Category Archives: Holidays

Three Weeks, Two Musings, One Shiur

Posted on July 13, 2014 by

Yesterday I was privileged to deliver a Shiur on the Three Weeks period, which begins this Tuesday. Click here for the Mareh Mekomot. To these I will append the following philosophical insight which I also shared yesterday, based on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Halacha, Three Weeks and Tisha B'Av | Leave a comment

Frum … or Krum?? – Hiding Bread Before Bedikat Chametz

Posted on April 6, 2014 by

And now, once again, it is time for our all-too-infrequent consideration of trends and whispers in the Jewish community as seen through the rarified light of actual Halachic analysis. Is it Frum, or is it Krum? As always, there can … Continue reading →

Posted in Communal Matters, Frum ... Or Krum??, Pesach | 2 Comments

Parshat Shoftim: The Punishment of Not Being Punished

Posted on August 13, 2013 by

Parshat Shoftim includes a dire warning for those idol-worshiping nations with whom the Jews are unable to establish a peace treaty: דברים פרק כ (יג) … וּנְתָנָהּ ה’ אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּיָדֶךָ וְהִכִּיתָ אֶת כָּל זְכוּרָהּ לְפִי חָרֶב: (יד) רַק הַנָּשִׁים וְהַטַּף … Continue reading →

Posted in Parshat Hashavua, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur | Leave a comment

Sources and Notes: Yom Tov Sheini

Posted on May 19, 2013 by

I gave a Shiur over Shavuot on Yom Tov Sheini as it relates to Sefirat Ha’Omer and Shavuot. Here are the sources. A few notes based on the sources: 1) Sources 18 and 19 provide a fascinating back-and-forth between the … Continue reading →

Posted in Holidays, Pesach, Shavuot, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, Succot | Leave a comment

Spring Leaning: Halachot of Leaning at the Seder

Posted on March 24, 2013 by

Yesterday I gave a Shabbat Hagadol Derasha on the Halachot of leaning at the Seder. Here are the sources. I want to highlight here a few points based on the sources, with gratitude to those in attendance whose comments and … Continue reading →

Posted in Holidays, Pesach | Leave a comment

Wine and Dine, Meet the Divine: Purim and Yom KiPurim

I happened to have the privilege this past Shabbat of learning with some friends at my nearest local out-of-town Center-Right Modern Orthodox Shul. As I do when I “happen to learn with friends,” I prepared plenty of sources ahead of … Continue reading →

Aside | Posted on February 27, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Purim: Peeling Back the Mask, With a Little Help From Our Friends

Posted on February 17, 2013 by

A dichotomy: Purim is a time in which we are acutely aware of the poor. The Mitzvah of Matanot La’evyonim reminds us perhaps more poignantly than at any other time of year that the poor need consideration, attention, and respect. … Continue reading →

Posted in Holidays, Pesach, Purim | Leave a comment