MAZEL TOV OU'S NACH YOMI 3RD CYCLE FINISHED DIVREI HAYAMIM 1 THIS WEEK SO JOIN US FOR THE LAST NAVI OF NAVI DIVREI HAYAMIM 2

SO JOIN Rabbi Menachem Leibtag and Rabbi Jack Abramowitz FOR THE LAST NAVI OF NAVI DIVREI HAYAMIM 2 TODAY.

DAF SUGYA WITH RABBI ELEFANT SHEKALIM DAF 2 ADAR RISHON ADAR SHENEI 2

RABBI ELEFANT ASKS AN IMPORTANT QUESTION SOMEONE PASSED AWAY IN ADAR IN A NON LEAP YEAR AND THE YORTZEIT IS IN A LEAP YEAR WHEN THE YORTZEIT?THE POSKIM SAY THE PRIMARY YORTZEIT IS ADAR SHENEI BUT SOME HAVE MINHAG KEEP YORTZEIT BOTH MONTHS.THE KITZUR S"A SAYS THE PRIMARY YORTZEIT IS ADAR RISHON BUT SOME SAY KADASH ADAR SHENEI AS WELL.RAV MOSHE IN A TESHUVA IN IGROS MOSHE SAYS MANY ACHRONIM SAY SAY KADASH BOTH MONTHS.FOR THE REST OF THE SHIUR CLICK HERE.

DAF SUGYA WITH RABBI ELEFANT SHEKALIM DAF 2 ADAR RISHON ADAR SHENEI 1

RABBI ELEFANT ASKS 2 QUESTIONS OUR GEMARA SAYS HESPID AND TANNIS ARE ASSUR IN ADAR RISHON WHERE DOES THE REMA GET MAKE AN EXTRA SUDAH ON PURIM KATAN AND FURTHER MORE ITS APPROPRIATE HAVE THE EXTRA SUDAH ON THE 14TH OF ADAR RISHON BUT THE QUESTION IS SHOULDN'T IT BE CONNECTED IF YOU LIVED IN NON WALLED CITY YOUR EXTRA SUDAH SHOULD BE ON THE 14TH BUT IF YOU LIVE IN A WALLED CITY YOUR EXTRA SUDAH SHOULD BE ON THE 15TH ADAR RISHON BUT THATS NOT WHAT THE REMA SAYS.THE M"B BRINGS THE PM"G NO EXTRA SUDAH ON 15TH OF ADAR RISHON.ANSWER 1ST QUESTION THE GR"A SAYS THE CIUV OF EXTRA SUDAH TRAVELS TOGETHER WITH NO HESPED AND TANNIS.MINCHAS YITZCHAK DISCUSSES OUR 2ND SHILAH THE SEMAK SAYS THE REMA IS REFERRING TO SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN A NON WALLED CITY FOR HIM PURIM KATAN IS THE 14TH OF ADAR ISHON.AN INDIVIDUAL WHO LIVES IN WALLED CITY CELEBRATES PURIM KATAN ON THE 15 OF ADAR.MINCHAS YITZCHAK SAYS THIS PISHAT NOT SO SIMPLE IN THE REMA AND HE QUOTES THE PM"G WHO DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THE REMA THAT WAY.1 PISHAT PERHAPS IS THAT IT IS VERY MUCH CONNECTED TO OUR GEMARA.OUR GEMARA SAYS PEOPLE WHO CELEBRATE PURIM ON 15TH OF ADAR CAN READ THE MEGILLA ON THE 14TH OF AADR AND THEY WOULD BE YOTZA BUT WE DON'T WANT TO UPROOT THE READING OF THE MEGILLA ON THE 15TH OF ADAR SO READ IT OVER.PISHAT REMA IS AS FOLLOWS ACTUAL PURIM CORECT ZIMAN WALLED CITY IS 15 OF ADAR READ MEGILLAH BUT HERE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PURIM KATAN REMEMBER HALACHA THAT A PERSON CAN READ THE MEGILLA ON THE 14TH OF ADAR IN A WALLED AND BE YOTZA BY CELEBRATING PURIM KATAN ON THE 14TH OF ADAR RISHON AND NOT THE 15TH OF ADAR RISHON.FOR THE REST OF THE SHIUR CLICK HERE.

SHMAIS.COM SPECIAL TEHILLIM REQUEST 4

Isser Leib Ben Chava Rivkah and Chaya Mushka bas Devorah Leah, a 1-year-old

[Aneinu] Please Say Tehillim

please say tehillim for ruchama rivka shaindel bas Miriam not from Chicago who needs rachamim shomayim

YWN LISTEN & BE INSPIRED! BRAND NEW ABIE ROTENBERG SONG: Lezchus Refua Shelaima For Chaim Avraham Zalman Ben Kreindel Nechama Bracha

Avi Silver is a young man (early 20’s) who is desperately ill with Cancer. He was diagnosed one year ago and his condition has slowly deteriorated. This morning he was in a crisis situation and although he’s been stabilized, he remains in great Sakana.

[Aneinu] Please Daven

Please daven and say Tehillim for a Chicagoan, Yosef Chaim ben Esther Bluma, for a good outcome and a refuah shlema.

OU TORAH Creating the I By Shira Smiles

CLICK HERE FOR SHIUR AND SOURCE SHEETS ON PARSHAS CHAYEI SARAH.

OU TORAH Beinyan Ein Mevatlim Issur Lechatchilah By Rabbi Yaakov Moishe Shurkin

Teshuvos Rebbe Akiva Eiger Siman 38 [2]

THE BAIS HAVAAD'S THE DAF IN HALACHA SHEKALIM DAF 2 PART 2 COUNTING PEOPLE By RAV GREENWALD

RAV GREENWALD BRINGS RAV SHKLAVOR THE TALMID MUVHAK OF THE GR"A IN TAKLIN CHADITIN AND THE CHASAM SOFER WHO SAY THERE IS NO PROBLEM TO COUNT PEOPLE BY FINGERS.RA"E SAYS YOU CAN NOT COUNT PEOPLE BY WRITING IT DOWN.RAV GREENWALD SAYS THE MITZVA OF SHEKEL IS ABOUT RISING ABOVE THATS WHAT THE 4 PARSHIOS ARE ABOUT.A YID IS ABOVE TIME THATS WHAT SEDER MOED REPRESENTS 1ST PESACH(ENTRANCE) CLIMBING TOWARDS YETZIAS METZRIEM.MOSHE DID NOT UNDERSTAND THIS SO HE WAS SHOWN THE MACHATZIS HASHEKEL OF FIRE.HASHEM SHOULD HELP US LEARN MASECHTA SHEKALIM AND BRING THE ACTUAL MACHATZIS HASHEKEL IN THE BAIS HAMIKDASH AMEN.FOR THE REST OF THE SHIUR CLICK HERE.

[Aneinu] Please Say Tehillim

Please say Tehillim for Levi ben Leah, who is in critical condition and in a coma in a Chicago hospital. We pray for his Refuah Shlema.

RABBI SHLOMO CARLEBACH: Life, Mission, and Legacy COMING SOON

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach (1925–1994) is considered the most influential composer of Jewish religious music of the 20th century and a progenitor of the modern neo-Hasidic renaissance. To date, there has been no systematic study of his life and very little scholarly analysis of his teachings, innovations, and music. This book examines Shlomo’s life and career via the prism of the historical and cultural developments of his time, including the Holocaust, the Six-Day War, the hippie phenomenon, the New Age movement, and other events that were channeling the course of Jewish life. It also attempts to understand the roots of the Carlebach phenomenon and its wide-range appeal. Above all, this book provides a new framework to evaluate and appreciate the unique form of heartfelt Judaism, joyful optimism, and soulful rejuvenation that Reb Shlomo inspired. (FROM URIM PUBLICATIONS)

THE TORAH COMMENTARY OF RABBI SHLOMO CARLEBACH: Genesis Part II COMING SOON

The Torah Commentary of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach provides a glimpse into the unusual way in which the late Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach received and transmitted Torah. It also aids the reader in bridging “Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach the great composer/singer” and “Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach the great scholar/teacher.” Those who sing his songs, but do not learn his Torah, only sing half a song. When Reb Shlomo speaks of Abraham and Sara, you are sure he is speaking about his own grandparents. When delving into the lives of Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob, Rachel and Leah, it is as if he is speaking of his own parents. The teachings in this book of commentary are not just meant to be read – they are intended to be enjoyed and experienced as “holy music.” Ultimately, they are intended as a lesson in living a “holy life.” Wherever Reb Shlomo traveled in the world, he brought several suitcases of holy books with him. This book makes Reb Shlomo’s teachings accessible to help us carry on our journey through life. (FROM URIM PUBLICATIONS)

The Great Partnership: Science, Religion, and the Search for Meaning By Rabbi Sacks is on Amazon

ITS ALSO AVAILABLE IN AMAZON KINDLE.

Nachum Segal Welcomed Former Chief Rabbi of the UK Rabbi Jonathan Sacks to JM in the AM

Nachum welcomed Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, former Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom to this morning’s JM in the AM for a conversation focused on Rabbi Sacks‘ book “The Great Partnership: Science, Religion, and the Search for Meaning.” In this fascinating look at the interdependence of religion and science, Rabbi Sacks explains how science teaches us where we come from while religion explains to us why we are here. Science is the search for explanation. Religion is the search for meaning. We need scientific explanation to understand nature. We need meaning to understand human behavior.

NSN JM SUNDAY 10/20/13 3 HOUR CARELBACH YAHRTZEIT SPECIAL ARCHIVE

CLICK HERE

THE BAIS HAVAAD'S THE DAF IN HALACHA SHEKALIM DAF 2 PART 1 INTRODUCTION TO SHEKALIM By Harav Shalom Kamenetsky Shlit"a

HARAV SHALOM KAMENETSKY SHLIT"A SAYS THAT MASECHTA SHEKALIM WAS IN THE GEMARA BAVLI SINCE THE TIME OF THE GEONIM EVEN B/4 DAF YOMI STARTED IN 1923.MACHATZIS HASHEKEL TEACHING HALF FOR US AND HALF FOR HASHEM IT ALL COMES TOGETHER.THE SHEVATIM COME TOGETHER /C OF MACHATZIS HASHEKEL.YERUSHALIEM DID NOT GET ITS NAME TILL THE JEWS HAD ACHDUS.DAF YOMI BRINGS ACHDUS.EVERYBODY FROM AUSTRALIA TO TI-LAND LEARNS THE SAME GEMARA.MACTZIS HASHEKEL TEACHES US ACHDUS WE ARE ONLY HALF W/O THE OTHER PERSON THATS ACHDUS.IT SHOULD RING US CLOSER TO THE BAIS HAMIKDASH AMEN.FOR THE REST OF THE SHIUR CLICK HERE.

[Aneinu] Baruch Dayan Ha'Emes

Sent: 10/21/2013 12:14:05 A.M. Central Daylight Time Subj: Re: [chicago-aneinu] Name Change - Please Daven I am sorry to inform you but Rebetzen Tzolaak (Ahuva Leah Esther bas Sarah) was niftar last nite, the levaya took place last nite in bnei brak. boruch dayan haemes.

THE BAIS HAVAAD'S THE DAF IN HALACHA PESACHIM DAF 121: The Culmanation of Pesach By Rav Yosef Grossman

RAV YOSEF GROSSMAN BRINGS THE CHACAM QUESTION FROM THE HAGADAH WHAT ARE THESE AADUS CHUKIM AND MISHPATIM AND THE HAGADAH ANSWERS HIM KHILCHOS HAPESACH NO EATING AFTER THE AFIKOMEN.ON PESACH WE HAVE 7 DAYS NO YETZER HARA THE CHACHAM QUESTION IS TOMORROW AFTER PESACH WE SHOULD ALSO NOT HAVE A YETZER HARA?SO WE ANSWER HIM SERVE HASHEM WITH YOUR YETZER HARA AND YETZER TOV.WHY IS TISHA BAV THE SAME DAY AS PESACH.RAV SHWAB EICHA MEANS WERE ARE WE HOLDING AND WE ANSWER TISHA BAV THEN WE HAVE TESHUVA ELLUL TISHREI THEN WE GO DOWN AS RAV CHAIM BRISKER SAYS ITS SHILA AND TESHUVA HERE ALSO PESACH WE SHOULD HAVE THE FEELING OF PESACH YEAR ROUNDCLICK HERE FOR THE REST.

RABBI ELEFANTS INSIGHTS SHEKALIM DAF 2(1ST DAF)

1.WHY IS SHEKALIM IN SEDER MOED IT WOULD MAKE MORE SENSE IN SEDER KODSHIM B/C THE MACATZIS HASHEKEL WAS GIVEN FOR KORBANOS TZIBUR?ITS AFTER PESACHIM THE MACHATZIS HASHEKEL WAS GIVEN NEAR ROSH CHODESH NISAN THATS WHY ITS IN MOED. 2.WHY IS DAF YOMI LEARNING MASECHTA SHEKALIM WHEN ITS A YERUSHALMI?ITS THE ONLY MASECHTA B/C WE WANT TO FINISHED MOED AND BY THE WAY OUR MASECHTA SHEKALIM IS DIFFERENT THEN THE ONE IN YERUSHALMI. 3.THE MACHATZIS HASHEKEL TEACHES US WE ARE INCOMPLETE WHEN ALONE WE NEED ACHDUS BUT KLIEM TEACHES US BE CAREFUL ABOUT BAD INFLUENCES. 4.THE GR"A SAYS WE DO NOT FAST OR GIVE A HESPED ON THE 14 AND 15 OF ADAR RISHON B/C IT IS A DAY OF YOM TOV AND WE NEED SIMCHA. 4.WHEN A PERSON HAS A YORTZEIT FOR A PARENT IN ADAR WHEN IS THE YORTZEIT?IT DEPENDS IF THE PARENT DIED IN A LEAP YEAR ON ADAR RISHON IN A NON LEAP YEAR THE YORTZEIT WOULD BE ON ADAR RISHON OR ADAR SHENEI DEPENDING ON WHEN THE PARENT PASSED AWAY BUT IF THE PARENT PASSED AWAY IN A NON LEAP YEAR AND THE YORTZEIT IS IN A LEAP YEAR FOR SURE THE YORTZEIT IS THE 1ST ADAR AND SOME POSKIM SAY THE 2ND ADAR ALSO.

RABBI ELEFANTS INSIGHTS PESACHIM DAF 121(THE LAST DAF)

1.RA"E SAYS WHENTHE FATHER NOT THERE THE PIDION HABEN CAN BE DONE NY A SHLIACH. 2.WHY DOES OUR GEMARA QUOTE THE BRACHA OF SHECIANU EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT THAT IS?THE SHECIANU OF PIDION HABEN IS ONE OF SIMCHA DIFFERENT THEN OTHER REGULAR SHECIANU IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE CONNECTED TO THE MITZVA. 3.THE RAMBAM SAYS IN ERETZ YISRAEL A BRIS MILA GETS A SHECIANU BUT NOT IN CHUTZ LARETZ WHY?BY A BRIS THE BABY IN TZAR BUT BY A PIDION HABEN THERE IS A SHECIANU B/C OF THE TREMENDOUS SIMCHA. 4.THE IMREI EMES ASKS WHY DOES THE GEMARA PESACHIM END OF WITH PIDION HABEN WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH PESACH?WE KNOW HASHEM HAS MITZVOS LIKE TEFILLIN WHAT IS HASHEM PIDION HABEN?WHEN HE TOOK US OUT OF EGYPT AND THE FINAL GEULAH WE WILL HAVE.

[Aneinu] Name Change - Please Daven

BS"D Reb. Chollek's (co-founder of Ezer Mizion) name has now been changed, the name Ahuva has been added, please see below. Please continue to daven and say tehillim for her with her new name: Ahuva Leah Esther bas Sarah. Thank you.

MAZEL TOV DAF YOMI FINISHED PESACHIM YESTERDAY AND IS STARTING SHEKALIM TODAY

JOIN RABBI ELEFANT DAF YOMI SHIUR PLUS A WHOLE LOT OF BONUS SHIURS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A 5 MINUTE REVIEW OF EACH DAF THEN DAF HACHAIM.ORG IS YOUR ANSWER. DAF DIGEST WITH THE VERY NICE HALACHA HIGHLIGHT. Welcome to our Daf Yomi site. Studying the Daf Yomi takes on new meaning when you utilize our clear and concise daily Daf Notes. Whether you use our English Commentary (translation) or enjoy reading our Daf Insights, you can learn and review the Daf Yomi in under 20 minutes a day! THE KOLLEL IYUN HADAF HAS OUTLINES CHARTS AND MORE. DO YOU WANT TO FOLLOW RAV OVADIA YOSEF ADVICE OF LEARNING HALACHA LIMISA WITH EACH DAF USE THE MESIVTA DARCHEI NOAM IT HAS HALACHA LIMISA ON EACH DAF.
ALSO THE BAIS HAVAAD'S THE DAF IN HALACHA IS A GOOD WAY TO FOLLOW THIS ADVICE. The Koren Talmud Bavli is a groundbreaking edition of the Talmud that fuses the innovative design of Koren Publishers Jerusalem with the incomparable scholarship of Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz. The Koren Talmud Bavli Standard Edition is a full-size, full-color edition that presents an enhanced Vilna page, a side-by-side English translation, photographs and illustrations, a brilliant commentary, and a multitude of learning aids to help the beginning and advanced student alike actively participate in the dynamic process of Talmud study.(KORENPUB.COM)20% OFF AT KESHER STAM.HEAR NACHUM SEGAL INTERVIEW RABBI DR TZVI HIRSCH WEINREB ON THE KOREN SHEKALIM HERE. WATCH THE ARTSCROLL APP VIDEO HERE. ALSO THE ENGLISH YATED NEEMAN HAS NICE DAF INSIGHTS FOR THE WEEKS DAF.

CHICAGO DAF YOMI SIYUM ON PESACHIM

The Daf Yomi Commission of Agudath Israel of Illinois in conjunction with Telshe Yeshiva invites all lomdei haDaf & the community to a Siyum on Meseches Pesachim, Motza’ei Shabbos, October 19, at the Yeshiva, 3535 Foster, beginning 9:30 PM. Come join the close to 3 dozen bachurim completing the mesechta in this true demonstration of k’vod haTorah v’lomdeha. Guest speaker: Rabbi Reuven Gross, Rav, Cong. Sha’arei Tzedek Mishkan Yair. Reservations not required – but appreciated, 773-279-8400.

Meoros Hashabbos, Volume 8 (English) Practical Laws arranged for weekly study at the Shabbos Table IS AT KESHER STAM

The Meoros HaShabbos Project has helped change the Shabbos experience of Jews the world over, and it's easy to see why. With easy-to-grasp elucidations of the laws of Shabbos, beautifully told anecdotes, and glistening jewels of wisdom from our Sages, it gives spice and spirit to the Shabbos table for the entire family. Divided according to the weekly Torah portion, Meoros HaShabbos is eminently valuable, amazingly do-able, and a surefire success. Having completed the laws of Shabbos in the first six volumes, this volume covers a the following halachos: Meat and Dairy, Separating Challah, Immersing New Utensils, Acts of Kindness, Bein Adam L’Chaveiro, Protecting the Property of Others, Protecting Our Health and Property, Lashon Hora, and Honroing Parents.(FROM FELDHEIM)

Schottenstein Talmud Yerushalmi - English Edition [#15] - Tractate Shabbos vol 3 IS HERE

SIYUM COMING SOON.

OU'S Nach Yomi Daily Email

On December 5, 2013, the OU’s Shoshana Grossman Nach Yomi will restart its two-year cycle. At the easily-digestible rate of one chapter per day, the OU’s Nach Yomi has enabled thousands of Jews worldwide to complete the Books of Prophets and the Writings. The OU’s Nach Yomi resources include audio shiurim by renowned Torah scholars including OU Executive Vice President, Emeritus, Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, Rabbi Menachem Leibtag, Rabbi Yitzchak Etshalom, Rabbi Dr. Gidon Rothstein, Rabbi Jeremy Wieder, Dr. Shawn Zelig Aster, and many others. Additionally, Rabbi Jack Abramowitz, editor of OU Torah, provides an accessible text synopsis of each chapter. And now – for the first time ever – the OU sends Nach Yomi straight to your inbox! Subscribe today!

THE BAIS HAVAAD'S THE DAF IN HALACHA PESACHIM DAF 118 PARNASSA HASHEMS HAND

RAV GREENWALD SAYS EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS TO US HELPS US GROW TO BECOME AVDA HASHEM.ALL OF OUR STRUGGLES SPIRITUAL AND WORKPLACE WE LIVE IN A WORLD BEYOND WITH TACHLIS AND TAFKID BRING HASHEM INTO THE PHYSICAL WORLD HE CONNECTS TO US.THIS IS A GREAT VICTORY AND EVERYTHING HASHEM DOES IS A CHESSED IT BRINGS AWARENESS OF HIM INTO OUR LIVES.FOR THE REST OF THE SHIUR CLICK HERE.

RAV KOOK Lech Lecha PART 2: Mamrei's Advice

The Sages made an astounding statement about Abraham and the mitzvah of brit milah (circumcision). According to the Midrash (Tanchuma VaYeira 3), Abraham only circumcised himself after consulting with his friend Mamrei. "Why did God reveal Himself to Abraham on Mamrei's property? Because Mamrei gave Abraham advice about circumcision." Could it be that Abraham, God's faithful servant, entertained doubts whether he should fulfill God's command? What special difficulty did circumcision pose that, unlike the other ten trials that Abraham underwent, this mitzvah required the counsel of a friend?

RAV KOOK ON Lech Lecha: Great Like the Stars

Stars and Sand When Abraham complained to God that he was childless, God promised that his children would be as numerous as the stars in the sky: "God took him outside and said, 'Look at the sky, and count the stars if you can! So will be your descendants.'" (Gen. 15:5) On another occasion, God promised Abraham that his children would be like "the sand on the seashore" (Gen. 22:17). Why are the Jewish people compared to both stars and grains of sand?

BAIS HAVAAD ON THE PARSHA 5774 Parshas Noach: Judicial Review

This week's parsha discusses the dor haflaga. The people of the dor haflaga gathered together to build a tower in order to rebel against Hashem. The meforshim explain that the people of the dor haflaga were very friendly and kind to one another, and were therefore spared being killed for their sin. Instead, Hashem punished them by confusing their languages so that they wouldn't be able to understand each other. This forced them to disperse and abandon their plans. Rashi explains that by confusing their languages, when someone would ask for a brick [or the like] his friend would misunderstand him and give him cement. Receiving the wrong item would get the recipient upset, and he would hit his friend because of it, thereby ruining their relationship. One might ask: If the people of the dor haflaga were originally exceptionally friendly, why would they hit each other simply for receiving a wrong item? The meforshim explain that their friendliness wasn't based on good intentions, but rather, it was in order to achieve their desire to rebel. A friendship that is based on an agenda doesn't last, as once the agenda cannot come to fruition, the friendship is over. CLICK HERE FOR PRINT VERSION.

NAALEH.COM and YU TORAH Rainbow Rays Parshat Noach 5774 By: Mrs. Shira Smiles

In this class (shiur) Mrs. Shira Smiles discusses Parshat Noach Available online in streaming video, and for download in mp3 and mp4 (Ipod video) formats.The rainbow – the subject of myth and folklore and song, a symbol of the unattainable dream. But for the Torah Jew, the rainbow is the symbol of God’s covenant with humanity that He will never bring another flood to destroy the whole world. Within the rainbow’s shape, colors, and placement in the heavens, our sages find messages that bring us hope and inspiration. for the rest of the Summary by Channie Koplowitz Stein click here.

THE BAIS HAVAAD'S PARSHA PERSPECTIVES PARSHAS NOACH:Burying the Hatchet By: Rabbi Yaakov Ringel

CLICK HERE.

OU TORAH Righteousness is not Leadership By RABBI SACKS

The praise that Noah is accorded is unparalleled anywhere in Tanakh. He was, says the Torah, “a righteous man, perfect in his generations; Noah walked with God.” No such praise is given to Abraham or Moses or any of the prophets. The only person in the Bible who comes close is Job, described as “blameless and upright (tam ve-yashar); he feared God and shunned evil” (Job 1: 1). Noah is in fact the only individual in Tanakh described as righteous (tzaddik). Yet the man we see at the end of his life is not the person we saw at the beginning. After the flood: Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent. Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father naked and told his two brothers outside. But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it across their shoulders; then they walked in backward and covered their father’s naked body. Their faces were turned the other way so that they would not see their father naked. (Gen. 9: 20-23) The man of God has become a man of the soil. The upright man has become a drunkard. The man clothed in virtue now lies naked and unashamed. The man who saved his family from the flood is now so undignified that two of his sons are ashamed to look at him. This is a tale of decline. Why?

OU TORAH True Morality By RABBI SACKS

Is there such a thing as an objective basis of morality? For some time, in secular circles, the idea has seemed absurd. Morality is what we choose it to be. We are free to do what we like so long as we don’t harm others. Moral judgments are not truths but choices. There is no way of getting from “is” to “ought”, from description to prescription, from facts to values, from science to ethics. This was the received wisdom in philosophy for a century after Nietzsche had argued for the abandonment of morality – which he saw as the product of Judaism – in favour of the “will to power”.

OU TORAH Individual and Collective Responsibility By RABBI SACKS

I once had the opportunity to ask the Catholic writer Paul Johnson what had struck him most about Judaism during the long period he spent researching it for his masterly A History of the Jews? He replied in roughly these words: “There have been, in the course of history, societies that emphasised the individual – like the secular West today. And there have been others that placed weight on the collective – communist Russia or China, for example.” Judaism, he continued, was the most successful example he knew of that managed the delicate balance between both – giving equal weight to individual and collective responsibility. Judaism was a religion of strong individuals and strong communities. This, he said, was very rare and difficult, and constituted one of our greatest achievements.

OU TORAH Covenant and Conversation - A Tale of Four Cities By RABBI SACKS

Between the Flood and the call to Abraham, between the universal covenant with Noah and the particular covenant with one people, comes the strange, suggestive story of Babel: Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As men moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. They said to each other, "Come, let's make bricks and bake them thoroughly." They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth." [Gen. 11: 1-4] What I want to explore here is not simply the story of Babel considered in itself, but the larger theme. For what we have here is the second act in a four act drama that is unmistakably one of the connecting threads of Bereishit, the Book of Beginnings. It is a sustained polemic against the city and all that went with it in the ancient world. The city – it seems to say – is not where we find God.

RABI WEIN ON NOACH

After the destruction of civilization in the great flood a new generation arose and searched for a way to immortalize itself – so that their existence would withstand any new natural disasters. They gathered in the Tigris-Euphrates valley and there built the great city that would be called Nineveh. And to guarantee that their achievements would be forever remembered, they embarked on building a colossal structure – a great tower pointing towards - and seemingly even touching - the sky.

RABBI WEIN ON AFTER THE HOLIDAYS

There always is an emotional and even physical letdown that people experience immediately after the departure of the glorious holiday-laden month of Tishrei. Here in Israel the daylight hours become shorter, especially with the change of the clock to wintertime. The blessing of the rainy season begins to manifest itself, and it is time for flu shots and other such joys. And since this year of 5774 is a leap year, the winter season will be a month longer than it has been for the past two years.

NAALEH.COM and YU TORAH Parshat Noach: Dove's Directive By: Mrs. Shira Smiles

In this Torah shiur (class) on Parshat Noach, Mrs. Shira Smiles delves into the episode of the dove bringing Noach the olive branch and its symbolism for our lives. Available in streaming video and for download in mp3 and ipod format. click here forSummary by Channie Koplowitz Stein.

NAALEH.COM Parshat Noach: Wonderful Words By: Mrs. Shira Smiles

In this shiur (Torah class), Mrs. Shira Smiles speaks about this week's Torah portion, Parshat Noach. Mrs. Smiles explores who Noach really was, and for what merit Noach was saved, offering a goal of what to aspire to so that one can be saved from the deluge that surounds a person in today's world. This Torah class is available online in streaming video and for download in mp3 and ipod video formats.

NAALEH.COM STRENGTH OF OUR COMMUNITY By RABBI REICHMAN AND MORE

CLICK HERE.

RAV KOOK ON Noah PART 2: The Walk of the Righteous

Not all tzaddikim are equal. Different individuals attain different levels of holiness and righteousness. The Torah calls our attention to these distinctions when it describes Noah and Abraham with similar yet slightly different phrases. Regarding Noah, the Torah states that he "walked with God" (Gen. 6:9). To Abraham, on the other hand, God commanded, "Walk before Me" (Gen. 17:1). Noah walked with God, while Abraham walked before God. What is the difference? Which is better? Interestingly, we find in the Torah a third expression for living a holy life. The Torah charges us to "walk after the Lord, your God" (Deut. 13:5). Where does 'walking after God' fit in?

RAV KOOK ON Noah PART 1 : The Beauty of Greece

After the Flood, Noah blessed his son Yefeth: "May God expand Yefeth, and may he dwell in the tents of Shem." (Gen. 9:27) What does this blessing mean? Why should Yefeth live in Shem's tents?