Torah and Stories with Rabbi Liff

Rabbi Liff tells the story of a wedding that took place this week between two of the chatufim who were held in the Hamas tunnels — Sasha, a Russian Jew who came close to Yiddishkeit only in captivity, and Sapir, who refused to give up her Yiddishkeit. The listener takes away a lesson in emunah and how Menachem Av turns what looked like a korban into nechama.

Rabbi Liff explains why Moshe Rabbeinu sent others to fight Midian rather than lead the battle himself — because Midian had taken him in when he fled Pharaoh, and “one who drank from a pit should not throw a stone into it.” Drawing on Reb Chaim Shmulevitz, he shows how hakaras hatov is a middah shetovah and how Moshe fulfilled the command by ensuring it happened without doing it...

An Erev Shabbos chizuk shmuess for Parshas Matos-Masei, Shabbos Mevorchim Chodesh Menachem Av. Rabbi Liff begins with the wedding this week of two October 7th captives, Sasha Trufanov and Sapir Cohen — a story of emunah in which what looked like a tragedy became a simcha — and draws out the meaning of Menachem Av: the Father who instructs is also the source of the greatest comfort. Along the way h...

בשיחה זו, המסכמת את זמן קיץ ונוגעת בענייני החורבן, הרב ליף מדגיש את תפקידן המרכזי של הישיבות כעמוד השדרה של מסורת התורה והחשיבות של ענווה בלמידה מול סכנת הגאווה. הוא משרטט את ההבדל בין חוכמה שמובילה לגאווה לבין חכמת התורה הנבנית על ענווה וביטול עצמי למסורת. השיחה משולבת בסיפורים מרתקים: הרב דוד יוסף שלמד בפונוביז׳ אצל הרב גרשון פרלמן וזכה לשיעורים בעברית, סיפורו של תלמיד חכם שסטה מדרך התורה בשל גא...

Rabbi Liff explains why Pinchas is rewarded with a bris shalom, and what that teaches about the limits of kanaus. He contrasts demonstrations that get out of hand with the Seret Vishnitz kollel's public kollel learning seder, showing how protest can remain rooted in shalom, emes, and kavod haTorah.

Rabbi Liff tells the story of a Karlin-Stolin chassid at the Kosel whose tefillah was interrupted by a petek that fell into his hand. The note did not ask for anything; it simply thanked Hashem for health, parnasah, and nachas, turning the moment into a lesson for the Three Weeks.

Rabbi Liff opens with a story from davening at the Kosel this Erev Shabbos Kodesh during the Three Weeks — a petek that fell into the hand of a Karlin-Stolin chassid with a note that simply said "thank You." From there he turns to Parshas Pinchas, exploring why Pinchas is rewarded with a bris shalom rather than praise for the act itself, and what that teaches about the real halachos of kanaus. Dra...

Rabbi Liff explains the bracha of "Ma tovu ohalecha Yaakov, mishkenosecha Yisrael" through Rashi and the Sforno. The ohalim of Torah and the batei knesios are not only good for those inside them; they bring good to all of Klal Yisrael.

Rabbi Liff shares a story from Rav Avraham Shmuelevitz about the Alter of Slabodka saying "good morning" even when the neighbor could not hear him. The story shows that being meitiv to another Yid is not only for the other person's benefit; it is an avodah that shapes the person who gives.

Rabbi Liff connects Parshas Balak to the beginning of the Three Weeks, showing how Bilaam's inner corruption stands opposite the ayin tovah of Avraham Avinu and Aharon HaKohen. The episode turns on "Ma tovu ohalecha Yaakov," explaining that the ohalim of Torah and tefillah do not only sustain those inside them; they bring good to all of Klal Yisrael. He also reflects on the yahrtzeit of Rav Avraha...

Parshas Chukas in Eretz Yisrael / Korach in chutz la'aretz, in Chodesh Tammuz — a "zman teshuvah" pointing toward Elul and the Yamim Noraim of the coming year (5787). Rabbi Liff calls for making a cheshbon hanefesh, shares his family's recent sheva brachos simchos, and addresses an abrupt change in current events.

Parshas Shelach in Eretz Yisrael / Beha'aloscha in chutz la'aretz, late in Sivan — in the juxtaposition between the heights of Matan Torah and the approaching mourning of Tammuz and the churban. Still jet-lagged from his US trip, Rabbi Liff reflects on Klal Yisrael's cycles of greatness and distancing, and on lessons for keeping things positive.

Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan, recorded late after an eight-day US trip and serious jet lag. Rabbi Liff discusses the minhag of the Shaloh HaKadosh's tefillah for children to become talmidei chachamim — when and how to say it, and the proper way to daven for parnassah as a means to ruchnius.

Recorded late at night in Cleveland, Ohio (37th day of the Omer) during a trip tied to his father's yahrzeit on Lag B'Omer. Rabbi Liff shares the nachas of attending a Neir Yaakov talmid's bris — the baby named Shlomo after the mashgiach of Beis Yaakov, the Alei Shor (Rav Shlomo Wolbe) — and speaks of the difficulty and appreciation of travel out of Israel in wartime.

Pesach Sheni and Erev Lag B'Omer (29th day of the Omer), with the Rebbetzin's matzah brei and a Daf Yomi siyum on Menachos bringing Pesach back to mind. Rabbi Liff teaches — quoting Reb Nochum Perzovitz — that even if one can't reach Meron, "Rebbe Shimon is found in the beis hamedrash," and reflects on the complex matzav in Eretz Yisrael.

The 22nd day of the Omer — "halftime" toward Matan Torah. Rabbi Liff focuses on being metaken our middos, teaching that the real test of a good person is the small things at home — how we treat our spouses and children — not only the visible chassadim done for the wider world.

Rosh Chodesh Iyar, the 15th day of the Omer, with Hezbollah still firing on Kiryat Shmona during the so-called ceasefire. Rabbi Liff shares a shochet talmid's wartime miracles, notes the day's halachic and historical significance (Shlomo HaMelech beginning the Beis HaMikdash, yeridas haman), and eulogizes a great local talmid chacham, Reb Chanoch Friedman.

Shabbos Mevorchim Iyar, just after Pesach and during the fragile ceasefire. Rabbi Liff describes the great relief of returning to the Kosel after 40 days of closure — davening close to the Makom HaMikdash again — and gives thanks with Mizmor L'Sodah for the nissim Klal Yisrael has lived through.

A short, heartfelt Erev Pesach message recorded amid wartime mora and fallen chayalim. Rabbi Liff shares two thoughts — a siyum on Maseches Megillah l'ilui nishmas his mother and the link between Purim's nes nistar and Pesach's nes nigleh — davening that all should celebrate the Yom Tov in safety and see the geulah.

Shabbos HaGadol, with the week marked by more missile attacks, nissim, and tragic losses. Rabbi Liff strengthens emunah and bitachon — Klal Yisrael at the Yam Suf and in Mitzrayim — and explains the inyan of Shabbos HaGadol and why specifically on Shabbos the Jews took the seh for the Korban Pesach.

The double parsha completing Sefer Shemos (the "Sefer of Galus and Geulah" per the Ramban), on Shabbos HaChodesh and Shabbos Mevorchim Nisan. Rabbi Liff explores the difference between a "shmuah tovah" and a "besurah tovah," davening for true good tidings amid the difficult times Klal Yisrael is enduring.

Parshas Parah, recorded less than a week after the Iran war reignited and just after a two-day Purim. Rabbi Liff frames the moment as "Milchemes Yom Purim" — a war on the madreigah of Purim's ahavah, even higher than Yom Kippur's yirah — and seeks chizuk from the parsha and the Arba Parshiyos.

As Adar begins amid a tense Iran/Paras buildup — a real-life "Megillas Esther story" with armies gathering — Rabbi Liff warns against relying on military might alone without bitachon in Hashem's protection. He calls for tefillah and a deeper understanding of true simcha as our defense in dangerous times.

Shabbos Mevorchim Chodesh Adar and Parshas Shekalim, in the first weeks of his year of aveilus. Rabbi Liff reflects on the daily chiyuvim of kibud and the new reality of davening for the amud, and ties the simcha of Adar ("mishenichnas Adar marbin b'simcha") to the themes of the parsha.

A hesped (in Hebrew, delivered in yeshiva during the shloshim) for his mother, Mrs. Dovah bas Yisrael — "Morah Dovi" — who taught gan/pre-1A in Baltimore's Talmudical Academy for 63 years (1960–2024), opening with the "Torah Torah tziva lanu Moshe" niggun she sang to her four-year-olds each morning. Rabbi Liff paints her as a hidden tzaddekes and rebbetzin: davening vasikin, her devotion to talmid...