Passing on in Repentance
Passing on in Repentance When I was visiting New York, a woman approached me with a request for a blessing in the merit of my fathers. She was fighting a dangerous illness and wished to be cured. This woman was not Torah-observant at the time. I instructed her to repent from her former way of […]
“Avraham continued and took a wife whose name was Keturah”
“Avraham continued and took a wife whose name was Keturah” (Bereishit 25:1) Avraham remarried Hagar and called her Keturah to publicize the fact that she had done teshuvah and her deeds were as sweet as the fragrance of the ketoret. When a ba’al teshuvah is truly penitent, his intentional sins are transformed into merits, which […]
Gunned up for Torah
Gunned up for Torah When I was visiting the grave of the Ba’al Shem Tov in Europe, one of my sons phoned me and told me the following narrative. A student of his, who always attends his daily shiur, is making great strides in spirituality. He also supports Torah scholars. This man was now in […]
The Torah Laments
The Torah Laments One Tishah b’Av eve, as I left the Beit Hamidrash after the kinot recitation, I turned to my disciples. “Look at the Beit Hamidrash,” I began. “See how its walls weep. Usually, we feel joy and elevation here. The walls of the study hall are saturated with divrei Torah. But tonight, on […]
The Ropes of Torah Bind One to Mitzvot
The Ropes of Torah Bind One to Mitzvot One Yom Tov, I was asked to deliver a lecture in the Beit Hakeneset where I prayed. This synagogue was also the place of prayer of a certain wealthy Jew who supports Torah scholars and believes in the Sages, but unfortunately, has no reservations about desecrating Shabbat […]
Offering My Apology on the Altar of Torah
Offering My Apology on the Altar of Torah Sometimes, even an ordinary conversation carries the weight of a Torah topic. One day found me very harried and hassled about our institutions. I was very tense. Just then, a fellow Jew approached me with a request. I answered him curtly, in an impatient manner. After I […]
No Laughing Matter
No Laughing Matter I was once passing by the yeshiva in Lyon, when I heard raucous laughter coming from the windows of the Beit Hamidrash. Baffled and very bothered, I entered the study hall. To my utter surprise, I was met by the sight of a Jewish man, who had the Torah students in stitches […]
Wrong Date, Right Lesson
Wrong Date, Right Lesson I was once invited to speak at a large gathering in Paris. Arriving at the venue, I was most surprised to be met by an audience of three, as opposed to the organizers’ prediction that the place would be filled to capacity. After some investigating, it was discovered that the posters […]
Building the Edifice of Torah
Building the Edifice of Torah I once needed the help of two yeshiva boys from our yeshiva in Lyon. When I entered the Beit Hamidrash to call them, I found them deeply immersed in the sea of Torah. I was loath to interrupt their study session. On the other hand, I needed their help. I […]
Torah – The Real Goal
Torah – The Real Goal It was the time of the World Cup football competition, and France sent their best players to participate. A Jewish man approached me and asked if he was permitted to watch the game on television. “Which country will you be rooting for?” I asked. “France, of course. Only France deserves […]
Striking Sincere Incentives
Striking Sincere Incentives Once a month, thousands of Jews from all over France gather together to hear words of Torah. On the date of one such discourse, there were heavy strikes in public transportation throughout France. I was afraid that many people would be unable to attend the lecture which I was scheduled to deliver […]
Bitul Torah
Rabbi Shimon says, “One who walks on the road while reviewing [a Torah lesson] but interrupts his review, and exclaims, ‘How beautiful is this tree! How beautiful is this plowed field!” – Scripture considers it as if he is liable to pay with his life (Avot 3:7). Rabbi Elazar b’Rabbi Tzadok rules that one should […]
