Iyar: Changing Character
Sefirat Haomer and Building Character How can we become better people? The period of Sefirat Haomer (and the beginning of Elul until Yom Kippur) has traditionally been a time for focusing on improving character. Much of the ethical literature speaks of what kind of people we should become, or what we should do, but focuses […]
Iyar: From Matza to Chametz
Sefirat Haomer: From Matza to Chametz! Around Pesach time one usually hears a number of anti-chametz drashas. These are based on an image already found in Chazal; the yeitzer hara, the evil inclination, is likened to chametz, “the leaven in the dough.” It is usually pointed out that chametz causes a puffing up of the […]
Iyar: Redirection and Sanctification
Sefirat Haomer and Changing Character During the Omer, the 49 day period between Pesach and Shavuot, Jews have traditionally focused on character development. Our middot shiurim will share this focus during these weeks approaching Shavuot. Redirection and Sanctification The “Omer” itself was a barley sacrifice offered on the morning of the second day of Pesach. […]
Iyar: Tragedies and Triumphs
by Menucha Chwat, senior lecturer, Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya The days between Pesach and Shavuot, the period of the counting of the Omer, are a time of conflicting emotions. We count the Omer joyously, expectantly leading up to the giving of the Torah, yet observe customs of mourning for the students of Rabbi Akiva who perished […]
Iyar: The Month of Iyar
What do Pesach Sheni, Lag B’Omer, and Manna have in Common? Shprintzee Herskovitz, Midreshet Rachel V’Chaya Teacher The month of Iyar often gets lost in the shuffle, sandwiched between two of the most significant months of the year for the Jewish people. Nissan, the month preceding Iyar is the time of the Exodus from Egypt […]
Pesach: Korban Pesach: Emet L’Yaakov
Pesach Source Guide Emet L’Yaakov Parshat Bo, pp. 288-289, 5758 edition. Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky zt”l [Reprinted with permission of Rav Yaakov zt”l’s grandson.] (Shemot 12:48) “When a convert will live among you and make a Pesach sacrifice to Hashem he must circumcise all males [in his household] and then come close to make it. […]
Pesach: Kedushat Levi:”Why is Pesach called Pesach?”
Pesach Source Guide Kedushat Levi: Parshat Bo, p. 79 About the author: Short biography and Story: “From Love to Awesome Love” from the Nishmos Chayim Chassidus web site, by DN staff member Rabbi Binyomin Adilman. A Pesach story Of the Czar and Chametz from the Judaism Alive site [Rough translation appears in boldface, additions and […]
Pesach: Mistaken Assumptions
Rabbi Ron-Ami Meir What is the Rasha – the wicked son – at the Seder really asking when he quips, “What is this Avodah (service) to you?” At first blush, he seems to be challenging the very validity of observing Pesach; he seems oblivious to the need for expressing appreciation to Hashem for His redemption […]
Pesach: What is Shmura Matza?
(Matza is More Than Just Unleavened Bread) R. Eliezer Kwass The matza we are commanded to eat on the Seder night must be more than just unleavened bread. The Torah’s commands us (Shemot 12:17) to, “Watch the matzot,” (“Ushemartem et hamatzot”), requiring some input beyond just checking that the dough has not leavened (the Talmud […]
Pesach: Working on Chol Hamoed: Sources, Status, Nature, and Rules
R. Joel Zeff and R. Eliezer Kwass What is it? “Chol Hamoed”, referring to the intermediate days of Pesach and Sukkot, literally translates as the non-holy (“chol” is the opposite of kodesh) part of the festival (“moed” means appointed time). The expression itself seems like an oxymoron. It’s not Yom Tov, for it is chol, […]