A TorahTutors student explored the question of what attitudes a bent or straight posture might convey and which would be more conducive to getting into the mood of Rosh Hashanah. The Shulchan Aruch (siman 586) rules that a shofar used on Rosh Hashana should be from a ram and should be bent. Under extenuating circumstances,…
A TorahTutors student explored the limits of comparisons and of obedience. The Gemara (Bava Metzia 32a) notes a tradition that the mitzvah of honoring one’s parents is on par with the responsibility to honor God. (This tradition is rooted in a comparison between the verses “Honor your father and mother” (Shemot 20:11) and “Honor God…
We are now in the month of Elul, when there is a widespread custom to recite Psalm 27. This psalm is one of many that states explicitly it was written by King David, poet and musician extraordinaire – among other qualities. One TorahTutors student, a recent high school graduate with an affinity for music herself,…
A very special #TuesdayTorahTutorsTidbit: Real Torah, from real TorahTutors sessions. A group of TorahTutors students learning the book of Yehoshua discussed the choice of Yericho (Jericho) as the first site for conquest. They noted the obvious factor of location: in order to conquer the entire land of Canaan, they would have to start at the…
Devarim 12:5 instructs that any animal promised as a sacrifice must be brought to the Beit Hamikdash. The Sefer Hachinuch (mitzvah 438) explains that the animal must be brought on the first festival that occurs after the vow was made, because, he writes, “It is not appropriate for a person to be lazy about a…
It’s been a pleasure and privilege in recent weeks to add a number of new tutors and students to our rosters. New students include: A young mother who felt her skills in learning Chumash with Rashi were lacking, and decided to do something about it A pair of twin girls who have never been to…