A Diamond with a Flaw
“You shall place both stones on the shoulder straps of the ephod, remembrance stones for the Children of Israel.” Shemot 28:12 Moshe was commanded to make garments for the Kohanim Moshe...
What is the State of God in Our World?
Harav Amital zt”l would always speak on first day of Rosh Hashana about the presence of God in the modern world and whether it had been a good year or a...
Shofar: Blasting Through the Blockage
Why is Rosh Hashana as a day of judgement hidden in the Torah? What is the connection between Rosh Hashana and Matan Torah?
Dip the Apple in the Honey – DON’T Make...
We all know the song, “Dip the Apple in the Honey, Make a Bracha Loud and Clear”… but should we really be making a bracha on the apple? Shiur provided courtesy...
Assessment and Accountability
The mishna says we pass before Hashem (in judgement) like “bnei maron.” The Gemara gives three explanations of this phrase. Why do we need three different metaphors to explain the same...
Expanding Our Horizons
This article was written for The Jewish Press, September 19, 2017 edition. Reprinted with permission. In this essay, I hope to introduce to a fresh perspective on the Festival of Rosh...
Rebuilding the Head-Heart Continuum
Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur differ from the other Yomim Tovim. How do they relate to the other holidays – the shalosh regalim? Rosh Hashana’s connection to the sin of Adam...
Shehechiyanu on Both Nights of Rosh Hashanah
Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach says that the shehechiyanu on the second night of Rosh Hashana is for the zman, the new fruit is just there to satisfy all the opinions. Therefore,...
The Transformative Power of Rosh Hashanah
A story that illustrates an awesome power of Rosh Hashanah is the story of Joseph in Egypt. According to the Talmud, when Joseph went to sleep as a thirty-year-old man on...
How Many Seeds Does a Pomegranate Really Have?
One of the reasons given for eating pomegranates on Rosh Hashanah is because it has 613 seeds. This idea is not found in the Gemara. Where did it originate? Shiur provided...
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