The Journey to Yam Suf as a Metaphor for...
The Rambam and the Ramchal say Hashem doesn’t interfere with our free will, rather, he spins events to lead us to a specific result. For Chol HaMoed Pesach.
Apr 7, 2016
By Rabbi Yochanan Bechhofer
Question of the Tam
The tam is a straight, honest person asking why we break the neck of the donkey – a question any honest person has by any mitzvah: Why do bad things happen?...
Apr 6, 2016
By Rabbi Yochanan Bechhofer
Saving the Wicked Son
The Rasha asks the same question as the Chacham but with a negative, cynical tone. How do we convey the same message we give to the chacham to the Rasha? Previous:...
Apr 6, 2016
By Rabbi Yochanan Bechhofer
Answers to the 4 Sons in the Chumash &...
Why don’t the answers we provide to the 4 sons in the haggadah parallel the answers we are told by the Torah to give them? Previous: Chochom vs. Rasha Next: Saving...
Apr 6, 2016
By Rabbi Yochanan Bechhofer
Chacham vs. Rasha
The chacham and rasha seem to ask the same question despite being polar opposites. According to the Maharal, this is because opposites are closely related. Previous: Kneged Arba Bonim: The Four...
Apr 6, 2016
By Rabbi Yochanan Bechhofer
Kneged Arba Banim: The Four Factor
The number 4 is central to the seder because it’s all-encompassing. The 4 sons are within the framework of Torah. We’re being told how to respond to them. Previous: Baruch HaMakom...
Apr 6, 2016
By Rabbi Yochanan Bechhofer
Baruch HaMakom
What does the name HaMakom mean and why do we refer to God that way here? What is the added blessed be He at the end? How does it lead into...
Apr 5, 2016
By Rabbi Yochanan Bechhofer
Like 70 Years Old
The connection between Shema & the Exodus: What does mentioning the exodus at night have to do with telling the story on Pesach? Why do we mention it daily in the...
Apr 5, 2016
By Rabbi Yochanan Bechhofer
Afilu Kulanu Chachamim….
If one has all these (chachamim, nevonim, zekenim, yodim et haTorah) why retell the story? The seder is about reliving the creation of a new world order. Previous: Avadim Hayinu: Yad...
Apr 5, 2016
By Rabbi Yochanan Bechhofer
Avadim Hayinu: Yad Chazaka vs. Zeroa Netuya
What does it mean that we’d still be slaves in Egypt – the empire already ceased to exist? The difference between being freed by God and being freed in other ways....
Apr 5, 2016
By Rabbi Yochanan Bechhofer
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