Posted on July 30th, 2010 by yoseftropper
TorahSweets- With All Your Money
Guest post by JewishByte Contributor, Rabbi Yosef Tropper of CloseToTorah.com
We pronounce the Shema at least twice a day and there are numerous perplexing aspects that deserve our attention. Last week’s Parsha contained the first paragraph of Shema, which discusses the Unity, Power and love of Hashem. In this Parsha, we [...]
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Posted on July 18th, 2010 by Rabbi Eli Glaser
“According to whatever comes out of his mouth, he shall do,” (Bamidbar 30, 3).
The Torah gives us a clear command regarding the gravity of our words. I
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Posted on July 14th, 2010 by yoseftropper
TorahSweets- Like Water
Guest post by JewishByte Contributor, Rabbi Yosef Tropper of CloseToTorah.com
The word “באר” means “a spring (of water)”. Rashi tells us that Moshe explained the Torah to the Jews in all 70 languages of the world. What is the significance of a spring and the languages?
The K’sav Sofer explains that Moshe was instructed [...]
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Posted on July 8th, 2010 by yoseftropper
TorahSweets- A Journey Forward
Guest post by JewishByte Contributor, Rabbi Yosef Tropper of CloseToTorah.com
The commentators are confused as to why the verse repeats and switches the order of the words, “מוצאיהם למסעיהם, the events to their destination”. The verse ends by stating, “מסעיהם למוצאיהם, their travels and its events”. What is going on here?
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Posted on July 1st, 2010 by JewishByte
by Bracha Goetz -
Here are signs to protect our children from danger:
In 95% of cases, the molester’s not a stranger.
He’s someone you know and respect. He’s disarming.
He is drawn to children. And he’s awfully charming.
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Posted on June 29th, 2010 by yoseftropper
TorahSweets-The 17th of Tamuz: A Three Weeks Perspective
Guest post by JewishByte Contributor, Rabbi Yosef Tropper of CloseToTorah.com
This time of the year is very difficult. The Jewish calendar is rich with joyful occasions gracing each month. Delicious flavors of Shabbos, Yom Tov and jovial days inspire our lives. I have often thought about the contrast [...]
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Posted on June 25th, 2010 by Rabbi Eli Glaser
In the blessing of השכיבנו following the krias shema in our evening prayers, we say, “והסר שטן מלפנינו ומאחרינו – And remove the Satan from before us and from behind us.”
Rav Shimshon Raphael Hirsch explains that we’re asking HaShem to protect us from spiritual harm in the future (that which is before us), and from [...]
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Posted on June 25th, 2010 by yoseftropper
TorahSweets- A Donkey’s View- Parshas Balak
Guest post by JewishByte Contributor, Rabbi Yosef Tropper of CloseToTorah.com
Much time is allotted in the Torah to the story of Bilaam’s disgrace through the actions and words of his donkey…. What is the lesson here?
The Gemara (Sanhedrin 98a) tells us that Mashiach will arrive riding on a donkey. Why [...]
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Posted on June 23rd, 2010 by tgivre
JByte Op-Ed – The issue of giving tzedakah is a difficult subject for me. When a tzedakah collector comes to my door, I will usually give $18, because I feel that I don’t give enough tzedakah in general. I usually do this without asking much of the meshulach because I view his appearance [...]
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Posted on June 18th, 2010 by yoseftropper
TorahSweets- Most Noble Goal
Guest post by JewishByte Contributor, Rabbi Yosef Tropper of CloseToTorah.com
While very famous and well known, the Gemara’s statement on these words is most delicate and needs to be understood properly.
Berachos (63b) states a homiletical interpretation of this verse. “The Torah can only be retained by one who kills himself over it [...]
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Posted on June 10th, 2010 by yoseftropper
TorahSweets- Effort That Counts – Parshas Korach
Guest post by JewishByte Contributor, Rabbi Yosef Tropper of CloseToTorah.com
Hashem commanded Moshe to take a stick from each tribe and place it before the Aron in order to show that only Aharon’s stick would blossom, because he was the chosen Kohen. The verse describes that Aharon’s stick grew [...]
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Posted on June 9th, 2010 by JewishByte
HALACHA OF THE WEEK: A FEATURE OF THE BJSZ DAILY HALACHA SHIUR
Starting the Shabbos with the family and community
The Shulchan Aruch rules that if the majority of the community has already accepted the Shabbos well before sunset, the individual is obliged to go along with them and immediately abstain from acts prohibited on Shabbos. [...]
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Posted on June 7th, 2010 by tgivre
JByte Op-Ed – Sustainability one of the latest buzz words in the media, but one area in which the concept of sustainability has not yet been applied is to the frum Jewish communities as they exist in America.
Cutting through all the hype, the bottom line is that we are not [...]
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Posted on June 7th, 2010 by JewishByte
JByte Baltimore – by Chana Lazaroff – For years I had envisioned the Bar Mitzva’s of my sons; both have Down Syndrome. I was sure they were going to read the haftorah, give over the maamer (as is customary in Chabad) and of course give a beautiful speech thanking me for all I have done. [...]
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Posted on June 4th, 2010 by yoseftropper
TorahSweets- In the Eye of the Beholder – Parshas Shelach
Guest post by JewishByte Contributor, Rabbi Yosef Tropper of CloseToTorah.com
The incident of the Meraglim is always illuminating. There are many questions which need to be answered. First on my list has always been their very name. The Torah says that their job was “ויתרו, to [...]
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Posted on June 1st, 2010 by JewishByte
HALACHA OF THE WEEK: A FEATURE OF THE BJSZ DAILY HALACHA SHIUR
Lighting Shabbos Candles
It is assumed that once a woman lights the Shabbos candles and makes the associated Bracha, she has accepted upon herself the Shabbos and has all the associated restrictions.
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Posted on May 28th, 2010 by yoseftropper
TorahSweets-Rules of Communication – Parshas Beha’aloscha
Guest post by JewishByte Contributor, Rabbi Yosef Tropper of CloseToTorah.com
The very first Machlokes, argument between two valid rabbinical opinions, to ever take place has a tremendous lesson to teach us. The dispute was regarding smicha, whether one could lean on an animal (placing hands upon it to pronounce [...]
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Posted on May 3rd, 2010 by JewishByte
JewishByte Baltimore – May 1, 2010 – Rabbi Shaya Taub, Shlit”a, the Brider Rebbe of Baltimore (pronounced Breeder) led the Lag Ba’omer Bonfire ceremony and grand Melava Malka at Arugas Habosem shul in Park Heights, on Motzei Shabbos Parshas Emor.
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Posted on April 30th, 2010 by yoseftropper
TorahSweets- Shabbos vs. Yom Tov – Parshas Emor
Guest post by JewishByte Contributor, Rabbi Yosef Tropper of CloseToTorah.com
This week’s Parsha is read on many Yomim Tovim, as it discusses (Shabbos and) all of the Jewish Holidays. It has always been fascinating to me to understand the exact difference in holiness and to define the goal [...]
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Posted on April 23rd, 2010 by yoseftropper
TorahSweets- Breaking The Habit
Guest post by JewishByte Contributor, Rabbi Yosef Tropper of CloseToTorah.com
The Parsha of Acharei Mos discusses the holy day of Yom Kippur. Though Yom Kippur is five months away, I believe that a lesson could be learned from the holiday that applies today!
Chazal (Yuma 20a) state that the Yetzer Hara, Evil Urge, [...]
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Posted on April 22nd, 2010 by JewishByte
JewishByte Baltimore – Dear Community,
I really want to get the word out that there’s a man who drives up to women in the Shopper’s parking lot asking for money for gas to get home. This happened to me this afternoon (ed. yesterday), he’s a completely normal looking man in a nice car (a GMC Yukon [...]
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Posted on April 16th, 2010 by yoseftropper
TorahSweets- Revolving Words
Guest post by JewishByte Contributor, Rabbi Yosef Tropper of CloseToTorah.com
The Hebrew language is most fascinating. Whereas, words in many languages express deeper ideas, in Hebrew, the very letters that make up the words reveal secrets and beautiful ideas. In the following essay, you will either greatly enjoy this variance from my usual [...]
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