On the second night of Passover, Jews begin counting something known as Sefirat Haomer or “The Counting of the Omer”. Beginning on the first night from number one, we count […]
Prepping for the Worst In a drug store recently, a magazine caught my eye while I was waiting in line. The name of it was “Prepper,” and from what I […]
Sefirat HaOmer – Rising to New Levels In this week’s Torah reading, Parshat Emor, we are instructed to count the Omer (Sefirat HaOmer). Every day, beginning with the second day […]
Sefirat Ha’Omer – Should We Not Celebrate? On the second night of Pesach, we began counting the Omer. Night after night, for 49 nights, we count down to Shavuot, that […]
Download and enjoy a lag baomer coloring page to mark the 33rd day of the Omer, courtesy of betweencarpools. Download here
How to Thank God Offering of Thanks וְכִֽי־תִזְבְּח֥וּ זֶֽבַח־תּוֹדָ֖ה לַֽהֹ’ לִרְצֹֽנְכֶ֖ם תִּזְבָּֽחוּ And when you slaughter a thanksgiving offering to Hashem, you shall slaughter it so that it should be […]
Sefirot are defined as emanations, meaning an abstract but perceptible concept that originates from a source. While we are involved in counting Sefirat Haomer, we also have an opportunity to […]
The beginning of this week’s Torah reading, Parshas Emor, discusses the revered status the Kohanim have. The Torah says that the people of this priestly tribe have distinct holiness and […]
Rabbi Chaim Mintz delivers a short, inspirational Lag B’omer message
In this week’s Torah portion, Parshas Emor (lit. speak), Hashem instructs Moshe to teach the kohanim (priests) the special laws that pertain to them. We learn that a kohen must […]
A short, inspirational message from Rabbi Chaim Mintz on the time period of sefira
Ask the Rabbi with Rabbi Chaim Mintz Since women are not obligated to study Torah, why is Torah learning such a significant part of their education in school? And does […]
A Practical Guide to the Traditional Jewish Observance of Shiva for Mourners, their Families and Friends By Dr. Meir Wikler Introduction Jewish tradition encompasses all facets of life. Death is […]
A Missed Opportunity A recruiter recently shared with me an experience he had with a job candidate. They had found him a place that seemed to be a perfect fit […]
What Does It Mean to Sanctify God’s Name? This week’s Torah reading includes a special mitzvah (commandment), the mitzvah of Kiddush Hashem. As the verse says (Vayikra 22:32): “And you […]
Ask the Rabbi with Rabbi Chaim Mintz A Deeper Look at Fire and Torah Every year on Lag Ba’omer, there are bonfires and dancing all over my neighborhood, and my […]
The Torah’s Perspective on the Value of Life A verse in this week’s Torah reading teaches us the level of priority which the Torah gives to our lives. The verse […]
Ask the Rabbi with Rabbi Chaim Mintz Why was Avraham chosen to be the father of the Jewish nation and not Noach, who preceded him and is described by the […]
Ask the Rabbi with Rabbi Chaim Mintz I’m planning to remarry, but when I shared the news with my children, they expressed reservations. What is the Jewish view on remarriage […]
Ask the Rabbi with Rabbi Chaim Mintz I can’t comprehend how the Jewish people could commit the sin of the Golden Calf! How, after witnessing the Ten Plagues, the Splitting […]
Tzara’at: A Physical Manifestation of Spiritual Misconduct The primary topic in this week’s Torah reading is the laws of tzara’at, a unique skin affliction. One who contracted this illness with […]