“……..To make them forget your torah and violate the decrees of your will…” (v’al hanissim) ״…להשכיחם תורתך ולהעבירם מחוקי רצונך..״ – נוסח ועל הנסים The goal of the Greek oppression of the Jewish people was, in the words of the V’al Hanissim prayer, “to make them forget Your Torah and violate the decrees of Your will.” The Greeks were not opposed to Torah scholarship, […]

With Rosh Hashana approaching, we really need to know how to take advantage  of this special time. In this video you get some insights how to utilize this holy day          

“…R’ Yirmiyah said in the name of R’ Shmuel bar Rav Yitzchak: We find that G-d excused the Jewish people for idol-worship, adultery, and murder, but their contempt of the Torah He did not excuse. What is the proof? It is not written here, “And G-d said, ‘Because they committed idol-worship, adultery, and murder,’” but “And G-d said, ‘Because they […]

“…A stone that is chipped to the extent that it can be sensed by a fingernail… is disqualified for use in the altar or the ramp, as [Devarim 27:6] states: “You shall build the Altar of G-d with whole stones”… If a stone was damaged or touched by iron after it was built into the Altar or the ramp, that […]

“…And they stood at the bottom of the mountain…” – Shemos 19:17 וַיִּתְיַצְּבוּ בְּתַחְתִּית הָהָר – שמות יט, יז The Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson, of righteous memory, would bless people before the holiday of Shavuos, “to receive the Torah b’simchauv’pnimiyus, joyfully and internally.” At the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, both of these qualities were […]

 If an oppressive government is trying to abolish one or all of the Mitzvot, one must choose death rather than transgress whichever Mitzvah they are attempting to abolish, (even if the transgression is not related to idolatry, adultery or murder.) This would explain, why in the era of Chanukah, the Jews needed to sacrifice their lives when forced to do […]

Lighting the menorah was one of the many daily activities preformed in the Beis Hamikdash, the central avodah being the offering of sacrifices on the mizbeiach. Why was the menorah singled out, that Hashem’s miraculous intervention that gave us the holiday of Chanukah, specifically involved the Menorah and not the mizbeiach or any other part of the Beis Hamikdash? The […]

Birth & Passing of R. Dovber of Lubavitch (1773; 1827) Kislev 9 is both the birthday and day of passing of Rabbi DovBer of Lubavitch, also known as the Mittler Rebbe, son of and success or to the founder of Chabad Chassidism, Rabbi Schneur Zalman·of Liadi. Rabbi DovBer was known for his unique style of “broadening rivers” — his teachings […]

The start of the rainy season in the Land of Israel is immediately after Sukkos (see Shulchan Aruch Harav 117:1). Yet, we wait fifteen days before starting to pray for rain, allowing for the last of the pilgrims to Jerusalem for Sukkos to arrive home without getting caught in the rain. Besides for being a tremendous sacrifice, delaying the prayers […]

אף על פי שכל המועדות מצוה לשמוח בהן, בחג הסוכות היתה במקדש יום שמחה יתירה, שנאמר ושמחתם לפני ה’ אלהיכם שבעת ימים… ולא היו עושין אותה עמי הארץ וכל מי שירצה, אלא גדולי חכמי ישראל וראשי הישיבות והסנהדרין והחסידים והזקנים ואנשי מעשה הם שהיו מרקדין ומספקין ומנגנין ומשמחין במקדש בימי חג הסוכות. אבל כל העם האנשים והנשים כולן באין לראות […]

Powerful message to enter the new year and carry with you all year round.        

Shimon and Rueven were close friends despite their drastically different levels of Jewish observance (Shimon was the Rabbi of the local Chabad shul, and Rueven was the rabbi of the local reform synagogue). One Friday morning Reuven called Shimon frantically, “Shimon, I need a favor. Discount tickets just became available to Aspen, Colorado for the opening of ski season, the […]

Throughout the month of Elul, Beginning from Rosh Chodesh it is customary to blow the shofar everyday after Shachris – Rem”a, Orach Chaim 581:1 The Rambam writes that the stirring sounds of the Shofar convey the following message: ‘Be roused, sleepers, from your sleep, and slumberers, wake from your slumber; search your deeds and return in teshuvah…’ (Laws of Teshuva […]

“…..But Chana did not go up, for she said to her husband: “Until the child is weaned, then I shall bring him…..” (Shmuel I 1:22) ״….וחנה לא עלתה כי אמרה לאישה עד יגמלהנער והבאתיו….״ – שמואל א׳ א,כב Chana was one of seven women in the Tanach to whom G-d gave the power of prophecy. In the Haftorah of Rosh […]