Torah Tidbits
What It All Boils Down To
Double sedras. No, that’s not what it all boils down to. This is introductory; the main part of the Lead Tidbit follows. Double sedras - We can’t do without them… if we are to neatly complete the reading of the whole Torah each year.
Published August 25, 2009The Multi-faceted Super-Mitzva
It’s not Shabbesdik! This is a concept that many of us grew up with. There was no specific statement in Shulchan Aruch to point to and say, this is why we should not do such- and-such. But there was a feeling that certain behavior, certain acts, shouldn’t be done on Shabbat. Some Jews scoff at this idea. Sad. Because they are missing something.
Published May 01, 2009Lesson from Yehoshua
HaRav Shlomo Goren z"l told the story of a meeting of army generals with David Ben Gurion, which took place in the early days of the State. One general proposed that there be a separate division of the army for religious soldiers. This division would adhere to the laws of Kashrut, Shabbat, etc. and the “rest of the army” would be able to conduct itself otherwise. It was not Rav Goren who responded; it was Ben Gurion. We are one people and we have one army.
Published May 01, 2009The Halachot of Women & Men: Kohanim and whom they may not marry
According to strict halacha, if a kohen married any of the foregoing he must divorce her. Even if there is a “scent of a divorce (get)”: that she had from a prior marriage he must divorce her. A “scent of a get” is defined as a woman whose prior marriage has been terminated by her husband giving her a get that stated “you are divorced from me, but you are not permitted to marry any other man.”
Published May 01, 2009Wisdom & Wit
R’ Mordechai Bennet was already an old man when he met the Chasam Sofer at a summer resort. While they were there, R’ Mordechai received an urgent letter regarding a woman who was an aguna - a woman abandoned by her husband - and without a divorce or proof of his death, she could not remarry.
Published May 01, 2009Sedra Stats - Acharei Mot-Kedoshim
K’doshim’s 51 mitzvot earn it 5th place on the Mitzva Chart. But if we take into account sedra size, it rises to first place, by far.
Published May 01, 2009Aliyah by Aliyah - Acharei Mot-Kedoshim
The first part of the sedra deals with the Yom Kippur service in the Beit HaMikdash - Seder HaAvoda. An emotional element is introduced when the Torah tells us that G-d gave these commands “after the deaths of Aharon’s two sons”. We cannot help but be struck by the combination of the Kohen Gadol performing the loftiest of spiritual tasks with the background of personal grief.
Published May 01, 2009ParshaPix
Kohen Gadol and two identical goats, Shabbat candles, B’samim…. how would you explain these pictures?
Published May 01, 2009This too, even more so
Anyone who feels the pain of Aharon’s devastating loss of his two sons and sheds tears over it, HaShem will decree for such a person, atonement for his sins…
Published May 01, 2009From K'doshim To Bava Kama
The verse in our portion of K’DOSHIM (19:11) warns us not to steal - LO TIGNOVU. The word TIGNOV refers to stealing secretly. Some examples include shoplifting, pickpocketing, using an item that someone asked you to watch without getting explicit permission, and using things at work that belong to the employer such as pencils and paper…Who stole the cookies from the cookie jar - chocolate chip cookies…
Published May 01, 2009Parsha Points to Ponder - Acharei Mot-Kedoshim
Why does the Torah teach not to perform acts like the LAND OF EGYPT and THE LAND OF CANAAN instead of focusing on the people who lived in those lands?
Published May 01, 2009Vebbe Rebbe - Praying in a Dirty Place
I am part of a group of around 10 Jewish prison inmates (some, like me, are studying for conversion). Our cells (5’ x 9’) have a toilet in them and during the time for Shacharit and Ma’ariv, I am not able to get out. Can I put on my tallit and pray at that time, in a “dirty place”, or is it an abomination to Hashem? Our rabbi died a few years ago, and we don’t have anyone to answer our questions any more.
Published May 01, 2009Recent Torah Tidbits
- Issue 996 - Parshat Tazri’a - M’tzora (m’vorchim)
- Issue 993 - Parshat Vayakehl/P’kudei - Para
- Issue 986 - Issue 986 - Shabbat Parshat Va’eira (m’vorchim)
- Issue 985 - Issue 985- Shabbat Parshat Sh’mot
- Issue 984 - Issue 984- Shabbat Parshat Vaychi - Chazak
- Issue 983 - Issue 983- Shabbat Parshat Vayigash
- Issue 982 - Issue 982- Shabbat Parshat Mikeitz - m’vorchim
- Issue 981 - Issue 981- Shabbat Parshat Vayeishev
- Issue 980 - Issue-980 - Shabbat Parshat Vayishlach
- Issue 979 - Issue-979 - Shabbat Parshat Vayeitzei
- Issue 978 - Issue 978 - Shabbat Parshat Tol’dot - Machar Chodesh (m’vorchim)
- Issue 977 - Issue 977 - Shabbat Parshat Chayei Sara
- View All Issue Archives