Yeshiva World News

Vertluch: Parshas Lech lecha

The end of this week’s parsha discusses that Hashem gave us the commandment of bris milah and how Avraham and Yishmael were both circumcised. Dovid HaMelech writes (Tehillim 119) ‘sus anochi al imrasecha k’motzei shalal rav’. We can loosely translate it to mean: ‘I rejoice over your words like someone who finds an abundance of spoils.’ Gemara in Shabbos (130) explains that the aforementioned pasuk refers to the mitzvah of milah, that it is done b’simcha. Why are we so ...

Rabbi Krakowski: Parshas Lech Lecha

Hashem announces to Avrohom that Sarah Imeinu will have a child he will be considered his only eternal child. Hashem explains that only this child (from Sara Imeinu) will eventually get Eretz Yisroel. Avrohom argues with Hashem and says: Hashem let it suffice that I have Yishmael and let him live on as my eternal heir (17: 15-18).this entire episode leaves us baffled with the question what is going on? Hashem tells Avraham seemingly the best news and instead of rejoicing Avraham seems to ...

Vertluch: Parshas Noach

This weeks parsha begins with the well-known words of נֹחַ אִישׁ צַדִּיק תָּמִים הָיָה בְּדֹרֹתָיו, meaning Noach was righteous, and a tamim; he was faultless in his generation. Many ask that later on, when Hashem tells Noach כִּי אֹתְךָ רָאִיתִי צַדִּיק לְפָנַי בַּדּוֹר הַזֶּה, He leaves out the word tamim. It would seem that Noach was demoted a category from a tamim to just a regular tzaddik. What did he do ...

Hilchos Chol Hamoed

The following is meant as a convenient review of Halachos pertaining to Chol-Hamoed. The Piskei Din for the most part are based purely on the Sugyos, Shulchan Aruch and Ramah, and the Mishna Berura, unless stated otherwise. They are based on my understanding of the aforementioned texts through the teachings of my Rebeim. As individual circumstances are often important in determining the psak in specific cases, and as there may be different approaches to some of the issues, one should always ...

Hilchos Eruv Tavshilin

The following is meant as a convenient review of Halachos pertaining to Eiruv Tavshilin. The Piskei Din for the most part are based purely on the Sugyos, Shulchan Aruch and Ramah, and the Mishna Berura, unless stated otherwise. They are based on my understanding of the aforementioned texts through the teachings of my Rebeim. As individual circumstances are often important in determining the psak in specific cases, and as there may be different approaches to some of the issues, one should always ...

Vertluch: Sukkos 5774

The mishna is Succah (28b) says that if it rains on Succos it is comparable to a slave that comes to pour a cup of wine for his master and he poured a pitcher of water on his face.’ The gemara (29a) explains that when the mishna says ’ he poured a pitcher of water on his face’…it means that the master spilled a pitcher [of water] on [the slaves] face as to say ‘I do not desire your service!’. Vilna Gaon says that the water the slave had in his hand represented middas ...

Vertluch: Yom Kippur 5774

Rambam in hilchos teshuva, (perek aleph) asks how one says viduy (where one accepts and confesses they have sinned). He answers, we say ‘Ana chatasi, avisi, pashati…’ loosely translated to mean ‘I was wrong and I will never do it again.’ Ramban holds that teshuva is divided into three parts. First is to recognize you have sinned; second is to regret the sin; and last is to accept never to commit it again. Rambam (perek bais) then repeats and asks what is the procedure? He answers ...

Hilchos Umihagei Yom Kippur 5774

The following is meant as a convenient review of Halachos pertaining to Rosh Yom-Kippur. The Piskei Din for the most part are based purely on the Sugyos, Shulchan Aruch and Ramah, and the Mishna Berura, unless stated otherwise. They are based on my understanding of the aforementioned texts through the teachings of my Rebeim. As individual circumstances are often important in determining the psak in specific cases, and as there may be different approaches to some of the issues, one should always ...

B'Ohel Haneviyim: Shabbos Yom Kippur 5774

On Yom Kippur we read the Torah twice. Both Krios have a Haftorah. The Haftorah for the second Kriah (at Mincha) is Yona. Yona is one of the "trei Asar" (twelve Neviyim that were grouped into one book). The story of Yona is well known: there was a city called Nineveh. This city was sinful to the point that Hashem decided to destroy them. Before doing so, however, Hashem decided to give them one last chance and, to convey the message, sent the Jewish Prophet Yona. The latter’s mission was to ...

Vertluch: Rosh Hashana 5774

The date of July 21st, 1969 is one that is in all the history books. It was the day that the astronaut Neil Armstrong took his first steps on the moon. Everyone, wherever they were, stopped what they were doing to watch this historic event on television. Harav Yaakov Kaminestzky, Zt’l also went to a gentile neighbor to catch a glimpse of this spectacle; Reb Yaakov felt it important to see it with his own eyes as the expression goes: seeing is believing. However, how many of us actually ...

Hilchos Uminhagei Rosh Hashana 5774

The following is meant as a convenient review of Halachos pertaining to Rosh Hashana. The Piskei Din for the most part are based purely on the Sugyos, Shulchan Aruch and Ramah, and the Mishna Berura, unless stated otherwise. They are based on my understanding of the aforementioned texts through the teachings of my Rebeim. As individual circumstances are often important in determining the psak in specific cases, and as there may be different approaches to some of the issues, one should always ...

Hilchos Yom-Tov (Rosh Hashana 5774)

The following is meant as a convenient review of Halachos pertaining to Yom Tov. The Piskei Din for the most part are based purely on the Sugyos, Shulchan Aruch and Ramah, and the Mishna Berura, unless stated otherwise. They are based on my understanding of the aforementioned texts through the teachings of my Rebeim. As individual circumstances are often important in determining the psak in specific cases, and as there may be different approaches to some of the issues, one should always check ...

B'Ohel Haneviyim: Parshas Nitzavim-Vayelech 5773

This week's Haftorah is the last of the שבע דנחמתא. It is once again (like all of the שבע דנחמתא) a Nevuah of Yishayohu. The Haftorah is extremely interesting by its character. Unlike the rest of the Shiva Denechemta, it doesn't only focus on our being redeemed from exile. In addition, our Haftorah centers on Hashem cleansing Am-Yisroel from the Umos HaOlam. The Navi tells us that the Goyim will not drink our wine anymore. Rather, we – the ones who will have been gathered in ...

HaRav Zev Leff: Parshas Nitzavim-Valelech

Do Not Separate Yourself from the Community Today you are all standing before Hashem your G-d (Devarim 29-:9). After the ninety-eight curses that Bnei Yisrael heard at the end of Ki Savo, they were devastated and questioned whether they could possibly withstand such terrible punishments. Moshe Rabbeinu encouraged them with the opening words of this week's parashah: — Today you are all standing." Although you have sinned many times, all of you still stand today before Hashem. Was ...

Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Nitzavim-Vayeilech

Hanistaros L'Hashem Elokeinu v'haniglos lanu ul'vaneinu ad olam la'asos es kol Divrei haTorah hazos (29:28) One afternoon in Jerusalem, Rabbi Yakov Vann was on his way to the synagogue for the afternoon prayers when somebody called out from a doorway asking him to complete a minyan in a house of mourning. He gladly agreed to pray with the mourners, but upon entering the apartment, he was surprised to observe that although it was full of seforim (sacred Jewish books), the mourners themselves ...

Vertluch: Parshas Nitzavim-Vayeilech

If one were to stop and ponder their surroundings for a moment they would notice that life takes place on a huge battlefield. Every day, every hour, every moment brings another struggle with the yetzer hara as he is constantly finding ways to distract us and to get us not to concentrate on what we should be doing. It is a bit ironic that if one looks throughout the entire Tanach there is never a reference to the yetzer hara. The Torah doesn’t mention it, allude to it or offer any ...

B'Ohel Haneviyim: Parshas Ki Savo 5773

This week's Haftorah is the sixth Haftorah of the שבעה דנחמתא. It is a Nevuah in Yishayohu about the Final Redemption. The Haftorah from beginning to end is an extremely positive one and it ends off with an extremely positive note: that all of Am-Yisroel are Tzadikim and will eventually inherit the Land. The Haftorah ends with the promise that Hashem will hasten the Geula. The idea that all of Am-Yisroel are all Tzadikim and that we will all inherit a portion in the land is in a way ...