Ki Savo 28-69, Tochacha is called “Bris” (covenant) (5780/ 2020)There are 2 instances of “Tochecha” – rebuke (threats/promise) – in the Chumash.  1. Bechukosai – 49 klalos2. Ki Savo – 98 klalosThe Tochacha, which is a most severe section in the Torah (which could be called “threats” rather than rebuke or correction) is called a…

Shlach: Tzitzis, a class given at Yeshiva Achei Temimim (5780/ 2020) on Parshas TzitzisParshas Tzitzis entails the Mitzva of Tzitzis, which includes 1) a בגד and 2) פתילי לבן white threads and 3) תכלת blue threadsThese three represent 1) סוכ”ע and 2) ממכ”ע and 3) ממלא שממלא.The last is so precise that it doesn’t apply…

Nasso 050 07, Vidui, the greatest act (Yeshiva 5780)Confession, The power and meaning of being able to say “I was wrong”Yehuda (and Kain) and how much the ability to confess got him.Shavuos is called Rosh Hashana so there’s a great Hashgacha in the Mitzvah of Vidui being here.

Bamidbar 03- 01 Students are children (5780/ 2020 Yeshiva)כל המלמד את בן חבירו תורה מעלה עליו הכתוב כאילו ילדוThe Alter Rebbe called the Ba’al Shem Tov “Zaideh” as he was his teacher’s teacher.Reb Boruch of Mezibuzh was the biological grandson and the Alter Rebbe “the real” grandson.Aharon’s children are Moshe’s as he taught them Torah.Yehoshua…

Parshas Behar (Yeshiva 5780) in the middle of the (holy) laws of Eretz Yisroel- all the laws of Kinyan are inserted.A review of many Halachos and Torah-attitudes and a lesson: the ordinary must be holy.

Emor (Yeshiva 5780) The Kehuna teaches that Torah doesn’t believe in parity.The same old story: it’s not fair; why you and not me?The Torah teaches that we are different and have different roles.The “logic” behind this “lack of fairness” is what it motivates and inspires.Parity engenders mediocrity. There are many הבדלות (absolute boundaries) that Hashem…

A brief overview of different types of tumah (impurity) and purification methods, highlights the importance of tevilah in a kosher mikveh (immersion in a body of water that meets certain halachic requirements). This is followed by an outline of the philosophy of tumah (impurity) and tahara (purity). The remainder of the class is dedicated to…

Kedoshim 19-14. A Farbrengen, Parshas Kedoshim: Viyaraisa MaiElokecha (He knows the secrets).This form is unique to this Parsha.One can only be properly careful about דברים המסורים ללב if there’s קדושים תהיו which means אתכפיא.

(Yeshiva 5780)18-03. Acharei- Kedoshim (20-02), negative side (protection) of holiness and purity; the repetition of ideas for אזהרה ועונשיםJews have more expected of them.We don’t behave so as not to be punished, but to be holy, thus the punishments are separate from the prohibitions.

Tazria (5780, Farbrengen) the Metzorah cares little what people see, but Hashem caresThe lesson of Metzorah, what is on the outside doesn’t matter as much as what is on the inside, but it does matter.