Ki Tavo 5778

Negative Developments

Thank you to the husband of Ayala (not her real name) in the story, who shared this story, as well as the written response of Rabbi Yaakov Ariel and the oral response of Rabbi Asher Weiss.

Ayala smiled happily. She had just spent the past few hours angling her camera, adjusting lights, and telling people to smile, trying to capture the highlights of the Bat Mitzva party which she had been hired to photograph. She enjoyed photography, and got a particular thrill from turning meaningful moments into treasured memories, for her clients to enjoy in the future. She packed her equipment into her car, and drove home, eager to start working on the Bat Mitzva album, the next day.

Ki Tetze 5778

The expensive trip to Meron

In preparation for Rosh Hashana, a few teenage boys decided to organize a trip to Meron, so that they could pray at the grave of Rabi Shimon Bar Yochai. They called a taxi company, and requested a van, large enough to accommodate the group.

Shoftim 5778

“This is the matter of the murderer, who shall flee there, and live, who will strike his friend without intent…”

(Devarim 19:4)

Sick and Tired

(From the book “Sichot L’Sefer Bamidbar,” written by Rabbi Avigdor Nebenzal, shlita,
sicha 29, page 315)

All was peaceful and quiet on Narkis Street. Until Yossi moved in. Narkis Street was a friendly enough neighborhood, and the locals were pleased to see that that vacant apartment in building 14 finally had a new tenant. Their excitement didn’t last long. Within days, it became obvious that Yossi’s driving habits left much to be desired. The first time Yossi sped through the street, ignoring the speed limit, the cross walk, or anything else that seemed to be in his way, the neighbors dismissed it as a one-time event. It didn’t take long to realize, though, that Yossi was completely oblivious to the fact that there might be other people on the street.

Re'e 5778

This segment is In memory of Maran Harav Avraham Yitchak Hacohen Kook zt’l,  who’s yahrtzeit is on the 3rd of Elul. The questions and answers used this week are taken from his works on halacha. 

Charity Disparity

(Orach Mishpat, page 234)

Yosef is a physics teacher, with an excellent reputation. Throughout his city, it’s known that no student, whether adult or child, comes away without understanding the material which Yosef has taught. Therefore, many people come to Yosef for private tutoring.

One evening, Yosef got a call from a non-Jew who lived in his area. “Hello, my name is Sam,” the man said. “My son, Nate, could use some tutoring in physics. Do you think you could help him out?”

Ekev 5778

"והיה אם שמע תשמעו אל מצותי אשר אנכי מצוה אתכם היום לאהבה את ה' אלהיכם ולעבדו בכל לבבכם ובכל נפשכם" – איזו היא עבודה שהיא בלב? - הוי אומר זו תפלה (תענית ב.)

A Local Call Out of Area

This story took place more than twenty years ago, on a crowded street in New York. Benny stepped onto the sidewalk, relieved that his meeting had gone well. He looked at his watch. Mincha! Sunset was in just a few minutes, and Benny had no idea where to find a synagogue in the area. He briefly contemplated stopping on the sidewalk, and praying right there, but immediately rejected the idea. The frenetic pace of Manhattan pedestrian traffic wouldn’t allow for that. Benny frantically scanned the street, looking for some place where he could pray.