Kashrut and the Joy of Life Without Labels - Apr 24, 2025 - Derashah for Parshat Shemini 5785. If Hashem made cows and Hashem made pigs, why are cows kosher and pigs not kosher? Learning the lesson of permanent labels for animals - but not for human beings. With a thought from Rav Aharon Lichtenstein on the joy of teshuvah and avodas Hashem.

Shoftim Mini-Shiur Part 79: 13:3-5 - Hatzlelponi and the Malach - Apr 24, 2025 - A daily mini-shiur delivered via Whatsapp, on the book of Shoftim, in the merit of the soldiers of the IDF, as well as the hostages and the wounded. Hatzlelponi meets a malach; what does he tell her? To join the Whatsapp, go to http://tiny.cc/washoftim.

Shoftim Mini-Shiur Part 78: 13:1-2 - Manoach and Hatzlelponi - Apr 22, 2025 - A daily mini-shiur delivered via Whatsapp, on the book of Shoftim, in the merit of the soldiers of the IDF, as well as the hostages and the wounded. Meeting Manoach, and Hatzlelponi's inability to produce children. To join the Whatsapp, go to http://tiny.cc/washoftim.

Medical Halachah: OCD in Jewish Law Part 2 - Apr 21, 2025 - Part 2 of a shiur on Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; Part 1 was in February and is available at https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/1125105/ . What should clinicians know about Judaism in treating observant Jews who are dealing with "religious OCD"? And what should rabbis know when their congregants are dealing with "religious OCD"?

Shoftim Mini-Shiur Part 77: 13: Meet the Plishtim and Hatzlelponi - Apr 21, 2025 - A daily mini-shiur delivered via Whatsapp, on the book of Shoftim, in the merit of the soldiers of the IDF, as well as the hostages and the wounded. A brief introduction to the Plishtim and Shimshon's mother. To join the Whatsapp, go to http://tiny.cc/washoftim.

Minhag Avoteinu: Retrenchment and Renaissance - Apr 18, 2025 - Derashah for Day 8 of Pesach 5785. If parental practices do not carry automatic power as minhag, then why do we insist on following them, on Pesach and at other times? Inherent Torah value; Kibbud horim; and returning to our spiritual roots as a way to spur continued growth. Application to Yizkor.

We Are Not Usurpers; We Are Agents of Redemption - Apr 16, 2025 - Derashah for the seventh day of Pesach 5785. The anti-Zionist messages found in Parshat Beshalach with Shevet Ephraim and in the three oaths of Shir haShirim, and how Rav Soloveitchik countered them in Kol Dodi Dofek.

The berachah on telling the story of escaping Egypt - Apr 10, 2025 - Two brief answers on why there is no berachah (apparently) for סיפור יציאת מצרים, telling the story of our exodus from Egypt. One from Rav Yehuda Kelemer, one from the Chatam Sofer.

Hillel's Erev Pesach Ascent: Judaism Is What Jews Do - Apr 9, 2025 - Derashah for Day 2 of Pesach 5785. Hillel determines halachah on an Erev Pesach that is Shabbat by popular Jewish practice, as Rav Hai Gaon would later in history. The role of our kabbalat hatorah and our masorah.

Hillel's Erev Pesach Ascent: A Lesson in Unity - Apr 8, 2025 - Derashah for the first day of Pesach 5785. The reaction of the Bnei Beteirah when Hillel said to bring the korban pesach on erev Pesach which was Shabbos.