Torah From The 6ix

Last week we held a mental health panel with Ita Tobis and Tani Reiss on the topic of "Being Social During a Pandemic". Listen to the frank discussion of mental health during COVID-19 and learn strategies to take care of yourself during social isolation. Thank you to our presenters and the organizing team!

Who does Rav hold like? Rabbi Yehuda (muktzah maximalist) or Rabbi Shimon (muktzah minimalist)?  If I purchase a couch with the intent to place money there is it off limits even if I have yet to use it as such? What about if the money was left there all bein hashmashot and then fell off after 2 hours? 

An insight from the Kotzker Rebbe from based on a midrash in our parsha

You borrow money from a friend to help start a business. Six months after you repay the loan your friend asks to rent your cottage. You tell them you are happy to do so. Can you offer the place for free as a sign of gratitude ? Must you charge so it is not "interest"? Can you tell them thank you for the loan so please enjoy the cottage and do not pay me? What about if it is an issue and you realiz...

Topics: Charity, tzedaka and time ! 

Sometimes we should pursue a mitzvah of greater effort whose benefit, success is in doubt since its reward is far greater.

Based on the last few pages from his book "Letter in the Scroll" and a whiteboard video "Why I am a Jew", we seek each week to read a paragraph or two and dissect its meaning, profundity and relevance. 

What did Bnei Yisrael do that was so wrong did they commit the more hedious crime that they were deserving of destrcution? 

If someone else does a service that you did not ask for, must you pay for it? 

“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand they listen with the intent to reply” Stephen Covey. Yitro listened properly and so should we.

Why did Bnei Yisrael only sing by the yaf suf and not after experiencing the miracles in Egypt?

Why is it that Bnei Yisrael were told not to break the bones of the korban Pesach?!

Why did Hashem feel the need to inflict ten plagues onto Parosh and Egypt? Couldn’t He just make them go to sleep and have the Jewish people walk out of Egypt and avoid devastation and destruction ?!

Why was it promised told Avraham that Bnei Yisrael would leave with great wealth ?  Why was Moshe told even by the snei that Bnei Yisrael will leave Egypt with great weath ? 

What does it mean that the people believed in Moshe’s message?

Why can you move a basket for chicks to hop on and off on Shabbos?

What does it mean to be alive ? How is Yaakov's blessing to his grandchildren the paradigm of blessing?

A more in depth look at the significance of the day. In tanach, Jewish history, Jewish thought and halacha. 

The meaning behind 10 b’tevet

Leadership; why was Yehdua the leader of his family and why will future leaders come from him ? 

Why does Divrei Hayamim tell us that Reuven, although was the first born, is not the leader nor does he receive his double portion? 

Did Yosef offer unsolicited advice to the great Pharaoh?

When did the holiday of Chanukah really begin ? 

Must there be tension between Athens and Jerusalem? Let's together learn from Yoma 69 and examine when Athens appreciated Jerusalem.

Jewish law is a manifestation of a reality. The mitzvah of Chanukah is one of the most celebrated holy-days on the Jewish calendar. It is the most celebrated holiday on college campuses. Why is that? Many reasons are given. I want to share with you a few reasons and demonstrate from Jewish law (halacha) that our sages felt that it truly is the most beloved holy-day(s)!