The Ibn Ezra asks how can the Torah command a human not to “want” something his friend has. The Bais HaLevi wonders what the question is, since with a little Yiras Shamayim no one would desire his friends property. The Chinuch also says that a person is expected to control his desires. Read More »

“Ki Hadam Eitz HaSadeh”, a person is like a tree in the field. There are many comparisons between a tree and a person that are obvious to all, especially in area of nurturing and raising children as well as our relationship with our own father in Shamayim. Read More »

The Rema (YD 265: 11) says that being a Sandak by a Bris is like being Makriv Kitores. Just like we know that bringing Kitores in the Bais HaMikdah makes you rich so too does being Sandak. Read More »

Before Matan Torah Moshe went up to Hashem. When he came down it says (Yisro 19: 14), “Vayeired Moshe Min HaHar El Ha’Am”, Moshe went down from the mountain to the nation. Read More »

“From the time the Chiddushei HaRashba was printed no sefer was a great as that as the Pnei Yehoshua.” This was quoted by the Avnei Tzedek in the name of the Chasam Sofer whose every word was measured and precise without exaggeration. Read More »

In 1977 Rav Moshe Feinstein was asked (Igros Mosher YD 3: 75) whether the Bnei Torah in Sunderland, England should send their sons to the Gateshead Cheider where the entire parent body are Bnei Torah and the learning was on a higher level, or they Read More »

By Maariv in the Bracha of Hashkiveinu we ask Hashem, “V’Haser Satan Milfaneinu U’Mei Achoreinu”, the remove the Yetzer Hara from in front of us and from behind us. What does this mean? The seforim answer that when we want to do something good the Satan tells us there is no rush, start “tomorrow”. Read More »

HaAdama…surprisingly. The Papaya looks like a tree and has all the qualifications of a tree as determined by Chazal. However it lack some key botanical features of a tree and exhibits properties of a “Yerek”. For example it produces fruit within the first year it is planted. Also its trunk is hollow unlike a fruit tree. Read More »

Yisro heard all the stories of Yetzias Mitzrayim, but only after hearing them from Moshe does the Torah attest that he realizes the greatness of Hashem. Why? “Ki BaDavar Ashe Zadu Aleihem”. Unkeles says this means that Hashem paid back Mida K’Neged Mida because he drowned the Mitzrim just like they drowned the Jewish children. Read More »

Rav Shimshon Pincus points out an interesting phenomenon. Good bread is fresh bread. Once it get old, even by a day, it becomes stale. Not so with cake or cookies. Why is that? Bread is the main food that nourishes life. Cake and cookies are not. When it comes to life, it is refreshed by Hashem every moment of every day. Read More »

“Ki Ani Hashem Rofecha.” (Bishalach 15: 26) Hashem promises that if we keep the Torah He will not bring upon us any of the illnesses that He brought upon Mitzrayim, because He is our doctor. Doctor? Why do we need a doctor if Hashem will not bring upon us any illness? The Chasam Sofer answers that there are two kinds of doctors. Read More »

“Vata’an Lahem Miriam Shiru Lashem” (Bishalach 15: 21). Just like Moshe sang Shira for the men, so, too, Miriam sang for the women. However, the word Vata’an means to answer, which connotes talking and not singing. Furthermore, Lahem is a masculine term and not addressed towards women. Read More »

The Mishna Brura writes (317: 15) that if you have new article of clothing you may not insert on Shabbos its belts and strings that are left there permanently because you are Misaken Mana or fixing the item. Read More »

The Shulchan Aruch (YD 248: 1) says that even a poor person who receives Tzedoka must give Tzedoka from the money he receives. The Shach says that this Din only applies if the poor person has enough to live on even after he separates the Tzedoka.  However if he doesn’t have enough to live on he is not obligated to give Tzedoka. Read More »

The Mechilta says that at Krias Yam Suf, Har HaMoriah was uprooted from its place.  What does this mean?  Rav Meir Shapiro explains that the Yam Suf did not split until Nachshon jumped in to the raging rapids first, and then all of Bnei Yisrael followed behind him, as the Pasuk says in Tehilim, “Haysa Yehuda LiKodsho Yisrael Mamshilosav. Read More »

“V’LoNacham Elokim Derech Eretz Pilishtim Ki Karov Hu; Hashem did not want to take Bnei YisrAel to Eretz YisrAel through the land of the Pilishtim since it was very close. Read More »

If a boy goes to yeshiva and his father gives him money for food, laundry, and his other needs, is he Mechuyav to give tzedoka from the money?  Rav Moshe Shternbuch (3: 282) says it depends. Read More »

Hashem told Avrohom that his children would be enslaved in Mitzrayim for 400 years. Yet they left after 210. Many Meforshim offer explanations justifying how Bnei Yisrael were able to leave before their time. However the Ben Ish Chai has a problem with this whole approach. Read More »

During Makas Arbeh, Paroh asked Moshe to daven to take away the dreadful locust. Moshe davened and the Torah says (Bo 10: 19), “Lo Nishar Arbeh Echad Bichol Gvul Mitzrayim; “Not a single Arbeh remained in Egypt’s borders.” Rabbeinu Bichaye, who lived in the 13th century, says that Moshe’s tefila helped to this day. Read More »

There were twothings that distinguished Rav Moshe Schick, otherwise known as theMaharam Schick.  One was his sheer desire to overcome to overcome hisweak body, and mind and the other being his attachment to his greatRebbe the Chasam Sofer.The Maharam Schick was born in the year1807 in the Bresova in Slovakia. Read More »