Audio 1549 articles

The Gemara provides 3 answers as to why we don’t say Hallel on Purim. The Shulchan Aruch only quotes 1 – that the Megillah is the Hallel of Purim. The Megillah...

Why is there a new year for trees? What is the connection between the word עץ (tree) and עצה (advice)? The connection to the 2 trees in Gan Eden – the...

Unlike other mitzvot, there are 3 levels of how to perform the mitzvah of lighting the chanukah menorah. Why is hiddur so integral to the laws of Chanukah?

Understanding what the Greeks had against Kiddush Hachodesh When the moon complained that the sun and moon were the same size, why did it use the analogy of the crown? Why...

Understanding why the Greeks hated Bris Milah and the special significance of “Zos Chanukah”. The concept of eight is intrinsic to milah and milah typefies the number eight. Why does the...

The Director of OU’s Women’s Initiatives talks about how heroes are integral to the Chanukah story – and heroines are too! Presented at the Young Israel of Woodmere, December 6, 2017

Understanding why the Greeks hated these ideas: The Greeks were against the idea of “yeish mei’ayin”, that the world was created from nothing because it implies that God alone is the...

Chazal formulated the time until which the candles must be lit as when there are no more “legs” in the marketplace? Why the leg, why the marketplace?

Halachic issues when crossing the International Dateline visiting  Hawaii, Japan or New Zealand Crossing the Arctic Circle where the sun does not rise in the winter visiting Alaska or Finland Shiur...

What is the chasima on Hoshana Rabbah and how is it different than the chasima of Yom Kippur? Why is the sealing of Hoshana Rabbah at night? Why the arava?