The Watermelon Mystery: From Chullin to the Dessert Table
A friend of mine once noticed a peculiar habit of his mother-in-law: whenever watermelon was served for dessert at a Shabbos meal, she would always eat it with a challah.
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Middos and Mussar
Kavod HaTorah
Honoring Torah scholars, the rebbe and talmid bond and respect for Torah.
When a Father Is Named “Abba”
There are many endearing names a person can call their father: Dad, Daddy, Tatty, Ta, Papa, Pop, or Abba. But a fascinating question arises: Can a child use the endearing nickname “Abba” if his father’s actual, given…
Torah Toil
A man once wanted to buy a bar mitzvah present for a relative. He went to Zundel Berman together with his son and thought that a newly re-typeset Ketzos HaChoshen would be a wonderful gift, something a budding talmid…
Raising the Steaks: Why the Nasi Bought the Cow
Mazal tov on this final countdown to a joyous simcha – the wedding of a beloved son! With excitement swirling like confetti and preparations in full swing, the ultimate wedding day checklist takes shape: clothing for…
A Matter of Opinion
Rav Huna was a learned and revered talmid chochom, yet he grappled with the harsh realities of poverty, straining to support his beloved family.
Hitting the Target With All Talmidim
The Gemara in Bava Basra (134a) relates that Hillel the Elder had 80 students. Thirty of them were of the stature that they should have merited the Divine Presence descend upon them as it did on Moshe Rabbeinu.
Hair-Raising Thoughts
Male pattern baldness is a common experience for many men. Some individuals embrace their baldness and even display signs in their office, like “G-d created a few perfect heads.
Rebbe Chiya: The Ultimate Teacher
Rebbe Chiya was a teacher of Torah. (Bava Metzia 85b) The Gemara relates how Rebbe Chiya personally oversaw the entire harbotzas Torah process from the very beginning. He would plant seeds. Not seeds of Torah!
Two Points of View
There is a Mishnah in Bava Metzia that at first glance seems understandable. Yet when the Gemara (41a) tries to elucidate it, it seems that the first law in the anonymous Mishnah represents the opinion of Rebbe…
Do Not Despair
An intense debate erupted in the Beis Medrash. According to the Gemara, the debate spanned at least three decades (Bava Kama 67b). The debate was so long that there were three different Roshei Yeshiva during this time.
Can a Kohen Go to a Tzaddik’s Funeral?
The great Rishon Rabbeinu Chaim HaKohen once remarked that had he already been born when Rabbeinu Tam passed away, he would have become tamei and gone to his funeral.
Still Waters Run Deep
There are over 700 brands of bottled water currently on the market in the United States. Each brand claims to offer the perfect water taste. In ancient times, one would have assumed that there was no choice of water.
Abba, My Dear
There are many endearing names one can call his father: Dad, Daddy, Tatty, Ta, Pappa, Pop, Poppy, Abba. The question that many have pondered is: can someone call his father by the endearing name Abba, if his actual name…
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.
Out of Order
It’s time to dust off Mesechta Rosh Hashana. The Daf will be finishing with Mesechta Beitza shortly. Someone studying the Daf with an Artscroll Shas will find nothing amiss.
Who Was Rav Papa?
Rav Nachum Bar Papa is mentioned in Yoma (67a) on a daf that was recently learned by Daf Yomi participants. What he was quoted as saying is certainly important. Yet, some commentators chose to focus on the name itself.
Back to Respect
Twenty-five years ago, there was an established shul that let it be known that they were looking for a new rav. There were many candidates for the one position.
Toil For Torah
Avimi was Rav Chisda’s rebbe. Or was it the other way around? As presented in the Gemara, it is difficult to determine who was the rebbe and who was the talmid. Avimi was a very demanding rebbe.
When The Student Becomes The Rebbe
The Mahari Bruna (born 1400 in Germany) was asked the following question: If a student surpasses his rebbe in Torah scholarship, does he still have to honor him?
Rabbi Shmuel Niman: Rebbe, Mashgiach, Mentor
In my first year of attending yeshiva gedolah in Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim, I had the z’chus of having Rabbi Shmuel Niman, zt’l, as a rebbe.
Da’as Torah
The Gemara records an incident where Rav Huna admonished his son Rabbah for not studying under the guidance of Rav Chisdah, whom Rav Huna considered an exceptional scholar.
A Matter Of Mesorah
The Gemara relates that there was a question that plagued Rabbah and Rav Yosef for 22 years. Rashi notes that the number 22 was not coincidental. Rabbah served as rosh yeshiva for 22 years before he passed away.
Searching Ourselves
Carbonite is a company that provides online backup for personal and business computers. In 2009, they lost some of their customers’ data, as a result of what they claim was defective hardware.
It’s All Good
Have you ever heard a wonderful d’var Torah and told the speaker, “That’s a good vort!”? It may be a good vort, but your praise may not be so good. The Gemara in Shabbos records an interesting dialogue.
Our Rosh Yeshiva
I am embarrassed to even attempt to write an article about my rebbi, HaRav Alter Henoch Leibowitz, zt’l, the longtime rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim in Queens. Anything I write will be woefully insufficient.
Mishloach Manos From Rebbi to Talmid
A friend of mine, who earned his CPA a few years ago, told me about his recent dilemma. He was looking for an accounting job starting in the fall, so he applied for a job at several firms.
Gemara stories on Kavod HaTorah
Hillel Asks for Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai
As Hillel lies dying, his students crowd in but Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai waits outside, and Hillel calls him a father of wisdom for all generations.
Rabba, Rav Yosef and the Rosh Yeshiva Seat
The Sages choose Rav Yosef's vast knowledge over Rabba's genius to lead the yeshiva, but Rav Yosef steps aside for twenty-two years and later solves Abaye's question.
Rav Huna Sends Rabbah to Learn from Rav Chisda
Rav Huna rebukes his son Rabbah for avoiding Rav Chisda’s lessons. Rabbah says they are only about healthy living, and his father tells him that is exactly why to go.
Rav Henoch Leibowitz Explains Da'as Torah
Rav Henoch Leibowitz brings a magazine to his Gemara shiur and explains the real reason a gadol's da'as Torah guides life questions, not just halachah.