Dei'ah veDibur - Information & Insight
  

A Window into the Chareidi World

7 Nissan 5763 - April 9, 2003 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
NEWS

OPINION
& COMMENT

OBSERVATIONS

HOME
& FAMILY

IN-DEPTH
FEATURES

VAAD HORABBONIM HAOLAMI LEINYONEI GIYUR

TOPICS IN THE NEWS

HOMEPAGE

 

Produced and housed by
Shema Yisrael Torah Network
Shema Yisrael Torah Network

OPINION & COMMENT

The Purpose of Life

A story is told of the philosophy professor who gave a final examination consisting of one word: Why?

According to the story, this was enough to touch off long essays by most of his students. However the paper given the highest grade was very short. It consisted of two words: Why not?

Pesach
by HaRav Moshe Feinstein, zt"l

The Reason for Shabbos Hagodol

Two miracles occurred on the tenth day of Nisan. There was the miracle of the selection and purchase of the [animal for the] Korbon Pesach, as is brought down in the Tur (Orach Chaim 430) and, [years later,] the miracle of the crossing of the Jordan River (Yehoshua 4:19). Upon deeper thought, one is puzzled to realize that, while we have an ongoing yearly commemoration of the nes Korbon Pesach, for the miracle of the crossing of the Jordan River we have no commemoration at all.

Understanding Leil HaSeder
by HaRav Shimshon Pincus, zt"l

HaRav Shimshon Pincus, zt"l, was killed, along with his wife and daughter, in a tragic car accident on the 12th of Nisan, 5761. In addition to being the rov of the kehilla of Ofakim, Israel, HaRav Pincus lectured and participated in seminars throughout the world. The following article is taken from a taped lecture, "Leil HaSeder," that he delivered in the U.S. before Pesach 5760.

Nothing Left But Torah -- Marking HaRav Shach's First Yahrtzeit
Delivered by HaRav Shmuel Auerbach

This inspiring talk has much to teach us at all times about the importance and function of Torah.

And Hashem "Reconsidered"
by HaRav Chaim Pass

Change of Heart?

In parshas Ki Siso the posuk (Shemos 32:14) says, "And Hashem reconsidered the bad that He had spoken about doing to His people." However, the posuk in parshas Bolok (Bamidbor 23:19) says, "G-d is not a man Who lies, or a human Who reconsiders." If Hashem does not reconsider, what does the first posuk mean?

The Problems of Legumes
Understanding the Gezeiras Kitniyos

by Rabbi Daniel Yaakov Travis

Chometz or Chumroh?

Mrs. Goldstein was cooking in the kitchen a few days before Pesach. Her mother-in-law, a guest for the chagim, happened to get a whiff of the delightful aroma of the festival cuisine, and nervously entered the kitchen. "Are you by any chance using . . . garlic?" she queried anxiously. The now apprehensive daughter-in-law, unsure of how to reply to this surprise interrogation, thought for a second and slowly nodded her head in the affirmative.

A Middos Workshop: Ta'avah--The Yeast in the Dough
Based on shiurim of Rav Dovid Siegel

Part 2

In the first part of our article on ta'avah, we described the insatiable craving that people have for physical pleasure, comparing it to a thirsty man who tries to solve his problem by drinking salty water that just increases his thirst.

What is Real Freedom?
by Rabbi Shmuel Globus

It is hard to describe, but you know it when you feel it: Freedom.

It is said in the name HaRav Elchonon Wasserman, Hy"d, zt"l, who said in the name of the Gaon of Vilna, that there are sixty-four mitzvos to be done on Pesach night, deOraisa and derabbonon, with each brochoh counting as a separate mitzvah.

The Sin of Loshon Hora
by R' Yerachmiel Kram

"And this shall be the law of the metzora on the day of his purification; and he shall be brought to the Kohen" (Vayikra 14:1).


All material on this site is copyrighted and its use is restricted.
Click here for conditions of use.