Ezra Mini-Shiur Part 29: 7:1-5 - Meet Ezra! - May 6, 2024 - A daily mini-shiur on the book of Ezra, in the merit of the soldiers of the IDF, as well as the hostages and the wounded. We finally meet Ezra!

Ezra Mini-Shiur Part 28: 6:21-22 - Better than Chizkiyahu! - May 5, 2024 - A daily mini-shiur on the book of Ezra, in the merit of the soldiers of the IDF, as well as the hostages and the wounded. We conclude the chapter, seeing the greatness of the Korban Pesach celebration of the start of the second Beit haMikdash.

To Perpetuate the Masorah, Honor Others - May 3, 2024 - Derashah for Parshat Acharei Mot 5784, based on a thought by Rav Yonasan Sacks at the RCA Convention in 5767. Failure to honor others makes the original students of Rabbi Akiva inadequate as communicators of the masorah, because we need self-respect in order to aspire to greatness. But their replacements excel in this area.

Ezra Mini-Shiur Part 27: 6:18-20 - The Pesach of Chizkiyahu and Ezra - May 3, 2024 - A daily mini-shiur on the book of Ezra, in the merit of the soldiers of the IDF, as well as the hostages and the wounded. The Jews of the second Beit haMikdash celebrate their first Korban Pesach! And it's even better than the Pesach of King Chizkiyahu!

Ezra Mini-Shiur Part 26: 6:17 - A Joyous Dedication in Adar - May 2, 2024 - A daily mini-shiur on the book of Ezra, in the merit of the soldiers of the IDF, as well as the hostages and the wounded. The Jews joyously dedicate the second Beit haMikdash in Adar, with many korbanot - including the korban chatat.

Ezra Mini-Shiur Part 25: 6:6-18 - Construction Complete! - May 1, 2024 - A daily mini-shiur on the book of Ezra, in the merit of the soldiers of the IDF, as well as the hostages and the wounded. The second Beit haMikdash is complete!

"Then They Build Monuments to You": Shir haShirim and the Campus Riots - Apr 25, 2024 - Derashah for Shabbat Chol haMoed Pesach 5784. Linking our current experience with the fifth perek of Shir haShirim and the story of Tattenai's opposition to construction of the second Beit haMikdash.

Ezra Mini-Shiur Part 24: 6:6-12 - King Darius: Benevolent or Self-Serving? - Apr 21, 2024 - A daily mini-shiur on the book of Ezra, in the merit of the soldiers of the IDF, as well as the hostages and the wounded. With our license to build the Beit haMikdash discovered, Darius empowers us to build, with shocking benevolence - but a gemara sees him as self-serving. Why?

"Baavur Zeh" - Chag, not Moed - Apr 21, 2024 - Derashah for Pesach 5784. Why did a midrash suggest that we should telling our children about yetziat mitzrayim on Rosh Chodesh Nisan? And why does the Torah insist on doing it specifically when the pesach, matzah and marror are in front of us?

Ezra Mini-Shiur Part 23: 6:1-5 The documents are in order - Apr 21, 2024 - A daily mini-shiur on the book of Ezra, in the merit of the soldiers of the IDF, as well as the hostages and the wounded. The Persians find the order by King Cyrus for construction of the second Beit haMikdash!