"And G-d saw that Leah was hated, and He opened her womb" (Breisheet 29:31). Apparently,…
Pesachim 2: Searching for Chametz
“On the eve of the fourteenth, we search for chametz by candlelight” (Pesachim 2a). I…
An Introduction to Masechet Pesachim
The task of editing involves critical decision-making. Beyond questions of language and syntax, an…
Toldot: A Wonderful Sin!
"When Eisav heard his father’s words he let out a most loud and bitter scream" (27:…
Eiruvin 100: Cats and Ants
Imagine if the Torah had not been given. While for many, such a thought is unthinkable—…
Chayei Sarah: Bring Her Home
“Yitzchak then brought her [Rivka] into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he took Rivka as…
Chayei Sarah: In Memory of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks zt"l
I had the honour of sharing a few words in honour of Rabbi Sacks zt"l at the moving program…
VaYera: Family Ties
“Take your son, your only son, the one you love, v'lech lecha, and go for yourself to the…
For the Sake of Heaven
I often ask my high school students what they consider the most difficult mitzvah to observe. The…
Lech Lecha: On the Move
Sefer Breisheet might be described as the book of movement. Beginning with the heavenly spheres and…
Noach: From Noach to Avraham
We tend to view Adam as a failure at life, unable to obey his only command from G-d. Noach was…
Eiruvin 65: Time to Laugh
“Rabbi Elai said: A person is recognized through three ways: b’koso, b’kiso…
Eiruvin 65: Davening Less, Learning More
Two of the most fundamental mitzvot are those of prayer and Talmud Torah. Observant Jews pray three…
Breisheet: Guardians of the Garden
"G-d took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden to work it, l'ovdah, and…
Shmini Atzeret: A Dual Holiday
The Jewish holidays have two distinct themes. The shalosh regalim, three pilgrim festivals of…
Sukkot: Leading by Example
For many years, students were introduced to the study of Talmud with Eilu Metziot, the second…
Eiruvin 53: Curriculum Planning
“One cannot compare one who learns the chapter 100 times to one who learns it 101 times…
Sukkot: A Very Open Sukkah
For seven days a year, one is to “make his home temporary and his Sukkah permanent”.…