The KINS Blog

Is Tzedek the Same as Justice?

2010-08-19T15:14:00.002-05:00

By Daniel D. Stuhlman, DHLIn this past week's the Torah reading we read, "Justice, justice you shall pursue." (Deut. 16:20) . [Tzedek, tzedek tirdof] Justice, or the Hebrew, tzedek is a concept that we use often, but have difficulty explaining. Let’s start with the etymology of the words. Justice is from the root “just” which comes to English from the French and Latin iustus meaning lawful,

Parshat Eikev: What I Did On My Summer Vacation

2010-08-08T19:41:00.008-05:00

This drasha was deliveredon Shabbat Parshat Eikev 5770and also as part of the dedicationof the Boys' Migrash at Camp Moshavain memory of Bernice and Mitchell MacksBy: Rabbi Daniel Kroll In 1995, when I was 12 years old I headed up to Camp Moshava for the first time. I was nervous as I got off the bus. I had been there before to visit my brothers, but never without my parents. I was in a

Parshat Eikev: By His Name Swear

2010-07-28T23:34:00.002-05:00

By Daniel D. Stuhlmanאת ה' אלוקיך תירא אותו תעבד ובו תדבק ובשמו תשבעThe Lord your God shall you revere (fear), and Him shall you serve, and to Him shall you cleave, and by His name swear (or take an oath). (Devarim 10:20)This pasuk appears twice in Devarim (here and in 6:13). We are so careful when making an oath, that we have a ceremony (Kol Nidrei) Erev Yom Kippur to

What's So Important About the Number 316?

2010-07-20T15:28:00.001-05:00

By: Neil Harris For me, Tisha B’Av isn’t easy. I find that it is difficult for me to mourn and feel the natural and national sorrow that I should for the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash, at times. Of course, several years ago when our thoughts were on Gush Katif, it was “easier” for me, because everything on the television , radio and web browsers were all turned towards what’s happening in

Making Prayer Count

2010-06-17T23:33:00.000-05:00

By Daniel D. Stuhlman, DHLIf we think of davaning as an obligation, we leave ourselves open to “speed davaning” and “catching up.” If davaning is just an obligation, one could just hurry to mumble the words and complete the motions. We should look upon daily prayer as a discipline. As a discipline we have an opportunity to vary how we concentrate on aspects of prayer based on mood, time, or

Korach: More Than a Feeling

2010-06-09T15:49:00.003-05:00

by Neil HarrisWritten in merit of a refuah shelaima for Esther bas Sara If you were served a meal at someone's house and you knew you wouldn't enjoy what was prepared, could you just eat it without making a bracha because you were not at all thankful for what you were about to eat?If it was Tisha b'Av and you decided that not speaking all day would be more meaningful to you than fasting, would

Parshat Behalotcha: The Trumpets of Silver

2010-05-25T15:01:00.003-05:00

By Daniel D. Stuhlman, DHL In the fourth aliyah (Numbers 10:1-10) we read instructions for the preparation and use of חצוצרות כסף which is usually translated as “trumpets of silver.” The kohanim are commanded to use these instruments to call the congregation to the אהל מועד (tent of meeting). This is in sharp contrast to the use of an animal horn for the making of a shofar. (For more

Asking for Trouble? The Method of Census Taking in the Beginning of Sefer Bamidbar

2010-05-12T15:26:00.004-05:00

In the beginning of Sefer Bamidbar, Moshe is commanded to count Bnei Yisrael (1:2),שאו את ראש כל עדת בני ישראל למשפחתם לבית אבתם במספר שמות כל זכר לגלגלתםTake the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, every male, according to their headcount.Moshe was commanded to count each individual from Bnei

Hallel on Yom Yerushalayim

2010-05-12T15:06:00.003-05:00

Rabbi Gil Student, managing editor of the OU Press and prominent blogger, has an interesting, concise and thorough article in the Jewish Press about the recitation of Hallel on Yom Yerushalayim. To read the article click here.Chag Sameach!

Mourning in a Season of Joy: The Essential Lesson of Sefiras Haomer

2010-05-11T15:19:00.002-05:00

By Neil HarrisIn merit of a refuah shelaimah for Esther bas Sara In Parshat Behar we have a mitzvah that, these days, doesn't really get as much attention as it should. Like manymitzvos, it contains components of both bein adam l’chavero and bein adam l’makom, thus allowing us to work on our relationship with others and also our connection to Hashem. The mitzvah is not to

The Purpose of the Mitzvah of Shemitah

2010-05-05T06:44:00.003-05:00

Parshat Behar begins with the commandment of shemitah, the requirement to let the Land of Israel lie fallow once every seven years. The Torah states, (Vayikra 25:2)דבר אל בני ישראל ואמרת אליהם כי תבואו אל הארץ אשר אני נתן לכם ושבתה הארץ שבה ליקוקSpeak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them: When you come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the

Lag Ba'Omer Celebrations

2010-05-01T23:46:00.002-05:00

The Shulchan Aruch codifies (Orach Chaim 493) that the 33rd day of the Omer is a day of celebration because that is when the students of Rabbi Akiva stopped dying from a plague, which claimed the lives of 24,000. Rabbi Chezkiah da Silva (1659-1698) in his commentary to the Shulchan Aruch, Pri Chadash, asksיש לדקדק בשמחה זו למה, ואי משום שפסקו מלמות מה בכך? הרי לא נשאר אחד מהם וכולם מתו! ומה טיבה

Birthday Celebrations

2010-04-29T15:17:00.005-05:00

This past week I celebrated my 27th birthday and for the occasion I researched some of the halachic and hashkafic literature on the issue of birthday celebrations, which I presented at the "Teshuva of the Week" shiur, which takes place at KINS every Wednesday night after Mincha-Maariv. Below is a sampling of some of the material I presented from different rabbinic sources, which support birthday

"Be Holy": Is it a Realistic Goal?

2010-04-22T15:19:00.010-05:00

A special thank you to Mr. Jordan Pollack for being the first KINS Member to contribute to our new relaunched blog with this fascinating dvar Torah, which speaks of the challenges of living a life of kedusha and seeks to understand what G-d seeks from us when He commands us to "be holy." Yashar Koach!By: Jordan PollackParashat Kedoshim begins with an exhortation, which at a first glance, is

Love Your Neighbor as Yourself: The Analogy of the Netziv

2010-04-22T15:00:00.000-05:00

By: Rabbi Daniel KrollThis week's parsha contains the famous command, ואהבת לרעך כמוך - and you shall love your fellow as yourself. Rabbi Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin (1816-1893), the Netziv, explains in his commentary to the Torah, Ha'Emek Davar, that this commandment must be seen in light of the other commandments it is grouped together with in a single verse. The Torah states (Vayikra 19:18), לא

The Halachic Considerations of Postponing Yom Hazikaron and Yom Haatzmaut

2010-04-19T15:54:00.004-05:00

On the 5th of Iyar in the 5708, corresponding to May 14, 1948 the State of Israel was born as it declared its independence. For years Israel celebrated its independence with Yom Haatzmaut on the 5th of Iyar and Yom Hazikaron, a day to remember all of the soldiers who perished in order to maintain an independent state, was observed the day before on the 4th of Iyar.Traditionally Yom Hazikaron is

In Memory of Rabbi Dr. Moses Mescheloff z"l

2010-04-19T15:39:00.006-05:00

This past Sunday, 4 Iyar, we commemorated the second yahrtzeit of our rabbi emeritus, Rabbi Moses Mescheloff z"l. Please enjoy the following dvar Torah written by the rabbi's son, Rabbi David Mescheloff on the occasion of the yahrtzeit.May G-d grant that this seudah shelishit and this d’var Torah contribute to the elevation of the neshamah – the eternal soul - of my beloved father and teacher,

Thoughts from Israel on Yom Hazikaron and Yom Haatzmaut

2010-04-19T15:23:00.004-05:00

By Rabbi Leonard MatankyDear Friends:Last week, I wrote to you from Poland where, together with 10,000 other Jews from around the world, I participated in the March of the Living. As always it was a somber and a difficult trip - as I led a group of 60 teenagers through what was once thecenter of Jewish life, and now is reduced to memorials, ruins and ashes.But today, I write to you from

Parshat Vayigash: The Hidden Message of the Trope

2009-12-25T11:04:00.001-06:00

In the beginning of this week's parsha we are presented with Yehuda's desperate plea to save his youngest brother, Binyamin, from incarceration in Egypt. After having been found with a royal goblet in his bags Binyamin was sure to face a stiff punishment. Yehuda, fearing that the pain of losing another son, the only son remaining from his beloved Rachel, would kill his father, stepped forward

Parshat Miketz: Yosef's Interpretation of Pharaoh's Dreams and Pharaoh's Irrational Response

2009-12-16T15:04:00.000-06:00

This week's parsha begins with the dreams of Pharaoh. In his first dream Pharaoh saw seven healthy cows rise from the Nile only to be consumed by seven gaunt cows. After the first dream, he woke up, only to fall back asleep and have another dream in which seven healthy ears of grain were consumed by seven thin ears of grain. Pharaoh awoke troubled by his dreams and sought an interpretation

Parshat Toldot: The Symbolic Destruction of Avraham's Wells

2009-11-20T12:09:00.001-06:00

In this week's parsha we learn that Yitzchak amassed a great amount of wealth. The Torah tells us (Breishit 26:12-14) that Yitzchak settled in Gerar, the Philistine capital, sowed in the land and reaped one hundred times what he had sown, for God had blessed him. Not only was he a prolific farmer, but he also acquired flocks, herds and real estate as well. His wealth, however, came at a price;

Parshat Toldot: Why Me? The Approaches of Different Commentators to Rivkah's Pain During Pregnancy

2009-11-17T19:52:00.000-06:00

In the beginning of this week's parsha we learn of Yitzchak and Rivkah's struggles with infertility. This comes on the heels of last week's parsha when we learned the matchmaking of Eliezer when he found Rivkah in Avraham's hometown - it seemed like a perfect match. Suddenly, when it seemed like their would be a smooth transition from Avraham to Yitzchak and that the blessing Hashem bestowed on

Parshat Toldot: A Striking Resemblance

2009-11-16T15:43:00.000-06:00

Our parsha is filled with drama; Yitzchak and Rivkah struggle with infertility, Yaakov and Esav are born, Yitzchak and Rivkah play favorites with their children, Yaakov convinces Esav to sell him his birthright, famine forces Yitzchak to move his family to Gerar and Yaakov takes Esav's blessing forcing him to flee to Lavan to avoid his brother's wrath.With the all of the excitement contained

The Reconciliation of Avraham's Family: A Lesson For Generations

2009-11-13T14:21:00.000-06:00

At the end of Avraham's life, after Sara had passed away, we are told that he took another wife whose name was Keturah, with whom he had an additional six children. The Torah does not tell us anything about Keturah other than her name. Rashi, however, identifies her as Hagar, the mother of Yishmael. Rashi writes (25:1),קטורה - זו הגר, ונקראת קטורה על שם שנאים מעשיה כקטרת ושקשרה פתחה שלא

Avraham's Real Estate Negotiations: A Final Test

2009-11-12T13:50:00.000-06:00

Many of the meforshim wonder why the Torah needed to go into such great detail when telling us about Avraham's acquisition of a burial plot for Sara. Why not simply tell us that when Sara passed away, Avraham bought Me'arat Ha'machpeila from Ephron?The classic answered offered by the Midrash (Breishit Rabbah 79:6) is that the Torah wanted the transaction put on record in case anyone ever

Archeological Findings and Sarah's Treatment of Hagar

2009-10-29T16:05:00.001-05:00

After years of suffering without a child, Sarah told Avraham to marry their Egyptian maidservant Hagar. Sarah felt that the blessings that Hashem had promised to give to Avraham's offspring could not possibly be fulfilled through her because of her old age and she told Avraham to fulfill his destiny through Hagar. Shortly after marrying Avraham, Hagar conceived a child (Breishit 16:4)ויבא אל

Escaping the Famine: Did Avraham Sin?

2009-10-29T15:13:00.000-05:00

Not long after he arrived in Canaan, Avraham was forced to make a critical decision. He had uprooted his entire family from Charan and moved to Canaan because Hashem had commanded him to do so, but a famine had struck his new homeland (Breishit 12:10). Without the food and water he and his family needed to survive, what was Avraham to do? The Ramban (12:10) writes, יציאתו מן הארץ, שנצטווה עליה

Rambam's History of Religion

2009-10-27T15:53:00.000-05:00

The Rambam, in the first chapter of his Hilchot Avodat Kochavim, gives a brief history of religious practice beginning with the creation of the world through the birth of the Jewish people. The Rambam writes that at first man exclusively worshiped God. However during the days of Enosh (Breisht 5:6,9-11) the generation's belief system was corrupted by a mistaken theory. The people reasoned that

Comparing Avraham and Noach

2009-10-27T15:12:00.000-05:00

Given their close proximity to one another in the Torah and their loyalty to Hashem, it is understandable that Chazal, through Midrashim, compare Noach and Avraham to one another. The most well known comparison is mentioned by Rashi in the beginning of Parshat Noach (Breishit 6:9). The Torah writes that Noach was a tzaddik, a righteous man, in his generation. Picking up on the words "in his

The Difference Between the Sacrifices of Kayin and Hevel

2009-10-15T15:55:00.000-05:00

After Adam and Chavah were evicted from the Garden of Eden we encounter two of their sons, Kayin and Hevel. Eight pesukim later, Hevel is a murder victim, killed by his own brother. Prior to Kayin's murderous act we are privy to another incident involving the brothers when they both offered korbanot to Hashem. The Torah tells us (Breishit 4:3-5),ויהי מקץ ימים ויבא קין מפרי האדמה מנחה לה'. והבל

The Creation of Man and the Royal We

2009-10-15T15:10:00.000-05:00

The story of creation is very cryptic and difficult to grasp causing many commentators to offer allegorical explanations for many of the events that took place. On the sixth day, the final day of creation, Hashem created man in His image. While the way in which God actually created man may be difficult for us to comprehend, the way in which he commissioned his creation poses a potential

Halacha of the Week: Lighting Candles on Simchat Torah

2009-10-08T23:20:00.000-05:00

By Rabbi Leonard MatankyThis year, Simchat Torah, will occur on Motzaei Shabbat, and therefore, one cannot light candles before Maariv/Hakafot. Therefore, when should the candles be lit?While Shabbat and Yom Tov candles should ideally be lit at the beginning of Shabbat or Yom Tov AND at home (there are some exceptions to this latter issue) Rabbi Yehoshua Neuwirth suggests that on Yom Tov, if one

The Death of Moshe: The Punishment for a Reluctance to Lead

2009-10-08T16:39:00.000-05:00

The holiday of Simchat Torah has become one of the more joyous holidays on the Jewish calendar. Dancing around the bima, and in some places in the streets, with the Torah marks the conclusion of the annual Torah reading cycle and the beginning of the next year's cycle. However, along with the joy and happiness of completing the Torah comes the death of Moshe Rabbeinu. The emotional ending of

The Sefer HaChinuch and the Symbolism of the 4 Minim

2009-10-01T19:39:00.000-05:00

The holiday of Sukkot is filled with symbolism. There are countless explanations amongst the commentators, which speak of the true symbolism behind leaving our permanent homes for the temporary dwelling place of the sukkah. There are also many theories which detail the symbolic nature of the lulav, etrog, hadasim and aravot (the arbah minim).One such explanation is offered by the Sefer

The Season of Sukkot

2009-10-01T15:10:00.000-05:00

The Gemara (Sukkah 11b) records a dispute between Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Akiva concerning the historical origin of the holiday of Sukkot. The Torah (Vayikra 23:43) writes that we should celebrate Sukkot,"So that your generations will know that I caused the Children of Israel to dwell in booths (sukkot) when I took them from the land of Egypt; I am Hashem, your God."Regarding the booths that

The Origins of Kol Nidre: A Yom Kippur Message from Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

2009-09-27T13:41:00.000-05:00

This evening we will all stand in Shul and recite the Kol Nidre prayer before we begin Maariv. The melody of the tefila is memorable and moving, but the actual text of the prayer is puzzling. Kol Nidre serves to free us from any vows and obligations we have taken upon ourselves and have not fulfilled; it does not seem to be much of a prayer, let alone a prayer to start off the holiest day of

Sleeping on Rosh Hashana

2009-09-17T21:54:00.000-05:00

By Rabbi Leonard MatankyThe Rama [Shulchan Aruch Orech Chaim 583:1] notes (and praises) the custom not to sleep on Rosh Hashana. The source given is a Yerushalmi that he who sleeps on Rosh Hashana, his "mazal" sleeps, implying that his judgment may not go as well as it could. However, the Mishnah Berura [ibid. note 9] notes that the Ari z”l did permit a person to sleep after midday.Interestingly,

Chana's Prayer and Disruptive Davening on Rosh Hashana

2009-09-17T20:45:00.001-05:00

Throughout the year when we pray, the centerpiece of our tefilot is the Shemoneh Esrei, the Silent Devotion. We stand in silent prayer as we praise God, ask Him for things we and the Jewish people desperately need and thank Him for all that He has done and continues to do for us on a daily basis. It might then come as surprise that Rabbi Yosef Karo codifies in his Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim

Rosh Hashana and the Akeidah: Cherishing What We Have

2009-09-15T21:10:00.001-05:00

Wake up, wake up from your sleep, become aware of your actions, repent and remember your Creator!That, says the Rambam, is the message contained in the tekiah, shevarim and teruah, the wails of the Shofar.The first time the Shofar is alluded to in the Torah is in the Torah reading for the second day of Rosh Hashana, which tells the story of the Akeidat Yitzchak, the Binding of Isaac. After the

Parshat Nitzavim: The Torah as an Inherited Debt

2009-09-10T21:24:00.000-05:00

In Parshat Nitzavim, Moshe, in one of his final acts as leader of Bnei Yisrael, renewed the covenant of the Jewish people with Hashem as they were on the cusp of entering the Promised Land. Moshe warned the people that the only thing that would guarantee an uninterrupted existence in the Holy Land was the observance of mitzvot and loyalty to Hashem.The terms of the new covenant, however, are

Tashlich When the First Day of Rosh Hashana Falls on Shabbat

2009-09-09T16:45:00.000-05:00

The custom of going to a body of water on Rosh Hashana to recite Tashlich is an age old minhag that is first mentioned by Rabbi Yaakov ben Moshe Levi Moelin (1365-1427), also known as the Maharil, in his Sefer Maharil. Known as the father of Ashkenazic minhag, Rabbi Moelin writes that, unbeknownst to many people, the act of Tashlich should be purely symbolic; no food should be thrown into the

Parshat Ki Tavo: That's A Lot of Chiseling!

2009-09-04T16:03:00.000-05:00

As part of his farewell speech to Bnei Yisrael, Moshe informed the people of a mitzvah they were to perform once they crossed the Jordan (Devarim 28:2-3)והיה ביום אשר תעברו את הירדן אל הארץ אשר ה' אלוקיך נתן לך והקמת לך אבנים גדולות ושדת אתם בשיד. וכתבת עליהן את כל דברי התורה הזאת בעברך למען אשר תבא אל הארץ אשר ה' אלוקיך נתן לך ארץ זבת חלב ודבש כאשר דבר ה' אלוקי אבותיך לךIt shall be on the day

Parshat Ki Tavo: The Mitzvah of Bikurim and its Connection to the Chet Ha'Meraglim

2009-09-04T13:27:00.001-05:00

Parshat Ki Tavo begins with the mitzvah of bikurim, the commandment for all landowners in Israel to bring the first fruits of their crops of the seven species to the Beit Hamikdash as an offering to Hashem (Devarim 26:1-4). One of the unique elements of this mitzvah is the mikra bikurim, the passage that must be said when bringing the fruits to the Beit Hamikdash. The passage retells the story of

Parshat Ki Teitzei: Ben Sorer U'Moreh - The Practicality of What Never Was and Never Will Be

2009-08-25T11:30:00.001-05:00

Parshat Ki Teitzei is filled with mitzvot, 72 in total. One of the most intriguing mitzvot is that of the ben sorer u'moreh, the rebellious son, who after not listening to his parents and failing to reform his gluttonous and drunken ways, is put to death by the residents of his city. (See Devarim 21:18-22)A braita quoted by the Gemara in Masechet Sanhedrin (71a) notes:בן סורר ומורה לא היה ולא