Series

Reward for Education

Playing Hide-and-seek with God

God plays hide-and-seek with man. This state of Divine concealment, with all of the vicissitudes it involves, nevertheless possesses profound meaning as far as man's nearness to God is concerned; God's absence evokes a longing to draw near to Him.

A Loan or a Partnership? – part II

based on ruling 79099 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts

based on ruling 79099 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts

Down to the Earth and Up to the Sky

Yom Kippur, the holiest of days, has two diametrically opposed halachot. There is a strict requirement to “afflict” ourselves. On the other hand, Chazal relate great importance to eating on the day before it. R. Yehoshua ben Chananya tried to learn from the pasuk, “You [Moshe] are going to lie with your fathers, and the nation will get up and act licentiously” (Devarim 31:16) that there is resurrection of the dead (it can be read, with difficulty, that Moshe will get up) and that Hashem knows what will happen in the future. He settles at the end that the pasuk proves only the latter, but why would one consider to read the pasuk referring to resurrection, which seems to “abuse” the pasuk? Yom Kippur, the holiest of days, has two diametrically opposed halachot. There is a strict requirement to “afflict” ourselves. On the other hand, Chazal relate great importance to eating on the day before it. R. Yehoshua ben Chananya tried to learn from the pasuk, “You [Moshe] are going to lie with your fathers, and the nation will get up and act licentiously” (Devarim 31:16) that there is resurrection of the dead (it can be read, with difficulty, that Moshe will get up) and that Hashem knows what will happen in the future. He settles at the end that the pasuk proves only the latter, but why would one consider to read the pasuk referring to resurrection, which seems to “abuse” the pasuk?

The Right Time for Calculations

based on Siach Shaul p. 496-497

Moshe asked: "What does Hashem ask from you but to fear Him?" The Gemara points out that unlike for most people, this was a trivial task for Moshe. Actually, the purpose of the giving of the Torah is fear of Hashem.

Bank Notes Lost by Paid Messenger

seudat hodaya

The Anniversary of Rachel's Death

At present, Rachel the Matriarch continues to offer supplication on behalf of her children, Israel. Though they have returned “from the land of the enemy,” they have yet to returned to their borders. Rachel is weeping, and her children weep with her.