Delivered at the OU Israel Center, March 3, 2020, 7 Adar 5780

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 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? […]

There are 2 mitzvot connected to Amalek – remembering what they did and eliminating them. We are never vulnerable to the external Amalek unless there is a part of Amalek that is in our character. Thus, even if we can’t eradicate Amalek externally, we can eradicate those aspects of our personalities. The two traits of […]

In the special Torah portion for Zachor, G-d commands the Jewish people to remember the terrible and heinous deeds of the evil Amalek nation. Zachor et asher asah lecha Amalek, baderech betzetchem Memitzrayim, Remember that which Amalek did to you, on the way when you left Egypt, This verse of Zachor is puzzling and unusual, in that […]

In addition to Purim and it’s mitzvot, there are other mitzvot associated with Adar including the obligation to read the four parshiyot (Shekalim, Zachor, Parah, HaChodesh), Taanit Esther, and the custom of giving machatzit hashekel. Are women obligated in the four parshiyot? Why do we fast on Taanit Esther? Download the Mekorot Recorded at OU […]

There were two half-shekel offerings: a one-time donation (for the building of the mishkan) and the annual half shekel (for korbanot) – building fund vs. operating budget. Why was there an upper limit for the machatzit hashekel, why can’t a rich person give more? Reish Lakish says that the Machatzit HaShekel counters the shekalim that […]

What is the connection between Purim, Parshat Parah and whether or not the Midrash means that Vashti had an actual tail? Shiur provided courtesy of Torah Anytime