On the second night of Passover, Jews begin counting something known as Sefirat Haomer or “The Counting of the Omer”. Beginning on the first night from number one, we count […]
Prepping for the Worst In a drug store recently, a magazine caught my eye while I was waiting in line. The name of it was “Prepper,” and from what I […]
The Depth of “Love Your Fellow Jew” This week’s Torah reading says (19:18), “And you should love your fellow Jew as you love yourself.” The Rambam sums up this Mitzvah […]
The Weight of Warning: A Reminder of Consequences In the beginning of this week’s Torah reading, God instructs Moshe (Moses) to warn Aaron and his sons to refrain from entering […]
Sefirot are defined as emanations, meaning an abstract but perceptible concept that originates from a source. While we are involved in counting Sefirat Haomer, we also have an opportunity to […]
When we learn Torah, we soon find out that Hashem usually speaks directly to Moshe. Parshat Kedoshim is one of the rare occasions where Hashem speaks directly to the Jewish […]
Q: On Yom Kippur, the Cohen Gadol is required to remove his regular, colorful and golden vestments and don an all white outfit before entering the Holy of Holies to […]
In Parshas Kedoshim (19:17), the Torah commands one to love his fellow Jew as he loves himself. This includes treating and caring for our fellow Jews as we would want […]
There is a verse in Parshas Acharei Mos that says (18:5) “And you shall keep my laws and my decrees which a person shall do and live by them.” Rashi […]
This week’s Torah reading discusses various forbidden relationships, prefacing the topic with a warning that one should not get near such repulsive activities. Rabeinu Yonah (Shaa’rei Teshuvah, 3:80) explains that […]
Flashback to a previous Torah Thought with Rabbi Mordechai Horovitz, TorahMates coordinator, on Parshat Kedoshim.
A short, inspirational message from Rabbi Chaim Mintz on the time period of sefira
Tzara’at: A Physical Manifestation of Spiritual Misconduct The primary topic in this week’s Torah reading is the laws of tzara’at, a unique skin affliction. One who contracted this illness with […]
Ask the Rabbi with Rabbi Chaim Mintz The other day, I was with a friend and asked him why he wasn’t eating a certain food. “Isn’t it kosher?” I asked. […]
Ask the Rabbi with Rabbi Chaim Mintz Rabbi, you always talk about each individual doing his part in bringing the Final Redemption (the geulah). This sounds like such a massive, […]
Post-Pesach Musings Who doesn’t have a few post-Pesach pounds to shed? With all the food being served over Yom Tov, and with the types of food being so different from […]
Moshe’s Honest Confession Sacrifices, in general, contain complex laws as to when certain portions of them should be eaten and by whom. An interesting episode, concerning these laws, transpired in […]
Pesach Prep Panic As I walked into a store a few weeks ago, I got a chill and I shuddered. That’s right, the store was setting up the shelves for […]
As the focal point of the Passover Seder, the Seder Plate, or Ke’arah in hebrew, traditionally graces the table on Passover night. There are several different foods, each with its […]
Ask the Rabbi with Rabbi Chaim Mintz I can’t help but feel a sense of relief on days we omit Tachanun (a supplication prayer), such as the month of Nissan […]
The Torah’s Sacrificial System The Torah reading this week discusses the laws of various sacrifices (which were brought at the times of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and Beit Hamikdash). These sacrifices […]
