Festivals
Windows of Opportunity
The Rabbis of the Talmud teach that “From the day that the Bais Hamikdash was destroyed, the Gates of Prayer were sealed.” Harav Shimshon Chaim ben Rav Nachman Michoel Nachmani zt’l writes in Sefer Zera Shimshon that the Gates of Prayer mentioned here are referring to the Holy Places in…
DISTRIBUTING TZEDAKAH (CHARITY) ON CHANUKAH (I)
Yesod V’Shoresh Ha’Avodah writes that the days of Chanukah are particularly auspicious to correct the flaws in Man through the distribution of tzedakah, charity, especially to those who are engaged in the study of the Holy Torah and supporting them. Children are accustomed to going around during Chanukah collecting tzedaka for scholars…
Chanukah is coming
Chanukah is coming don’t be left out. Visit our Festival section to read what it’s all about. Stories, insights, songs and more; Tehilim hotline has lots in store. Sufganiot, Latkes, dreidels and eating cheese; Click to find a discussion about any of these. Family get-togethers and Chanukah gelt bring out…
Food for thought
An essential element of Chanukah is Hoda’ah, and it accordingly becomes a highly propitious time for us to bli neder undertake some improvement in Brachos. In Chassidic circles, the Pasuk Hodu LaHashem Ki Tov Ki LeOlam Chasdo is explained as follows: If you may it a practice of giving thanks…
MATISYAHU BEN YOCHANAN NOT LIKE MORDECHAI AND ESTHER
HaRav Yitzchok Isbee, Z’TL, notes that in the Al HaNisim tefillah on Chanukah we refer to Matisyahu as “Matisyahu ben Yochanan”, although we refer to Mordechai and Esther in the Al HaNisim of Purim without referring to either of their fathers’ names. To understand why, HaRav Isbee explains (based upon…
… and gave us the Shabbos
Had the Shabbos, with its manifold benefits, been nothing more than a Divinely ordained day of rest, how great a blessing would it still have been. For had Shabbos not been given to the Children of Yisrael for rest, had God not ordained it, then when would they have found…