Take Five For Torah

On Rosh Hashanah our judgement is written, on Yom Kippur it is sealed, and on Hoshanah Rabbah the verdict is implemented.

On Rosh Hashanah our judgement is written, on Yom Kippur it is sealed, and on Hoshanah Rabbah the verdict is implemented.

Exciting Sukkot Concert This Monday, October 9

Exciting Sukkot Concert This Monday, October 9

How is it possible to daven the same tefillah three times a day and not get bored of it?

How is it possible to daven the same tefillah three times a day and not get bored of it?

If we use each house as a Jewish home saturated with Torah, Mitzvot, and loving kindness, then regardless of how rickety it is, it will be a permanent one that will live on.

If we use each house as a Jewish home saturated with Torah, Mitzvot, and loving kindness, then regardless of how rickety it is, it will be a permanent one that will live on.

It is rare to find a baal koreh who can pronounce all of these taamim with consistent accuracy. It is even rarer to find a Jew who can look at all of these positions and say, "They are all part of my people."

It is rare to find a baal koreh who can pronounce all of these taamim with consistent accuracy. It is even rarer to find a Jew who can look at all of these positions and say, "They are all part of my people."

When we sit in the sukkah on sukot we need to ask ourselves are we now in exile or redemption?

When we sit in the sukkah on sukot we need to ask ourselves are we now in exile or redemption?

Our task at this time is not to ignore our sins to make them go away but to actually work to remove them.

Our task at this time is not to ignore our sins to make them go away but to actually work to remove them.

The days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are days we can realize how powerful we really are.

The days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are days we can realize how powerful we really are.

The point of saying the 13 attributes of mercy is not simply to remind ourselves of who Hashem is, but to remind ourselves of what we have to be.

The point of saying the 13 attributes of mercy is not simply to remind ourselves of who Hashem is, but to remind ourselves of what we have to be.

Why is the Haftorah read in the minor key, while the Torah is read in the major key?

Why is the Haftorah read in the minor key, while the Torah is read in the major key?

All of us, to some extent, live in our own imaginations, yet facing the sometimes hard reality of what we really are is the first step towards improving ourselves.

All of us, to some extent, live in our own imaginations, yet facing the sometimes hard reality of what we really are is the first step towards improving ourselves.

Why do we blow the shofar in the middle of Mussaf, a seeming disturbance and interruption of synagogue prayer and decorum?

Why do we blow the shofar in the middle of Mussaf, a seeming disturbance and interruption of synagogue prayer and decorum?

It is very easy to complain; it is much harder to find a solution that will appease that complaint.

It is very easy to complain; it is much harder to find a solution that will appease that complaint.

Rosh Hashanah reminds us that Hashem is King of the universe, and we are powerless before Him.

Rosh Hashanah reminds us that Hashem is King of the universe, and we are powerless before Him.

For those in the high powered business world a week without Shabbat might seem common place, almost normal, but to us the idea of a world without Shabbat is unheard of.

For those in the high powered business world a week without Shabbat might seem common place, almost normal, but to us the idea of a world without Shabbat is unheard of.

Standing Firm and Surviving - Nitzavim connotes a powerful comforting message for this period of Jewish chronology in general, and for our time in particular.

Standing Firm and Surviving - Nitzavim connotes a powerful comforting message for this period of Jewish chronology in general, and for our time in particular.

Blowing the shofar on Rosh Hashanah bridges Har Sinai to the future times of Moshiach and our redemption.

Blowing the shofar on Rosh Hashanah bridges Har Sinai to the future times of Moshiach and our redemption.

Since the liver is completely filled with blood, we must be very careful that it is prepared properly so as not to transgress the prohibition to eat blood.

Since the liver is completely filled with blood, we must be very careful that it is prepared properly so as not to transgress the prohibition to eat blood.

Understanding how we can ask G-d for our needs in prayer, yet prayer is also referred to as a service.

Understanding how we can ask G-d for our needs in prayer, yet prayer is also referred to as a service.

By not being able to pick up stones and other muktzah items, the rabbis are telling us to think about Shabbat before it begins.

By not being able to pick up stones and other muktzah items, the rabbis are telling us to think about Shabbat before it begins.

The blessings and curses in this parsha introduce the idea of privacy to the Jewish people.

The blessings and curses in this parsha introduce the idea of privacy to the Jewish people.

It is important for one to be able to sometimes answer, "I don't know."

It is important for one to be able to sometimes answer, "I don't know."

Practical aplications of sharp foods and kashrut, including cases with pickles, forks, knives, onions and cholent.

Practical aplications of sharp foods and kashrut, including cases with pickles, forks, knives, onions and cholent.

We must serve Hashem heart to heart with no brick wall standing between us.

We must serve Hashem heart to heart with no brick wall standing between us.

Within all of the realms of prohibited acts on Shabbat, why is carrying considered such an important part of the 39 melachot?

Within all of the realms of prohibited acts on Shabbat, why is carrying considered such an important part of the 39 melachot?

What is the responsibility of those around us when they see we have lost our animalistic soul?