The significance of paying a parking ticket in the Holy city of Yerushalayim. Why paying taxes in Eretz Yisrael counts as tzedakah (A quote from Rav Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook in עין אי”ה) Even though Hashem promised He would defeat Bnei Yisrael’s enemies when they entered the Land of Israel they still had to prepare […]

Why, in Shemoneh Esrei, does the bracha of Kibbutz Galuyot immediately follow Barech Aleinu? Because as the Gemara says, there is no surer sign that Moshiach is coming than the land yielding it’s produce: “‘ואמר רבי אבא אין לך קץ מגולה מזה שנאמר (יחזקאל לו, ח) ‘ואתם הרי ישראל ענפכם תתנו ופריכם תשאו לעמי ישראל” […]

Why were the five tannaim gathered at the home of Rebbe Akiva on the Seder night and not at home? Rebbe Eliezer himself praised those who stay home for Yom Tov rather than going away! Additionally, two of the others were Rebbe Akiva’s rebbeim, why would they be at his house? Why was he able […]

Why does the Haggadah turn to the declaration made when bringing Bikkurim to tell the story of the Exodus rather than the story itself? What is emphasized in מקרא ביכורים? Why isn’t the verse about coming into the Land of Israel included at the Seder (why don’t we include a fifth cup – והבאתי)? The […]

One of the central mitzvah of the Seder night is relating the story of the Exodus from Egypt. The medium we use is the Haggadah. The Haggadah includes not just the story but even the instructions! The story of Yetziat Mitzrayim begins with צא ולמד – “go out and learn”. What is the purpose of […]

Rebbi Shimon ben Yochai told his students that the Jews in the generation of the Megillah were threatened with destruction because they bowed down to the statue erected by Nevuchadnetzer. Why are the Jews of the entire realm slated for destruction because of something that happened 45 years earlier? At the beginning of Galut Bavel […]

Mordechai commanded Esther not to reveal her origins like Rachel who remained silent when Lavan switched her for Leah. Both were rewarded for their silence. When Pharaoh asked his advisors what to do about the Jews Iyov remained silent and he suffered as a result. Why were Esther and Rachel rewarded for their silence while […]