Divrei Mav

Parshas Kedoshim 2018 Transcendence   Joe is a shomer - shabbos and shomer - mitzvos Jewish man. He actually takes great pride in his observance of the Torah . He keeps the highest degree of kosher , studies Torah , and keeps the Shabbos . Not only that but when he eats, he’s sure to make a brocha (blessing) over each food, and even bentch (recite Grace After Meals) afterward. Everything Joe does, is in accordance with the Torah . Or is it? There’s something else you should know about Joe. Aside from being orthodox, Joe has an eating and drinking problem. See, Joe is vastly overweight mainly because what he sees, he eats. Joe will sit down to eat lunch and have a 24 oz steak, with hamburgers, fries, a salad, onion rings, soup, and pasta. After he’ll have a chocolate cake and a tub of ice cream. Oh, and to wash it all down he’ll polish off a bottle of soda and of course several glasses of wine. However gross and gluttonous his eating routine may seem, he stil...

Parshas Tazria 2018 Keeping the Balance The Torah teaches a concept called “ tumah and taharah” , being spiritually impure or pure. Tumah is a status. It’s nothing physical -it’s purely spiritual. There are a several ways a person to become tamei (impure). One way is by coming in contact with something that is impure or carries impurities. For example, a corpse is tamei and if one touches a corpse he too becomes defiled. A person who is defiled cannot partake in certain practices until he is purified. One way to become tahoar (pure) is through the mikvah (immersion in ritual bath house). A woman becomes impure when she gives birth. She is deemed tamei for a period, depending on the gender of the child. Interestingly, some teach the reason Hashem made it this way is because a mother could lose sight of the fact that Hashem gave her this child, arrogantly feeling instead that she brought it into this world. As a reminder or a way to keep things in balance Hashem mad...