In the fall of 1860, Rav Yaakov Ettlinger penned what is likely the most revolutionary responsa of…
Chulin 3: Meet the Shochet
That the role of a modern rabbi in the Western World is far different than that of the rabbi of…
Chanukah: A Special Nation
One of the painful realities of Jewish life is that the Jewish people are often judged by a double…
An Introduction and Overview of Masechet Chulin
Masechet Chulin, a derivative of the word chol, translates as “The Secular Tractate…
VaYeshev: Respectfully Declined
“And Yaakov ripped his garments and put sackcloth on his loins, and he mourned for his son…
Menachot 110: A Sweet Smell
“It is said of the olah sacrifice of cattle, ‘rei’ach nichoach, an offering made…
Menachot 99: Loving Mitzvoth
The Sochochover Rebbe, in the introduction to his classic work on the laws of Shabbat, Eglei…
Menachot 99: Let's Break Some Bread
“And you shall place on the table showbread before Me tamid, at all times” (Shemot…
VaYishlach: Alone at Night
“Therefore, the Jewish people will not eat the gid hanasheh, sciatic nerve, that is…
Menachot 99: The Broken Tablets
“At that time, the Lord said to me, ‘Hew for yourself two stone tablets like the first…
Menachot 65: An 11 Day Journey
The opening Mishna of masechet Megillah teaches that those living in small rural communities could…
Toldot: A Second Famine
“And there was a famine in the land, aside from the first famine that was in the days of…
Menachot 65: Saturday Night Harvesting
The Jewish people are a most contentious one. We argue about (almost?) everything and then…
Menachot 53: Chametz and Matza
"All korbanot mincha, flour offerings, are to be made of matza with the exception…
VaYerah: Living in Sedom
“And the people of Sedom were evil and sinners towards G-d beyond all measure” (…
Menachot 43: Women and Tzitzit
It is well known that the mitzvah of tzitzit is a classic case of a mitzvah aseh…
Lech Lecha: Counting Sheep
"And there was an argument between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of…