Balak, the king of Moav, was concerned about the Israelites' victories and asked the prophet Bilam to curse them. God told Bilam not to curse the blessed Israelites. Despite Balak's offers of wealth, Bilam initially refused to act against God's com…
Parshas Balak, Or HaChaim (23/8) Exploring the mechanics of curses and unraveling the intentions behind Bilam's actions. To understand the matter properly, we must first discuss the condition of the person or people subjected to a curse. If…
Pesukei Dezimra, or "Verses of praise," are a group of prayers recited during Shacharis. They consist of various blessings, psalms, and sequences of other Torah verses. Two sources mention the obligation of saying Pesukei D'Zimra every day.&nbs…
The Haftarah for Parshas Chukas, sourced from Shoftim (11:1-33), is deeply connected to our parsha as elucidated by the Levush (549:1). Our parashah concludes with Moshe's triumphant battle against the people of Amori. The Jews emerged victor…
1. First Bobover Rebbe/Reb Yonah Minsker2. Mike Tress3. Lubavitcher Rebbe/Rav Shneur Kotler4. Rabbeinu Tam/Baal Haflaah5. Maaseh Merkavah6. Yonatan Netanyahu/Sreifas HaTalmud7. Rav Gedalia Schorr/Lev Simcha8. Imrei Noam9. Klausenberger Rebbe10. Reb…
After Birchas Hashachar, we recite Karbonos. The Gemara in Megillah relates that Avraham asked Hashem how Klal Yisrael would achieve forgiveness once the Beis Hamikdash is destroyed if we can no longer bring Karbonos. Hashem replied, when Klal Yisra…
The Avudraham (Shachris Shabbos, page 189) explains why we read the Haftorah each week: "It was decreed that the Jews could no longer read from the Torah, so the rabbis established to start reading from the Neviim instead." Tosfos Yom Tov (Megillah-…
Shabbos Rosh Chodesh Laws and Customs Sources: Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein Halacha Shiur (Daily Halacha) Shulchan Aruch Harav - Rav Shneur Zalman of Liadi (https://shulchanaruchharav.com/shabbos-rosh-chodesh-laws-and-customs/#_ftn4) When Rosh Chodesh f…
Parshas Korach recounts Korach's failed rebellion against Moshe, detailed in Korach 16:1–18:32. Korach, a Levite, conspired with his mob and 250 Israelite chieftains to challenge Moshe's authority. Despite warnings, they defied Moshe's instruc…
When a Jew sees his tzitzis, he is to remember all of Hashem's commandments and should be encouraged to keep them. How do tzitzis remind us of the mitzvos? Rashi bases his explanation on a gematria: the word tzitzis (in its Mishnaic spelling…
