The Gift of Rosh HaShana
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier At first it seems puzzling and incongruous as to why Rosh Hashana, the Day of Judgment precedes Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Wouldn’t it be more logical to first articulate our past mistakes, sincerely regret them and proclaim to Hashem, “I will improve my ways” and then ask […]
Parshas Nitzavim-Vayelech
Print PDF By Rabbi Shloimie Lindenbaum אתם נצבים היום כלכם (פרק כט פסוק ט) The Parsha begins with Moshe’s proclamation to כלל ישראל, “You are standing today, all of you, in front of Hashem…” The Chofetz Chaim derives a new meaning, apart from the simple explanation, that all of you are standing, that is […]
Eating: Appreciating One’s Inner Greatness
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier In ‘נחמי פרק ח,י, Nehemiah 8, 10 it states (in reference to Rosh Hashanah): “Go eat rich foods and drink sweet beverages and send portions to those who have nothing prepared, for today is sacred to Hashem. Do not be sad, for the enjoyment of Hashem is your […]
Parshas Ki Seitzei
Print PDF By Rabbi Shloimie Lindenbaum לא תוכל להתעלם (פרק כב פסוק ג) We are commanded to return a lost object that we find, and the Torah stresses a specific command to not turn away and ignore it. R’ Shimon Schwab asks, we find many times in prayer that we ask Hashem to not […]
Sensitivity
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier In this week’s פרשה, which contains the largest selection of מצוות, commandments (more than 10% of the 613); there are many that deal with one’s responsibility to another and to Klal Yisroel at large. Chazal teach us that in ספר דברים, Deuteronomy, according to all opinions there are […]
Parshas Shoftim
Print PDF By Rabbi Shloimie Lindenbaum כי השחד יעור עיני חכמים (פרק טז פסוק יט) The Torah tells us that a judge is not allowed to take bribes because bribery blinds the eyes of the “חכמים”. The Vilna Gaon points out that in פרשת משפטים there is a similar warning with a slight change, […]
Ennobling Another
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier In דברים כ:ה-ח , Deuteronomy 20:5-8, the Torah enumerates those that are disqualified from entering into battle. They are 1) one that built a new house and has not inaugurated it, 2) one who planted a vineyard and has not redeemed it. 3) one who has betrothed a […]
Parshas Re’eh
Print PDF By Rabbi Shimmy Sternfield “עַשֵּׂר תְּעַשֵּׂר אֵת כָּל תְּבוּאַת זַרְעֶךָ” (פרק י”ד, פסוק כ”ב) “You shall tithe the entire crop of your planting.” When introducing the requirement for one to tithe one’s crops, the Torah uses a “double expression” of “עַשֵּׂר תְּעַשֵּׂר” (literally, “Tithe, you shall tithe”). The חֲתַם סוֹפֵר cites two comments […]
Hashem’s Beloved Family
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier, Rosh Kollel In דברים, י”ד:א, Deuteronomy 14:1, it states, “You are children of Hashem, your G-d, you shall not cut yourselves, nor make a bald patch between your eyes for the dead.” The Torah prohibits one to make a permanent scar on oneself due to one’s feeling of […]
Parshas Eikev
Print PDF By Rabbi Shimmy Sternfield (וְהיָהָ עקֵֶב תִּשְׁמְעוּן אֵת הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים הָאלֵהֶּ וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם וַעֲשִׂיתֶם אתָֹם” (פרק ז’, פסוק י”ב” “It shall be, in exchange for that which you will listen to these laws, and you will guard and keep them…” This week’s פָּרָשָׁה begins with a long list of blessings that Hashem promises us, “In […]
