TMC Torah Blog

Rabbi Yisrael ben Ze'ev Wolf Lipkin, also known as "Rav Yisrael Salanter,"  was a famous Rosh yeshiva and expert Talmudist who founded the Mussar movement. The epithet Salanter was added to his name since most of his schooling took place in Sal…

According to the Ashkenaz custom, the Haftarah for this week comes from Yeshayahu (6:1-7:6, 9:5-6). The Levush (685) explains the connection to parshas Yisro: In our parashah, we have the greatest revelation in history- Mattan Torah- when Hashem ga…

THOU SHALT NOT COVET. Many people are amazed at this commandment. They ask, how can a person not covet all attractive things that appear desirable to him in his heart? I will now answer you with an allegory.  Note that a peasant of sound mind …

חזקוני (Yisro-20/1)וידבר אלהים את כל הדברים האלה כביכול כאדם המסדר בלבו דברים כדי לאמרם לאחרים כך וידבר בינו לבין עצמו ואח״‎כ לומר לישראל. אנכי ה׳‎ אלהיך זש״‎ה אז ראה ויספרה הכינה וגם חקרה ויאמר לאדם וגו׳‎ למדתך תורה דרך ארץ אם תהיה …

At a US neurological conference, global experts discussed a peculiar fainting issue upon waking. Prof. Linda McMahon concluded that swift rising causes blood to rush from the feet to the brain, leading to fainting. Her advice: sit up and count to tw…

When he finally went to the pulpit to begin his talk, many ideas crossed his mind. He has often remarked, "Whenever I have to speak, I plan one darshan at home; on my way to the shall, I think of a second one, and when I am at the bimah, I end up sa…

Moshes' father-in-law Yisro heard all that God had done for the Israelites and brought Moshes' wife Tzipporah and her two sons Gershom ("I have been a stranger here") and Eliezer ("God was my help") to Moshe in the wilderness at Mount Sinai. Yisro r…

Rabbi Twerski had an outstanding medical career, including founding and serving as the medical director emeritus of Gateway Rehabilitation Center in Pittsburgh. He also served as the clinical director of the Department of Psychiatry at St. Francis H…

Harav Sholom Mordechai Hakohen Schwadron, known as the "Maggid of Jerusalem," was a revered Charedi Rav and inspiring Torah speaker. With his fiery and inspirational mussar talks, he captivated audiences and earned the admiration of many. His teachi…

Many synagogues have a beautiful custom of intonating the Shirah verses containing Hashem's holy name with a special melody.  It is also customary in some communities to rise respectfully during this special leining.  Additionally, in ce…