Mishnas Chayim Parshah Posts

Fascinating weekly parshah posts

Acceptance of Repentance-Eikev

By |2024-06-06T08:59:24-04:00July 30, 2023|

Torah literature is replete with exhortations to do teshuvah (repentance); and there are countless teachings of Chazal lauding this wondrous institution bequeathed to us from Hashem. One example out of many is the Medrash’s statement: “(Regarding) the gates of prayer – sometimes they are open, sometimes they are locked. But when it comes to the gates of repentance – these are always open” (Devarim Rabbah 2:12). Exceptions? However, it [...]

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Don’t Be So Frum-Va’eschanan

By |2024-06-06T08:59:24-04:00July 23, 2023|

A famous anecdote involving R’ Moshe Feinstein contains much food for thought. As one of the foremost Torah sages in America, R’ Moshe was kept busy on a constant basis, answering queries and otherwise shouldering the affairs of Klal Yisrael. This left him little private time to engage in his most beloved pursuit – the study of Torah. To accommodate this need, then, he would awaken at [...]

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Tisha B’Av, Shabbos, and the Beis Hamikdash-Devarim

By |2024-06-06T08:59:24-04:00July 16, 2023|

( The following is based in large part on a dissertation of the Nesivos Shalom, contained in the volume on Sefer Bamidbar, p. 202.) In the event that Tisha B’Av falls out on Shabbos, the fast, as we know, is postponed until Shabbos departs. In its most simple form, the rationale behind this practice is the fact that the observance and enjoyment of Shabbos supersedes any displays of aveilus (mourning) [...]

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The Meaning of Life-Mattos – Masei

By |2021-09-10T10:37:34-04:00July 9, 2023|

There is a well-known Yiddish expression that provides a fairly accurate assessment: “S’felt nisht meshuga’im in de velt – There are no lack of crazies in the world.” Thus we find, for example, that there exists in the secular world a relatively popular movement featuring individuals who have foresworn childbearing. They may in fact have an inherent longing to bear children, but they also have concerns about the [...]

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Management Styles-Pinchas

By |2021-09-09T23:08:37-04:00July 2, 2023|

The Chafetz Chayim extracted an essential lesson from a certain historic event that took place at the time of World War I. Disbanding an Army Before the outbreak of the war, the city of Memel was subject to a somewhat precarious circumstance. Technically, it was a German city – that is, its inhabitants were German, its language was German, and its culture was German. But it was [...]

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The Complete Cow-Parshas Chukas-Balak

By |2021-09-09T23:05:10-04:00June 25, 2023|

One of the devices employed to make halachic determinations is the notion of “rov (majority),” whereby a matter of doubt can be resolved by considering and drawing from the majority of relevant cases. This idea can be illustrated by the classic Talmudic discussion (Chullin 11a), which seeks the source for this rule. It finds it from none other than the section of the parah adumah (red cow), featured in the beginning of this [...]

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