Revivim

Grief and Outrage Rabbi, your last week’s column caused us grief and outrage. You wrote:  “A person who earns a reasonable salary and spends all his money without saving is considered to be a slave controlled by his desires.” Additionally, you wrote that, in your opinion, a person must give ‘ma’aser’ (tithe) if he earns an … Read more

Can’t Finish the Month Rabbi, my husband and I have a problem. I am self-employed, my husband has a regular job, and we have two young children. Together, we make about 16,000 shekels a month. Nevertheless, due to the high cost of living in our neighborhood (high mortgage rates, municipal taxes, education, extra-curricular activities, etc.), … Read more

“Lag Ba’Omer” – The Thirty-Third Day of the Omer Counting It is customary to be joyful on Lag Ba’Omer. And though during the Counting of the Omer we observe some of the customs of mourning, on Lag Ba’Omer an exception is made and it is permissible to sing and to dance. In addition, the heartfelt “Tachanun” … Read more

Redemption through Repentance or Agony Our Sages have taught us that the ‘Geula’ (Redemption) can come in two ways: Speedily and joyfully, by means of complete repentance, or in a natural process – by way of anguish, forcing us to return to our Land and heritage. “If they (Israel) will be worthy, I will hasten … Read more

The Mitzvah of Yom HaAtzma’ut There is a mitzvah to establish a holiday, rejoice, and praise God on a day the Jews were delivered from distress. This is what prompted the Rabbis to establish Purim and Chanukah as eternal holidays. Even though it is forbidden to add mitzvot onto what is written in the Torah, … Read more

Dear Friends and Supporters, Shalom and blessings from Har Bracha! With joy and praise to Hashem, we are happy to announce the publication of the first two books in English of Rabbi Eliezer Melamed’s highly acknowledged series on Jewish law, “Peninei Halachah.” The Hebrew books have gained wide popularity in Israel, and are taught in … Read more

Koshering the Oven In order to kosher an oven, one must clean it well and heat it at its highest temperature for half an hour. It is difficult to kosher oven trays and pans, because they absorb through fire and require libun chamur, but since libun chamur will cause them serious damage, they are not … Read more