Steps To Return: The Rambam writes (laws of Teshuvah 2:7): “Yom Kippur is a time for teshuvah (repentance) for all, and it is the culmination of forgiveness for [the people […]
A Meal Fit For A King It’s fascinating: on Yom Kippur itself, we fast and afflict ourselves, yet just hours before, there is a mitzvah (commandment) to eat a festive […]
The Secret To A Good Year As we approach Rosh Hashanah, the day on which our future for the coming year will be determined, we are all eager to procure […]
Who are we Fooling? Yom Kippur, the most awesome day of the year, arouses great trepidation. How do we approach this great day, a day of teshuvah (repentance) and forgiveness? […]
He Who Is Forgiving Merits Forgiveness Yom Kippur – the day of atonement for our sins – is an exciting day. However, it’s not a “freebie”. One must repent properly […]
This Yom Kippur eve during the evening service, I got to a point in my prayers where I realized that there were things I had done during the past year […]
How can a person make God King on Rosh Hashanah? A teaching from the Kelm Torah academy presents Jewish unity and practical concern for others as a powerful expression of […]
The Torah assures us that spiritual growth is close and attainable. Through a striking parable, the Chofetz Chaim explains why sincere aspirations must be followed by practical action. Turning Torah […]
The mitzvah of Bikurim taught farmers to recognize Hashem as the Source of their blessings. Today, daily tefillah allows us to preserve that lesson by beginning anew with appreciation and […]
The mitzvah of Bikkurim teaches us to dedicate not only our possessions, but also our finest abilities, to serving Hashem (God). Each person’s distinctive talents point toward a personal mission […]
The Torah’s command to remember what happened to Miriam offers a lasting lesson about lashon hara. By recognizing speech as a precious gift intended for praise and constructive communication, we […]
Why Ammon and Moav Are Different There is something very puzzling about the Torah’s treatment of Ammon and Moav, compared to the other nations who harmed Klal Yisrael. Ammon and […]
There are moments when a person suddenly realizes how little is really in his control. We can plan, prepare, and do everything in our power to protect ourselves, yet life […]
In this week’s Torah reading, the Torah prohibits using witchcraft and superstitious omens to predict the future and influence our decisions. The Torah despises these practices and says as follows: […]
Do Not Be Negatively Influenced The verses in this week’s Torah reading state as follows: “When your God will annihilate the nations to which you are going there (to the […]
Ask the Rabbi with Rabbi Chaim Mintz The number 40 appears again and again throughout the Torah: Moshe spent three separate periods of 40 days on Mount Sinai; the Jewish […]
