1. What we eat and how we eat has an enormous impact on our middos (-character traits) and as a result also on how we think.
2. The special quality of eating produce grown in Eretz Yisroel, including remarkable words from Chasam Sofer and Rav Yaakov Emdin.
3. A surprising psak of the author of Bein Ish Chai regarding making a special trip to eat fruits of Eretz Yisroel.

Cheshvan 5786

Understanding the Talmud Yerushalmi’s drawing of a parallel between the laws of zimun and the laws of beis din.

Cheshvan 5786

Cheshvan 5786

1. Do we eat because we get hungry or do we get hungry because we need to eat?
2. The different outlook of Kabbalah towards physical mundane activities.

Cheshvan 5786

1. T’wo very different types of Aliyah to Eretz Yisroel.
2. Two very different types of pleasure from the material world.
3. Desiring basar b’cholov.

Cheshvan 5786

1. What’s behind the dispute between Beis Hillel and Beis Shamai regarding whether one’s table needs to be inside the Succah? (Malbim)
2. Beis Hillel and Beis Shamai’s outlook on life in this world.
3. Contrasting the Succah and the U.N.
4. Why the nations will be tested with the mitzvah of Succah, and not with the mitzvah of the arba minim.
5. Why is Yosef listed as one of the ushpizin; what is his special power?

Tishrei 5786

1. Rav Kook on suiting discussion about teshuva to the generation.
2. A novel suggestion as to the reason for the minhag not to eat egozim on Rosh Hashonah.
3. Some words about Yom Kippur and Hashem’s kindness to us.

Tishrei 5786

Elul 5785

1. The secret to success and joy in the study of Torah.
2. Learning how to find and identify your true self.

Elul 5785

1. Conquering one’s drives (“will”) vs. elevating one’s drives, and who can do the latter.

2. Living in tohu (-chaos) and how to move towards tikkun (-rectification/balanced oneness).

Elul 5785