Chagim – The Jewish Festivals

Blurred Perceptions

Blurred Perceptions By Rabbi Shlomo RiskinOTS Founder, Chancellor Emeritus and Rosh HaYeshiva What does our sober and moderate Judaism, with its emphasis on “You shall be holy,” have to do with a masquerade ball? And yet, that is precisely what

Read More
Rabbi Yehoshua Grunstein

Taanit Esther- A Plea for Balance

Taanit Esther- A Plea for Balance Rabbi Yehoshua Grunstein, Director of Training and Placement for OTS’s Beren-Amiel and Straus-Amiel Emissary Programs[1] Introduction It is a well-established custom[2] to fast on the 13th of Adar[3], usually one day before Purim [which

Read More
Rabbi David Brofsky

Hilchot Sufganiyot

Hilchot Sufganiyot – The Laws of Jelly Doughnuts Rabbi David Brofsky, Midreshet Lindenbaum Hafrashas Challah The Torah (Bamidbar 15: 17-21) teaches that one must separate challa from the “first of your dough.” The Rishonim discuss the manner in which the dough is cooked or baked. Generally,

Read More
Rabbi Riskin speaking at the podium

Shabbat Shuva 5779 – Video

Rabbi Shlomo Riskin’s Shabbat Shuva 5779 Drasha (English) TOPIC:  “Today the world was conceived” – Today the First Human was Created in God’s Image: Halakhic and Theological Ramifications Regarding the Status of a Non-Jew, and Israel as a Nation-State of the

Read More

The Biblical Meaning of “Kippurim”

The Biblical Meaning of “Kippurim”  Rabbi Menachem Leibtag Midreshet Lindenbaum  Is the ‘Day of ATONEMENT’ a precise translation for YOM KIPPUR?  In English, the word ‘atonement’ implies amends for a certain wrongdoing. In this sense, the ‘Day of Atonement’ implies

Read More
Rabbi Shlomo Vilk

Letting Go

Letting Go Rabbi Shlomo Vilk Rosh Yeshivat Machanaim, Named in Memory of Joseph and Leila Applebaum The soul has two primary ways of preserving the past: through nostalgia and memory. Nostalgia is a negative force insofar as it arouses longing

Read More
Cover of 10 thoughts for 10 days booklet

Ten Days – Ten Thoughts

The first ten days of the Jewish calendar are known as “Aseret Yemei Teshuva – The ten days of Teshuva.” Citing the verse, “Seek God when He may be found, call upon Him when He is near,” the Talmud asserts

Read More
Ta Shma masthead

Ta Shma – Come and Learn!

As Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur approach, we are all looking for inspiration, to reconnect and come closer to Hashem.  In that light we are delighted to share this special Yamim Nora’im edition of the Midreshet Lindenbaum Torah journal, “Ta

Read More
Rav Ohad Teharlev

Justice to Mercy

From Justice to Mercy Rabbi Ohad Teharlev Director of Israeli Programs, Midreshet Lindenbaum The theme of “memory” figures prominently during the High Holy Days, particularly on Rosh Hashana, which the Torah calls Yom Hazikaron and Zichron Terua . To underscore this concept, our Sages quote

Read More

Ten Days – Ten Thoughts: Day Ten

Yes, We Can Rabbanit Sally Mayer The haunting melody of Kol Nidrei resonates with every Jew who attends services on Yom Kippur night. But if you were writing the prayers for Yom Kippur, what would you choose as the opening

Read More

Ten Days – Ten Thoughts: Day Nine

Contemplations Rabbi Shuki Reich There are two themes which are central to Rosh Hashana. The first is that of listening – the main aspect of the shofar is, after all, to listen – and the second theme is prayer, expressing

Read More

Join our Mailing List

Get weekly divrei Torah, news, and updates directly in your inbox from Ohr Torah Stone.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.