The Vision of Yovel for Our Generation

The mitzvah of tzeddaka teaches that the responsibility for making a living  lies with the individual, and only if one is unable to take care of himself, the responsibility passes on to others * The mitzvah of Yovel  complements this, determining that natural resources be divided equally among all * Thus, the Torah integrates both … Read more

The Blessing over Settling the Land of Israel

According to the vast majority poskim, the blessing ‘matziv gevul almana’ is recited when seeing a new community * Rabbi Tzvi Yehudah HaKohen Kook taught us not to be doubtful about the blessing, and would himself recite the blessing openly and in a loud voice * In which communities is the settling of the Land … Read more

Customs of Mourning during the Omer Period

The Reason for These Customs The days between Pesach and Shavu’ot are days of sorrow, because 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva died then.  Therefore, we keep some of the customs of mourning during this period, postponing marriages, refraining from taking haircuts, and avoiding dancing, unless it is for the sake of a mitzvah. We observe some customs of mourning … Read more

Koshering the Kitchen for Pesach

The Principles of Koshering Utensils Though the walls of pots and other vessels appear solid and impervious, they actually absorb the taste of food cooked in them. It is impossible to measure how much taste the walls of a pot absorb and how much they release back into the food; some vessels absorb more than others … Read more

Egg Matza and ‘Gebrokts’ on Pesach

‘Matza ashira’ and the sources for Ashkenazi and Sephardi customs * Today, cookies made from ‘matza ashira’ contain substances that might be considered like water, consequently there is disagreement among Sephardic poskim in regards to them * ‘Matza sheruya’ and the Hassidic custom not to eat it * Today, some Hasidim are lenient, because the … Read more

The Joy of Judaism and Torah

Be as meticulous about being happy in the month of Adar, as you are about grieving in the month of Av * Happiness can be achieved by pondering and appreciating the magnitude of the miracle in the days of Mordechai and Esther * In the times of Achashverosh, Israel had sunk to the lowest of … Read more

How to Gladden a Chatan and Kallah

In Judaism, the wedding day is the most joyous day of one’s life * The large number of participants in a wedding reveals that it is not a private happy occasion, but part of the general objective of revealing the unity of Hashem * One should embellish the wedding meal and clothes bought for the … Read more

The Struggle for a Jewish Army

In recent years I have written numerous articles warning about the erosion of the status of Judaism in the IDF * Had we previously stood firm against the violation of mitzvot and values, the order against growing a beard in the army would have been unthinkable * Many objectors to statements made in this column … Read more

Meat, Chicken, and Fish with Milk

In wake of the fatal bus accident: The Torah obligation to report a reckless bus driver * A continuation of the laws of meat and milk * The Torah prohibits the mixture of meat and milk only by cooking, however the rabbis also forbade other mixtures * Are the meat and milk of wild animals … Read more