact the Kohen in order to receive his diagnosis. Whatever the Kohen said was the final decision. The Kohanim had many Mikdash related jobs and responsibilities. They brought the Korbonos, sprinkled the blood, and performed most of the Avodah, but the Tzaraas department has always perplexed me. Why is it that the Kohanim were appointed by Hashem… Continue reading

כפה פרשה לעני וידיה שלחה לאביון.

“She spreads her palm to the poor man and extends her hands to the destitute person.”
The Aishes Chayil holds the key to success in life. She does not wait for opportunity to knock at her door. Her life is too valuable to wait for that. Instead, she actively pursues the things that are worthwhile and important to her. In this verse, she… Continue reading

ידיה שלחה בכישור וכפיה תמכו פלך.

“She stretched out her hands to the distaff; her palms supported the spindle.”
The Midrash (Mishlei 31) tells us that this verse refers to Yael, the great woman who saved the Jews by killing Sisra with a tent peg (Shoftim 4). It is well known that she could have more easily used a sword to chop off his head. She specifically chose not… Continue reading