Saving the Wicked Son
The Rasha asks the same question as the Chacham but with a negative, cynical tone. How do we convey the same message we give to the chacham to the Rasha? Previous:...
Answers to the 4 Sons in the Chumash &...
Why don’t the answers we provide to the 4 sons in the haggadah parallel the answers we are told by the Torah to give them? Previous: Chochom vs. Rasha Next: Saving...
Chacham vs. Rasha
The chacham and rasha seem to ask the same question despite being polar opposites. According to the Maharal, this is because opposites are closely related. Previous: Kneged Arba Bonim: The Four...
Kneged Arba Banim: The Four Factor
The number 4 is central to the seder because it’s all-encompassing. The 4 sons are within the framework of Torah. We’re being told how to respond to them. Previous: Baruch HaMakom...
Baruch HaMakom
What does the name HaMakom mean and why do we refer to God that way here? What is the added blessed be He at the end? How does it lead into...
Like 70 Years Old
The connection between Shema & the Exodus: What does mentioning the exodus at night have to do with telling the story on Pesach? Why do we mention it daily in the...
Afilu Kulanu Chachamim….
If one has all these (chachamim, nevonim, zekenim, yodim et haTorah) why retell the story? The seder is about reliving the creation of a new world order. Previous: Avadim Hayinu: Yad...
Avadim Hayinu: Yad Chazaka vs. Zeroa Netuya
What does it mean that we’d still be slaves in Egypt – the empire already ceased to exist? The difference between being freed by God and being freed in other ways....
Mah Nishtana: The Power of a Question
Why is magid in question-answer form – even when we already know the answer? The purpose of this format is to stop an old way of thinking & begin a new...
Understanding Yachatz: Secrets of Matzah
What does the poverty theme of yachatz & ha lachma anya have to do with the seder, why do we introduce the matzah both now & later? What does freedom mean?...
Discover More
- Asarah B'Tevet
- Birchat HaChama
- Chanukah
- Elul
- Fast of Esther
- Fast of Shiva Asar B'Tammuz
- Fast of Tisha B'Av
- Four Shabbatot
- Hoshanah Rabbah
- Lag BaOmer
- Months
- Passover
- Pesach Sheini
- Purim
- Rosh Hashanah
- Sefirat HaOmer
- Shabbat
- Shavuot
- Shmini Atzeret
- Shushan Purim
- Simchat Torah
- Sukkot
- The Three Weeks
- Tu B'Av
- Tu B'Shevat
- Tzom Gedaliah
- Yom HaAtzmaut
- Yom HaShoah
- Yom Hazikaron
- Yom Kippur
- Yom Yerushalayim
Subscribe To The OU’s Shabbat Shalom Weekly Newsletter
Weekly email newsletter filled with articles, Divrei Torah, upcoming events and more! Sign up today.