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Regarding fasting on the 7th of Adar, The Shulchan Aruch (580:2) designates the 7th of Adar as a day of fasting in remembrance of Moshe Rabbeinu's Yahrzeit. Elya Rabbah (580:1) says one who fasts on this day is assured a place in the world to come. …

A summary of  "A Peaceful Home: A Man's Guide to a Loving Relationship with His Wife" by Rabbi Chayim Freidlander is the ultimate solution for marital challenges. In this book, the author emphasizes the importance of young husbands understandin…

PARSHAS TERUMAH SUMMARIZED: God instructed Moshe to tell all Israelites whose hearts so moved them to bring gifts of gold, silver, copper, colored yarns, fine linen, goats' hair, tanned ram skins, acacia wood, oil, spices, lapis lazuli, and other f…

 Asher Yatzar insight גָּלוּי וְיָדֽוּעַ לִפְנֵי כִסֵּא כְבוֹדֶֽךָ  "It is obvious and known in the presence of Your glorious throne." Everything in the world is "obvious and known" before Hashem, so what is the significance of mentioning this specificall…

This week's Haftarah is generally read twice a year. The special Shabbos Rosh Chodesh Haftarah comes from the concluding chapter of Yeshayahu (66:1-24). The Levush (425:2) and the Mishnah Berurah (425:4) both explain the connection from Rosh Chodesh…

Why do we add an extra month to the year, and why is it specifically Adar?  Based on the verse in Parshas Re'eh (16:1), we know that Pesach must be during the spring. Here's the problem: We follow the lunar calendar, and each month has a 29.5…

Meet Harav Nosson Tzvi Finkel, famously called "The Alter," a significant leader of Orthodox Judaism in Eastern Europe and an extraordinary Torah educator. He founded the renowned Slabodka yeshiva and had a powerful impact on his students, many of w…

Rav Yehudah Aryeh Leib Alter, well-known as the Sfas Emes, was an other-worldly Torah luminary. He was a Chasidic Rabbi and Av Beis Din. Born in 1847 (5608) as Yehudah Leib, affectionately known as Leybl in his youth, he faced early hardships after …

After Netilas Yadayim in the morning, one says Asher Yatzar as part of Birchas Hashachar. Avudram writes that one should say it even if he didn’t use the bathroom.  The Beis Yosef asks, since the bracha was instituted to be said after re…

Correct Procedure for Netillas Yadayim in the morning: • One should wash with a cup. This is due to Rashba's opinion that weare washing just as the kohen washed his hands with a utensil everymorning. (SA 4.7, Pri megadim MSZ 1.) • You sh…

Netilas Yadayim After saying Modeh Ani, one must wash Netilas Yadayim. (Although many siddurim print Reishis Chochma right after Modeh Ani, there is a machlokes as to whether or not you are allowed to say pesukim like this before Birchos HaTorah. …

The phrase "מודה אני" is structured differently from the literal translation of "I thank Hashem" (אני מודה). Why do we seem to say it backward? One perspective, as shared by Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman, suggests that by placing "אני" (I) after "מוד…

Parshas Mishpatim (מִּשְׁפָּטִים‎—Hebrew for "laws") sets out a series of laws; some refer to it as the Covenant Code. It reports the people's acceptance of the covenant with God. The parsha addresses laws on Hebrew indentured servants and enslav…

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…

I recently discovered a valuable source in Derashos Haran from a shiur given by Rabbi Lopiansky, specifically Talk 10. In this talk, the Ran explains how the Torah provides godly laws for the people while allowing the king to establish additional la…