21:1 And these are the ordinances… Chazal take note of the word “v’ele” – “and these are…”. The Torah seems to be starting a new subject about the laws between man and his fellow, which are totally disconnected from the laws of ascending the mizbeach – the last topic of last week’s Parsha. However, the [...]
Shabbos Newsletter Parshas Yisro 5780 Reminders: Mincha Erev Shabbos at 12:30 and 17:10 Mazel Tov to the Rav and the Rebbetzin of the upcoming wedding of their son Yisroel Mayer to Leah Klein. The Auf Ruf will take place this Shabbos in Jerusalem. Modified Shabbos Schedule: Kabbalas Shabbos led by Ari Goldwag, World Famous singer and [...]
"לֹא תַחְמֹד" (שמות כ:יג) באופן כללי אנשים מבינים שאסור לחמוד אחר רכושם של אחרים. הם גם מרגישים קצת מדוכאים שבמקום להסתפק במה שיש להם, מדמיינים לעצמם שמגיע להם דברים של אחרים. אפשר לחשוב שהאיסור הזה הוא פנימי בין האדם לעצמו, ובעל הדבר הנחשק הוא רק האמצעי לחטא. אפשר אפילו לחשוב שמדובר בחטא שבין אדם למקום [...]
20:13 Thou shalt not covet… In general, people understand that it is prohibited to desire other people’s possessions. People also feel a little bit ashamed of themselves that they are not satisfied with what they have, and have to instead imagine owning things that belong to others. One may think that this prohibition is a [...]
Shabbos Newsletter Parshas Mishpatim 5779 This issue is sponsored by Ari and Rochel Waldman In memory of Rochel's father Yonah ben Naftali Hertz Zukowsky, Z”l whose Yahrtzeit was the 24th of Shvat. Sponsor an issue of the Ahavas Shalom Newsletter in memory of a loved one, or for a refuah shelaymah—or any non-commercial purpose! Just 50₪ [...]
Shabbos Newsletter Parshas Yisro 5779 This issue is sponsored by the Brandt Family of Norfolk, VA In honor of the esteemed Rav, Rav Zachariash shlita Sponsor an issue of the Ahavas Shalom Newsletter in memory of a loved one, or for a refuah shelaymah—or any non-commercial purpose! Just 50₪ per issue. Contact Lev Seltzer for [...]
19:4 …and I carried you on eagles' wings… Rashi quotes Chazal on this verse, telling us that just as an eagle caries its young on its wings and says “Better the arrows should enter me than my child”, so too Hashem protects Klal Yisrael at His own risk. The question is obvious: What risk are [...]
"וָאֶשָּׂא אֶתְכֶם עַל-כַּנְפֵי נְשָׁרִים..." (שמות יט:ד) רש"י מביא מחז"ל: "אבל הנשר הזה אינו מתירא אלא מן האדם שמא יזרוק בו חץ לפי שאין עוף אחר פורח על גביו לכך נותנו על כנפיו אומר מוטב יכנס החץ בי ולא בבני אף אני עשיתי כן". והשאלה ברורה: ה' יכול לעשות הכל, א"כ איזה סיכון אישי יש לו [...]
Shabbos Newsletter Parshas Yisro 5778 You can sponsor an issue of the Ahavas Shalom Newsletter—Contact Lev Seltzer for details Reminders: Mincha Erev Shabbos at 12:30, 17:00 Shabbos Shiurim: The Rav’s shiur on Beis Elokim written by the Mabit takes place this and every Shabbos at about 07:50 The Rav’s shiur on Pele Yoetz has resumed, [...]
One may think that our legislative halachos – whether they be about dinim or honoring one’s parents, or other self-understood mitzvahs – are to be understood as Hashem’s version of things which people naturally understand. A very famous question asked about the 10 commandments is, why is the mitzvah of honoring one’s parents on the [...]
