Until when can the afikomen be eaten? R’ Akiva – all night; R’ Elazar ben Azarya – until chatzot. Like whom do we hold? Most Rishonim say you are only yotzei afikomen until chatzot; the Rambam says all night. The Shulchan Aruch says to be machmir. The Avnei Nezer’s suggestion for how to finish the […]

The first day of Nisan is honored with 10 crowns (firsts). Why is Nisan, which is a month of firsts, also a month of miracles. Why should it be that just because we were redeemed in Nisan are we destined to be redeemed in Nisan? Each of the months corresponds to a different permutation of […]

The first mishna in Pesachim says that on אור of the 14th of Nisan we check for chametz, the word אור is used instead of לילה in order to use clean language and then proceeds to discuss this topic for 2 daf. R’ Tzadok HaKohen writes that aggadic sections are placed in masechtot to which […]

The route the king takes through the Beit HaMikdash vs. the path taken by the rest of the people as described by Yechezkel mirrors the difference between a Talmid Chacham and an unlearned person. Why do the people exit through a different gate whereas the king exits using the same gate through which he came? […]

In the end of days God will remove our heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh. What is the meaning of this heart transplant? Why will it happen specifically at the end of days? R’ Simcha Wasserman: Why will there be mourning and sadness on the day of the redemption! Download […]

The only two mitzvot where the Torah repeatedly uses the concept of שמירה (guarding) are Shabbos and Pesach. What is the common denominator and why are they so important? Pesach has a lower level of פרסומי ניסא than Chanukah – we just have to tell our children; Shabbos has a lower level than Pesach, we […]

Chatam Sofer: The Rambam says that the reason Rebbe Elazar ben Azarya appeared old even though he was only 18 is because he was so involved in learning that he aged prematurely (Torah weakens a person). However, the Gemara says that he appeared old after miraculously aging overnight! The Rambam rules that mitzvot that won’t […]

The Rosh says that when the Jews went to fight their enemies they went to war therefore we fast on Taanit Esther to commemorate that. What is the deeper reason? Why isn’t Hashem’s name mentioned in the megillah? The Ben Yehoyada says that Haman’s threat was never abolished completely. All we can do is to try […]

The Dubno Maggid asks: The Midrash says Moshe offered to give an accounting of all the donations but the proof text the Midrash brings says that one shouldn’t make a cheshbon with the Gabbai Tzedakah! Download the mekorot Shiur provided courtesy of Torah Anytime

After Shaul left a survivor (Agag), going against what he was commanded, he tells Shmuel “I fulfilled the word of God”. How could he make such a claim? Why does Mordechai tell Esther that if she doesn’t go to the king to save the Jews not only she but also her family will be lost? […]