When Less Is Too Much
An acquaintance once confided that he had a stone fragment from the Kosel in his possession. He said archaeologists were excavating near the Kosel area and uncovered numerous stone fragments during the dig.
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Life and Society
Eretz Yisrael
The Land of Israel: living there, its holiness and its boundaries.
Bite Your Tongue
Attending a yom tov seudah and spotting an inviting platter of beef tongue on the table is the ultimate test of fortitude. Your mind immediately starts wondering if taking a slice means entering into a mutual tasting…
A Tale of Two Riddles: The Vacuuming Wife and the Havdala Surprise
A bochur sat down for his festive Yom Tov night meal in the sukkah. He enjoyed a hearty seudah, sang some zemiros, and then bensched. Immediately afterward, he spoke with his rebbi.
It’s Raining Wheat
Although Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs sounds like pure fiction, unusual “food rain” events have, at times, been reported. In 2011, residents of Coundon, England, described a bizarre incident in which numerous…
Road to Redemption
The Gemara in Avodah Zara (2a-b) opens with a scene so grand—a story that has not yet occurred but waits just beyond the curtain of redemption.
Soaring to New Heights
On May 5, 1980, Eastern Airlines Flight 885 took off from Miami International Airport at 8:56 AM, heading to Nassau International Airport in the Bahamas.
A Holy Place in the World to Come
Yosef, the son of Rebbe Yehoshua, was sick and temporarily expired (Bava Basra 10b). During that brief lapse, he was given a glimpse of the World to Come.
Egg-sploring the Halacha
With the enormous amount of responsa that have been written over the past thousand years, there are countless ones about some rather interesting questions.
The Power to Withstand the Pressure
HaRav HaGaon Avrohom Kanarek, zt”l, of Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim in Yerushalayim taught Torah for many years in a humble and unassuming way. He shied away from kavod.
Who is Obligated?
The very first Mishna in Chagigah discusses those who are obligated to make the thrice-yearly pilgrimage to the Beis Hamikdash. The Mishna clearly states that the rule is that everyone is obligated except those…
Sky-High Sevaros
Eastern Airlines Flight 885 took off from Miami International Airport at 08:56 on May 5, 1980. They were flying a three-engine Lockheed Tri-Star. The Tri-Star was headed to Nassau International Airport in the Bahamas.
Lots Of Land: Daf 119b in Zevachim
On daf 119b in Zevachim, the Gemara discusses the words “nachalah” and “menuchah” in the verse “For you have not yet come to the resting place (menuchah) or the inheritance (nachalah).” According to one opinion, both…
Still Sacred
A question that has been discussed in recent years is the appropriateness of entering Har HaBayis. The Gemara records a dispute whether or not someone is liable for kareis by offering a sacrifice to Hashem outside the…
All Roads Lead To . . . Yerushalayim
The Gemara in Avodah Zara (2a–b) relates a fascinating story, albeit one that hasn’t happened yet. It will take place sometime after Mashiach comes.
Loath To Make An Oath
Rav Meir ben Isaac Katzenellenbogen (1482–1565), the Maharam Padua, was an Italian sage born in Katzenellenbogen. He went to Padua and entered the yeshiva of Rav Yehuda Minz, and he married Rav Yehudah’s granddaughter…
When The Sky Is Not The Limit
A year ago, I was asked to keep a group of 40 or so youngsters of varying ages busy on yom tov so that their parents could daven. I elected to tell them a story.
Not So Fast
The story is told of a group of friends that made a pact that after 120 years they would visit each other in the after-life. One who was in Gehinnom met his friend who was in Gan Eden.
Split Decision
In the summer months, I often arrive home from shul after making an early Shabbos and find someone dressed in Shabbos clothing looking around for a Jew who hasn’t accepted Shabbos yet.
What’s In A Name?
Dathan Ritzenhein (born December 30, 1982 in Grand Rapids, Michigan) is an American long-distance runner. He held the American record in the 5,000-meter race (12:56.27) from 2009–10, when it was broken by Bernard Lagat.
Gemara stories on Eretz Yisrael
Rabbi Zeira Moves to Eretz Yisrael
Rabbi Zeira fasts a hundred fasts and slips away from his rebbe Rav Yehudah to settle in Eretz Yisrael, then eats meat Bavel would forbid, following his new home's custom.
Kalev Prays Alone in Chevron
Kalev goes alone to Chevron to pray he will be saved from the spies’ plot, stands firm against the crowd, and is rewarded with Chevron as his inheritance.