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 […]
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, […]
Sheva Brachos Shailos
Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow In the first perek of Kesuvos, there is a lengthy exposition on Sheva Brachos. What follows is some selected halachos regarding Sheva Brachos with a focus on the psakim of Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l. This article is not intended to issue practical rulings but to engender discussion. The Rema (EH 62:6) writes […]
Wednesday is the Day to Wed
Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow Mazal tov to all those who finished Maseches Yevamos. We began Maseches Kesuvos on Friday. I remember that a few minutes after I was engaged and we had a mock l’chayim ceremony, my future shvigger opened her notebook. She promptly started a lengthy discourse about the dates available for the wedding. She […]
Leave the Rest To Hashem
Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow The Mishna in Yevamos (49a) tells of a mysterious scroll found in Yerushalayim. The Gemara proceeds to enumerate the contents of the parchment. It is not immediately clear what the common thread is to all the facts listed on the scroll. However, one surprising fact mentioned in it sheds light on a […]
Yibum and Tzitzis
Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow Daf Yomi recently began learning Masechta Yevamos. The Zohar in Parshas Ki Seitzei discusses the paucity of Torah that will exist in the times of Moshiach. The Zohar refers to someone who mastered Shas as an “ani,” a pauper. Ani is spelled “Ayin-Nun-Yud.” The Zohar explains that this word is an acronym […]
The Great Tefillin Divide
Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow Rabbi Yisroel Besser once wrote about his experience standing on the other side of the mechitza. He was attending his daughter’s graduation, and the primary event was for mothers only. While standing on tippy toes, he was able to get glances of the happenings. Depending on what their minhag is and the […]
The Demise of Haman and His Sons
Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow Haman and his sons made a cameo appearance in Tosfos this week. In fact, in various places in Shas, Tosfos makes cryptic references to Targum that discusses how Haman’s sons were hanged. However, in Chagiga (11b), Tosfos is somewhat more verbose. The issue that Tosfos discusses is what is the average height […]
Who is Obligated?
Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow The very first Mishna in Chagigah discusses those who are obligated to make the thrice-yearly pilgrimage to the Beis Hamikdash. The Mishna clearly states that the rule is that everyone is obligated except those specifically listed. Tosfos comments that the rule is that one cannot follow every rule. Tosfos notes that the […]
A Halacha That’s Clear-Cut
Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow In the eighth volume of the Igros Moshe, there is a fascinating teshuvah written to Rav Efraim Greenblatt, zt”l. This teshuvah, which is the 20th one in the sefer, comprises many varied and disparate topics. The teshuvah begins with a discussion of folding one’s tallis on Shabbos and then moves on to […]
