Who Owns the Torah? —Part II
Last week, we defined the legal reality of a kinyan as when an actual, real, situation is formalized as belonging that way. As such, I can possess an [...]
Who Owns The Torah? —Part I
Over the last two weeks, we have focused on preparing for zeman matan Toraseinu by explaining (and hopefully accepting and ultimately fulfilling) Chazal’s dictum, [...]
What Could Possibly “Precede” Torah? – Part 2
Last week, as part of our preparation for Kabbalas HaTorah engendered by sefiras ha’omer, we started discussing the concept of “Derech eretz kadmah la’Torah,” explaining that —in some [...]
What Could Possibly “Precede” Torah? – Part 1
Chazal tell of a number of things which preceded the creation of the world (see Pesachim 54a), one of them being Torah. Yet Chazal also say “Derech [...]
Yetzias Mitzrayim = Pidyon Shevuyim
One of the more common phrases we hear and say is “yetzi’as Mitzrayim” —going out of or leaving Egypt. The Exodus. Whether the context [...]
Happy New Month!
In a certain sense, the process of yetzias Mitzrayim started with Hashem telling Moshe Rabbeinu “Hachodesh hazeh lachem… This month (i.e., new moon) is [...]
Hello Mother, Hello Father, Please Read This Column, Though It’s A Bother (Part 3)
Well, it’s been late in coming, but here is the promised final part of our kibbud av va’eim column. We’ve reached the understanding, based [...]
All it Takes is a Little EDC–Effort, Diligence and Commitment
Once again, I must apologize for not (yet) completing the series on kibbud av va’eim. We will return to that subject im yirtzeh Hashem [...]
Ad De’lo Yoda —What We Know And What We Don’t Know
Part Three of our series will just have to wait, Purim is here, we must explain Haman’s fate. And although the story as written [...]
Hello Mother, Hello Father, Please Read This Column, Though It’s A Bother (Part 2)
We are in the midst of trying to understand why kibbud av va’eim is classified as a mitzvah bein adam laMakom. We have seen [...]
Hello Mother, Hello Father, Please Read This Column, Though It’s A Bother (Part 1)
The Aseres Hadibros, read last week, are, logically, a microcosm of the entire Torah. Whether or not we assume Rav Saadyah Gaon’s chiddush that [...]
Good Shabbos!
“Remember the Shabbos day, to sanctify it; six days shall you work, and accomplish all your undertakings; but the seventh day is Shabbos, [dedicated] [...]