Og Slept Here!
Rabbi Zvi Teichman Moshe recalls the remarkable victories we experienced over the mighty warrior, Sichon, the king of Cheshbon, and his giant brother, Og, the king of Bashan. The Torah goes on to record how in an earlier episode the nation of Ammon defeated the race of giants known as Refaim, with Og the only […]
Parshas Devarim
Rabbi Berel Wein This week’s Torah reading begins the oration by our teacher Moshe during the final months of his life. In this oration, he reviews the 40-year sojourn of the Jewish people in the Sinai desert and prophesizes regarding their future, first in the Land of Israel and then throughout history. The Torah tells […]
Love Thy Neighbor
Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow It says in the Torah, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The Talmud (Kesubos 37b) has a very peculiar application of this verse. The Talmud discusses the proper manner of a court-mandated execution. The Talmud observes that there are two ways to perform the execution referred to as “sayef.” How do […]
Kohen Conundrums
Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow A visitor to the Munkacser beis midrash might see a bizarre sight. He might notice his friend Mr. Katz davening Shacharis there on Monday morning. Yet, when it is time for kriyas haTorah, the first Aliyah would be given to a Yisrael. The astute observer might conclude that they are following the […]
Parshas Matos-Masei
Rabbi Berel Wein The introductory subject of this week’s Torah reading concerns itself with vows and commitments that a person takes upon himself or herself willingly, by simply stating his or her intention. The Torah places great emphasis upon the spoken word. Everything that is uttered from our mouths obligates us to the commitment attached […]
Parshas Pinchas
By Rabbi Berel Wein This week’s Torah portion warns us not to be swept away by current culture, media, and societal popularity and by those who are quick to condemn others for their thoughts and actions. When Pinchas killed Zimri and his consort he was roundly criticized and threatened by the those in Jewish society […]
Stealing to Save a Life?
Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow Rav Shlomo Halberstam, zt”l, the Bobover Rebbe, was instrumental in saving many lives during the Holocaust. The Bobover Rebbe borrowed whatever money he could to secure visas and travel documents for would-be victims. The money borrowed was directly responsible for lives being saved. After the war, Mr. Benedict, one of the lenders, […]
Liven Up!
Rabbi Zvi Teichman A fascinating observation is made that when one compares the census taken at the beginningof the book of ‘Numbers’ — Bamidbar, at the onset of their forty-year sojourn, contrasting it with the count taken in our portion, at the near end of their long journey, there is a noticeable discrepancy. Whereas some […]
Ohr Chadash Acdemy Announces Rabbi Chaim Gourdji as Elementary School Assistant Principal For Judaic Studies
OCA We are delighted to announce that Rabbi Chaim Gourdji (G-ohr-jee) has joined OCA as the Elementary School Assistant Principal for Judaic Studies! Rabbi Gourdji has more than 20 years of Elementary and Middle School teaching and leadership experience, most recently at the Torah Day School in Seattle, Washington. An innovative educator who believes deeply […]
Masmidei Layla of Baltimore at the Agudah of Park Heights is the Place to Be!
Masmidei Layla of Baltimore at the Agudah of Park Heights has over 150 boys participating in this program. The Beis Medrash is packed and the atmosphere is electric. During the summer months of July and August, the program runs Sunday to Thursday. Each session is 45 minutes of partnered learning with Chavrusas and fathers. There are […]
