The Laws of Immersion of Utensils

Immersion of an ordinary, mundane utensil intended for temporal purposes alone, elevates and designates towards eating for the sake of ‘tikkun olam’ * Metal and glass vessels require immersion, ceramic and wood vessels are exempt * If the central component of the vessel is made of metal or glass – the entire vessel must be … Read more

A Unique Nation Indeed

The Prime Minister of India represents the great number of people in the world who are in awe of Israel * In the West, Israel is repressed; but in the East, Israel is constantly taken notice of * Israeli academics are perplexed when asked what the secret of Israel’s success is, and whether it is … Read more

Today’s False Gods

Faith is rooted in man, thus he has always sought ways to express it * Idol worshippers created gods that identified with their base desires, preventing them from advancing morally and ethically * The Torah forbade any belief that restricts or limits God: only the One God who created everything is to be believed in, … Read more

The Guilt of the Elders of Israel

The sins spoken of in this week’s Torah portion were committed by evil members of the nation, but the elders were guilty for not objecting * In the wake of their silence the sins spread throughout the entire nation, and the decline in faith lead to the Sin of the Spies * Entry into the … Read more

‘Mincha’ and the Workplace

A letter from a high-tech employee: If workers eat and talk on the phone while at work, there is no reason for them to cut-short their prayers * Differences in rank in companies exist – junior level employees have time on their hands, but managers and senior executives are very anxious * In practice, those … Read more

Connecting Nationalism to Torah

While in Israel, foreign students studying in Israel and those living here temporarily or have relatives here, are exempt from second day of Yom Tov * Sefirat HaOmer connects the national side of the Jewish people to their spiritual side, and the basic, natural ’emunah’ (faith) to the way of Torah *Learning Torah all night … Read more

Equality, No; Family Unity, Yes

Although equality between men and women is a basic principle in halakha, in family-related laws, differences exist between the two * Each difference has a purpose – the unity of the family. * In the past, having two wives was necessary because many women required men to support them, but the Torah hinted that it … Read more