פרשת דברים is always read on the שבת before תשע באב, and there is a well-established מנהג to chant the verse: אֵיכָה אֶשָּׂא לְבַדִּי טָרְחֲכֶם וּמַשָּׂאֲכֶם וְרִיבְכֶםEichah essa levadi torchachem u-masa’achem v’rivchemHow can I alone bear your troubles, your burdens, and your disputes?— דברים א:יב This פסוק is read to the mournful tune of מגילת…

Proverbs 17:1 – “Better a dry piece of bread with peace than a house full of sacrifices with strife.”Proverbs 16:32 – “He who is slow to anger is better than a strong man, and a master of his passions than a conqueror of a city.”Proverbs 16:33 – “When the lot is cast into the lap,…

I. Fundamental Beliefs (Chapter 1A) Many people are fond of saying, “Life is not fair.” Such a statement is the merest step from heresy, even blasphemy, because if life is not fair, then the Creator of life is not fair. A believing Jew knows that everything Hashem does is calculated with precision, even though there…

1. Words Are Cheap, Emunah Is Expensive ( Emunah= included Bitochan) In every generation, the Yetzer Hara adapts. Today, he hides in spiritual language. In communities of Torah and chesed, people speak beautifully about emunah — about trust in Hashem, surrender, detachment from money, and living with clarity of faith. They quote the Chazon Ish,…

Chazal say in Pirkei Avos: “Aseh lecha Rav, u’knei lecha chaver.” This isn’t just advice — it’s a demand. You need a Rav: not a political figure, not a fundraiser, not a showman. A Rav is someone who fears Heaven, who holds himself accountable, and who tells you the truth even when it hurts. Without…

> רָאשׁ עֹשֶׂה כַּף רְמִיָּה וְיַד חָרוּצִים תַּעֲשִׁיר“A poor man acts with deceitful hands, but the hand of the diligent enriches.”(Mishlei 10:4) — Chazal and the Alshich HaKadosh teach that this verse is not merely about working or being idle — it’s about what kind of work matters. The Alshich explains: it’s not that the…

1. Background: Poverty and a Dilemma Ilfa and Rabbi Yochanan, two great Torah scholars, were suffering from severe financial hardship. They made a joint decision: > “Let us go earn a livelihood and fulfill the verse: ‘There shall be no destitute among you’ (Devarim 15:4).” — 2. The Wall and the Heavenly Conversation While on…

The path to exile began when even a man as great as Shlomo HaMelech thought he could decide without rebuke. The way back — the road to geulah — begins when we choose the opposite: To live under Torah guidance To make ourselves accountable To accept rebuke with humility To never trust our own brilliance…

asked to Rav Avigdor Miller ztz”l — May 11, 1971 — Question: Was the Beis Hamikdash destroyed because of sinas chinam—baseless hatred—among frum Jews? — Answer (Rav Avigdor Miller ztz”l): No, there’s no sinas chinam among the true Torah-observant Jews. Don’t let anyone twist the narrative. The sinas chinam described in the Gemara wasn’t about…

Not every Jew is gifted with the same intellect, background, or circumstances. Some have sharp minds and access to great teachers. Others struggle to understand even basic texts. Some have long hours to study; others must work to support families. Yet the obligation to engage in Torah remains equally binding on all. The Torah’s command…