Close To Torah

In this week’s Parsha Aharon HaKohen taught an eternal lesson for all generations. After Nadav and Avehu brought their firepans into the Kodesh HaKadoshim, they were punished by death from Hashem. This was supposed to be a most joyous day for Aharon and his wife and it turned into one of tragedy and mourning.

Chazal tell us that really Aharon has many valid things to say at that point… Continue reading

ידיה שלחה בכישור וכפיה תמכו פלך.

“She stretched out her hands to the distaff; her palms supported the spindle.”
We receive inspiration from so many different places. This past Wednesday I was standing in line at a local store and a pained Jewish woman approached me and began a conversation with me. She told me about her bitter divorce that she was going through and about the troubled relationship… Continue reading

The Kohen’s clothes were required to be precisely fitting. “The Kohen shall wear his fitted linen shirt” (6:3). Chazal say that if a Kohen performed the service while wearing improperly fitting clothing, he was punished by death from Heaven!

The Vilna Goan in Mishlei states that the clothes that one wears represents his or her middos, character traits. The Gemara (Shabbos 114a) tells us that a Talmud Chacham is… Continue reading

By Rabbi Eliezer Brodt

I. Introduction

As Jews, most of our holidays have special foods specific to them; and behind each culinary custom, lays enveiled the reasoning behind them. Shavuot brings with it a vast array of customary dairy delicacies – in some parts of the world, cheesecake is practically obligatory – not to mention different customs in regard to how and when to eat… Continue reading

by Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff

Megillas Esther teaches that one of the mitzvos established by Mordechai and Esther was “matanos la’evyonim,” giving gifts to the poor. Since the megillah states one should give gifts “La’evyonim,” which is plural, we derive that one must give gifts to at least two poor people (Gemara Megillah 7b).

 WHAT IS THE MINIMUM GIFT TO FULFILL THE MITZVAH?

 There are several opinions… Continue reading

by Rabbi Shlomo Price

A certain teacher, Mr. Schlatter tells of an experience he had early in his career.

He had a student, who was very troublesome. He was a bully, a thief and always getting suspended. Everyday, Mr. Schlatter would have the class memorize some famous inspirational sayings and repeat them at roll call. Among them were, “If you can see the obstacles, you’ve taken your… Continue reading

The Me’am Loaz introduces the topic of the sacrificial offerings in the Beis Hamikdash with the following question: how is it that you can “bribe” Hashem with sacrifices when the whole world belongs to him? Another pressing question is asked: one of the foundations of Judaism is that Hashem does not have a physical body. If so of what help is it to bring a sacrifice which is only fit… Continue reading

The Purim- Pesach Connection

By Rabbi Elchonon Feldman

Rabbi of Belmont United Synagogue, London, U.K.

Well, as the song goes: ‘Happy days are here again.’ We are approaching quite a jovial time in our calendar. On the horizon are some of the most popular Jewish festivals: Purim and Pesach. For most of us this period of time can be tricky. We have… Continue reading

טעמה כי טוב סחרה לא יכבה בלילה נרה.

“She assures that her work is well done; her lamp is not snuffed out at night.”
There is a most beautiful idea expressed in the Midrash (Mishlei 31) which states that this verse refers to Chana who tasted (טעמה) the greatness of Tefillah and unrelentingly prayed until she was granted a great son named Shmuel.

One of the most important… Continue reading