When a city (in the Promised Land) strays from G-d and worships other deities, the consequences are severe. “And all of its belongings you shall gather into its [main] thoroughfare, and you shall burn the city and all of its belongings completely with fire unto Hashem your G-d, and it shall be a mound [of… Read more

  Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to JM in the AM to discuss the Torah portion of the week. This week Rabbi Yudin discussed parshas Eikev. Shabbat Shalom! Click the Picture to check out Rabbi Yudin’s new book on the Torah portions entitled: “Rabbi Benjamin… Read more

“And the Children of Israel traveled from B’eros B’nay Ya’akan to Moseira; there Aharon died, and he was buried there, and his son Elazar took over as [the High] Priest” (D’varim 10:6). Since this verse was stated by Moshe in the middle of his recounting what had happened at Mt. Sinai during the first year… Read more

"And G-d was angry with me because of you” (D’varim 3:26). Rashi, based on the Sifre (Pinachas 135) elaborates on what Moshe meant when he told the nation that G-d was angry with him because of them: “[it was] on your behalf; you caused it to happen to me,' as it says (in T’hillim 106:32),… Read more

  Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in live from Israel to JM in the AM to discuss the fast of Tisha B'Av and the Torah portion of the week, parshas Devarim. Rabbi Yudin elaborated on the laws and customs of this year's Tisha B'Av observance that… Read more

“The First Temple was destroyed because of three things; idol worship, licentiousness and the spilling of blood (murder).” After providing proof-texts that these three sins were rampant during the (latter part of the) First Temple, the Talmud (Yoma 9b) asks why, if during the Second Temple we were involved in Torah, Mitzvos and doing kindness,… Read more

Continuing his annual tradition, Nachum Segal presents the JM in the AM 9 Days Format, consisting primarily of the fascinating Jewish history lectures of Rabbi Berel Wein, every morning from Rosh Chodesh Av through Tisha B'Av. So far, Nachum has presented all 5 parts of Rabbi Wein's Crash Course in Jewish History series. Click on the… Read more

  Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in live from Israel to JM in the AM to discuss the Torah portion of the week. This week Rabbi Yudin discussed the Torah portion of Mattos-Masei. Rabbi Yudin also elaborated on the laws and customs of "The Nine Days,"… Read more

“Your servants shall do as my master commands; our young ones, our wives, our cattle and all our animals will be there, in the cities of the Gilad, and your servants shall have all armed forces pass before G-d to wage war, as my master spoke of” (Bamidbar 32:25-27). How could the sons of Gad… Read more

  Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in live from Israel to JM in the AM to discuss the Torah portion of the week. This week Rabbi Yudin discussed the Torah portion of Pinchas. Click the Picture to check out Rabbi Yudin’s new book on the Torah… Read more

“And Moshe spoke to G-d, saying” (Bamidbar 27:15). In a reversal of the usual formula (“and G-d spoke to Moshe, saying”), here Moshe did the “speaking,” even demanding that G-d respond to his request (see Rashi). And it wasn’t just a request that Moshe was making, but a set of instructions (see Sh’mos Rabbah 21:2),… Read more

  Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to JM in the AM to discuss the Torah portion of the week. This week Rabbi Yudin discussed the Torah portion of Balak. Click the Picture to check out Rabbi Yudin’s new book on the Torah portions entitled: “Rabbi… Read more

“Now go curse [the nation] for me; perhaps I will be able to war with them and drive them out” (Bamidbar 22:11; compare with 22:6). When Bilam told G-d what Balak had asked him to do, there are several differences between how he quoted Balak and what Balak is quoted as having told him. One… Read more

  Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to JM in the AM to discuss the Torah portion of the week. This week Rabbi Yudin discussed the Torah portion of Chukas. Click the Picture to check out Rabbi Yudin’s new book on the Torah portions entitled: “Rabbi… Read more

“And G-d sent the poisonous snakes against the nation” (Bamidbar 21:6). “And G-d said to Moshe, ‘make for yourself a viper” (21:8). “And Moshe made a snake of copper” (21:9). Among the questions asked by the commentators is why Moshe made a snake (“nachash”) to put on a post for the nation to look at… Read more

Click here to listen   Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to JM in the AM to discuss the Torah portion of the week. This week Rabbi Yudin discussed the Torah portion of Korach. Click the Picture to check out Rabbi Yudin’s new book on the… Read more

“And G-d said to Aharon, ‘you and your sons and the House of Your Father will bear the sin of the Sanctuary, and you and your sons will bear the sin of your Priesthood” (Bamidbar 18:1). Rashi tells us that even though the Torah says that G-d said this to Aharon (without Moshe being mentioned),… Read more

  Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to JM in the AM to discuss the Torah portion of the week. This week Rabbi Yudin discussed the Torah portion of Shelach. Click the Picture to check out Rabbi Yudin’s new book on the Torah portions entitled: “Rabbi… Read more

“Send for yourself men, and they shall scout the Land of Canaan” (Bamidbar 13:2). By adding the word(s) “for yourself,” G-d was telling Moshe that He was not instructing him to send scouts, but that Moshe had permission to do so if he wanted (Rashi, based on Soteh 34b). However, since Moshe had asked G-d… Read more

  Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to JM in the AM to discuss the Torah portion of the week. This week Rabbi Yudin discussed the Torah portion of Beha'aloscha. Click the Picture to check out Rabbi Yudin’s new book on the Torah portions entitled: “Rabbi… Read more

There are two verses in this week’s Parasha (Bamidbar 10:35-36) that are surrounded by two upside letters, both being the letter “nun.” Rashi, based on the Talmud (Shabbos 117a) and Midrashim (e.g. Sifre), tells us that these “markings” are meant to indicate that this is not where this two-verse paragraph belongs. Rather, it was “moved”… Read more

  Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to JM in the AM to discuss the Torah portion of the week. This week Rabbi Yudin discussed the Torah portion of Naso. Click the Picture to check out Rabbi Yudin’s new book on the Torah portions entitled: “Rabbi… Read more

“And each man’s sanctified things shall be his; a man who gives it to the Kohain, it shall be his” (Bamidbar 5:10). There are numerous meanings embedded into this verse, including the one Rashi quotes from the Talmud (B’rachos 63a), that giving those items that are supposed to be given to a Kohain (e.g. T’rumah… Read more

  Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to JM in the AM to discuss the Torah portion of the week. This week Rabbi Yudin discussed the Holiday of Shavuos and the Torah portion of Bamidbar. Rabbi Yudin elaborated on the various laws and customs of Shavuot… Read more

Torah is even greater than the Priesthood and than the Kingship, for the Kingship is acquired with 30 advantageous things, the Priesthood with 24, and the Torah is acquired with 48 things” (Avos 6:5/6). The simple equation seems to be that since it takes more “things” to acquire Torah, it must be greater than the… Read more

  Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to JM in the AM to discuss the Torah portion of the week. This week Rabbi Yudin discussed Parshas Behar & Bechukosai. Click the Picture to check out Rabbi Yudin’s new book on the Torah portions entitled: “Rabbi Benjamin… Read more

“There are four types of people [regarding how they view possessions]. One who says, ‘what’s mine is mine and what’s yours is yours,’ this is the in-between characteristic, and some say this is the characteristic of S’dom (who were punished because of their cruelty). [One who says,] ‘what’s mine is yours and what’s yours is… Read more

  Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to JM in the AM to discuss the Torah portion of the week. This week Rabbi Yudin discussed Parshas Emor. Click the Picture to check out Rabbi Yudin’s new book on the Torah portions entitled: “Rabbi Benjamin Yudin on… Read more

Learning Torah is of paramount religious importance (see Payah 1:1), but there are numerous possible motivations for doing so. Learning purely because it is what G-d wants us to do is ideal, but understanding (or thinking we understand) why G-d wants us to do so can provide motivation as well, wanting those benefits independent of… Read more

  Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to JM in the AM to discuss the Torah portion of the week. This week Rabbi Yudin discussed Parshas Acharei Mos-Kedoshim. Click the Picture to check out Rabbi Yudin’s new book on the Torah portions entitled: “Rabbi Benjamin Yudin… Read more

“Traditional scribal cues are a protection for the Torah; tithing is a protection for wealth; vows are a protection for separation [from physical matters]; protection for wisdom is keeping silent” (Avos 3:13/17). Aside from trying to understand what each of these four things mean, it is a bit curious that the fourth is taught slightly… Read more

  Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to JM in the AM to discuss the Torah portion of the week. This week Rabbi Yudin discussed Parshas Tazria and Metzorah. Click the Picture to check out Rabbi Yudin’s new book on the Torah portions entitled: “Rabbi Benjamin… Read more

“Do [G-d’s] will as your will in order that He will do your will as His will, and negate your will before His will in order that He will negate the will of others because of your will” (Pirkay Avos 2:4). Are we expected to have a “will,” but sublimate it in order to do… Read more

  Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to JM in the AM to discuss the Torah portion of the week. This week Rabbi Yudin discussed Parshas Shmini as well as Yom HaShoah which we commemorated yesterday. Click the Picture to check out Rabbi Yudin’s new book… Read more

“Do not conduct yourself in the manner of lawyers” (Pirkay Avos 1:8). There are many “lawyer jokes” out there, but this teaching of [Rabbi] Yehuda ben Tabai was not intended as one. What did he find offensive about lawyers that he warned his students not to act like them? Is there a problem with being… Read more

Although the Torah only discusses bringing a Pesach Sheini for those who were ritually unclean or were far away from the Temple (the only place offerings can be brought) for the Korbon Pesach, the Talmud (Pesachim 93a-b) discusses the requirement to bring a Pesach Sheini even if there was a different reason why the first… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to JM in the AM to discuss the holiday of Pesach, elaborating on the various laws and customs that we will observing. Chag kasher v'sameach and a good yom tov to all. Click the Picture to check out Rabbi Yudin’s… Read more

“And G-d took us out of Egypt with a strong hand and an outstretched arm” (D’varim 26:8). The Hagaddah tells us that “with a strong hand” refers to the plague of pestilence, which was the fifth plague, and that “an outstretched arm” refers to the “sword” G-d used to kill the Egyptians, quoting verses that… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to this morning’s JM in the AM to discuss the Torah Portion of the Week. This week Rabbi Yudin focused on Shabbos HaGadol and Parshas Tzav.   Click the Picture to check out Rabbi Yudin’s new book on the Torah… Read more

“And the Kohain shall burn the fats on the altar, and the breast shall be for Aharon and his sons” (Vayikra 7:31). Our sages, of blessed memory (Toras Kohanim, Tzav, 16:4) learn from here that the Kohanim do not get their portions from the offerings until after the fats have been placed on the altar… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to this morning’s JM in the AM to discuss the Torah Portion of the Week. This week Rabbi Yudin focused on Parshas Vayikra Parshas Hachodesh. Rabbi Yudin urged everyone to take part in JM in the AM's 2015 Fundraising Marathon by… Read more

“And [the Kohain] shall remove its crop with its feathers and toss it next to the altar on the eastern side, to the place of the ashes” (Vayikra 1:16). On one hand, mentioning “the place of the ashes” seems to indicate that the location where the ashes were put (referring to the ashes from the… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to this morning’s JM in the AM to discuss the Torah Portion of the Week. This week Rabbi Yudin focused on Parshas Vayakhel-Pekudei and Parshas Parah. Rabbi Yudin urged everyone to take part in JM in the AM's 2015 Fundraising… Read more

“And from the blue wool and the purple wool and the red wool they made the packing cloths” (Sh’mos 39:1). Although I used Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan’s translation of the words “bigday has'rad" ("packing cloths"), which is how most commentators explain them, others translate them as “knitted uniforms” (or something similar), which more closely reflects how… Read more

“And G-d said to Moshe, ‘sculpt for yourself two stone tablets, like the first ones, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets” (Sh’mos 34:1). These instructions were given at the end of the second set of 40 days, telling Moshe to carve out new tablets to bring… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to this morning’s JM in the AM to discuss the Torah Portion of the Week. This week Rabbi Yudin focused on Parshas Tetzaveh and Parshas Zachor. Rabbi Yudin also elaborated on the laws and customs of the Holiday of Purim… Read more

Rashi (Sh’mos 28:15 and 28:30) gives us two reasons why the Choshen, the breastplate worn by the Kohain Gadol, is called the “Choshen Mishpat.” One of the reasons, based on the Talmud (Z’vachim 88b and Arachin 16a) and the Midrash (Vayikrah Rabbah 10:6; see also Y’rushalmi Yoma 7:3), is that just as the offerings brought… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to this morning’s JM in the AM to discuss the Torah Portion of the Week. This week Rabbi Yudin focused on Parshas Terumah.   Click the Picture to check out Rabbi Yudin’s new book on the Torah portions entitled: “Rabbi… Read more

    One of the vessels associated with the outer, copper altar (upon which animals were offered, as opposed to the inner, golden altar, upon which the incense was offered) are fire-pans (Sh’mos 27:3). Rashi tells us that the fire pans “had a receptacle in order to take [burning] coals from the [outer] altar to… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to this morning’s JM in the AM to discuss the Torah Portion of the Week. This week Rabbi Yudin focused on Parshas Mishpatim.   Click the Picture to check out Rabbi Yudin’s new book on the Torah portions entitled: “Rabbi… Read more

    “And I (G-d) will send the hornet before you, and it will drive out the Chivi and the C’naani and the Chiti from before you” (Sh’mos 23:28). There are three times in Tanach where the hornet (as opposed to bees) are mentioned, and all three are regarding the conquest of the Promised Land.… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to this morning’s JM in the AM to discuss the Torah Portion of the Week. This week Rabbi Yudin focused on Parshas Yisro.   Click the Picture to check out Rabbi Yudin’s new book on the Torah portions entitled: “Rabbi… Read more

    “And Yisro heard…” “What did he hear that motivated him to come? The splitting of the sea and the war with Amalek.” (Rashi, Sh’mos 18:1) This comment is based on several sources, including the M’chilta, the Babylonian Talmud (Z’vachim 116a) and the Jerusalem Talmud (M’gila 1:11), with one major omission: each of these… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to this morning’s JM in the AM to discuss the Torah Portion of the Week. This week Rabbi Yudin focused on Parshas Beshalach.   Click the Picture to check out Rabbi Yudin’s new book on the Torah portions entitled: “Rabbi… Read more

    “What is this crying out to Me; speak to the Children of Israel and [tell them to] travel” (Sh’mos 14:15). The nation was trapped between the Sea of Reeds and the Egyptians, with no place to go. It certainly seems as if this would be an ideal time to beseech G-d for help! After all,… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to this morning’s JM in the AM to discuss the Torah Portion of the Week. This week Rabbi Yudin focused on Parshas Bo.   Click the Picture to check out Rabbi Yudin’s new book on the Torah portions entitled: “Rabbi… Read more

    One of the issues discussed regarding the exodus from Egypt contrasts the original request made of Pharaoh -- to let the Jewish people go on a three-day journey to bring offerings to G-d (Sh’mos 5:3), with what they actually did -- leaving and never returning. As Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky z"l asks (3:18), since… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to this morning’s JM in the AM to discuss the Torah Portion of the Week. This week Rabbi Yudin focused on Parshas Vaera.   Click the Picture to check out Rabbi Yudin’s new book on the Torah portions entitled: “Rabbi… Read more

    “And G-d spoke to Moshe and to Aharon, and He commanded them regarding the Children of Israel and regarding Pharaoh the king of Egypt, to take the Children of Israel out of the land of Egypt” (Sh’mos 6:13). Although Rashi quotes a Midrashic approach to explain this verse (that G-d told Moshe and… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to this morning’s JM in the AM to discuss the Torah Portion of the Week. This week Rabbi Yudin focused on Parshas Shemos.   Click the Picture to check out Rabbi Yudin’s new book on the Torah portions entitled: “Rabbi… Read more

    “And these are the names of the children of Israel, those coming to Egypt, with Yaakov, each man came with his household” (Sh’mos 1:1). The Baal HaTurim points out that the first and last Hebrew letters of the words “Israel, those coming” spell out the Hebrew word for “circumcision,” and that the last… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to this morning’s JM in the AM to discuss the Torah Portion of the Week. This week Rabbi Yudin focused on Parshas Vayechi.   Click the Picture to check out Rabbi Yudin’s new book on the Torah portions entitled: “Rabbi… Read more

    “And Yosef said to them, ‘do not be afraid, for am I in G-d’s place? [Although] you had bad intentions regarding [what you did] to me, G-d intended it to be good, in order to bring about the current situation, to keep a large nation alive” (B’reishis 50:19-20). After Yaakov died, his sons… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in live from Ramat Bet Shemesh in The State of Israel to this morning’s JM in the AM to discuss the Torah Portion of the Week. This week Rabbi Yudin focused on Parshas Vayigash.   Click the Picture to check out… Read more

    “And G-d said to Israel in a night vision, ‘do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will turn you into a great nation there; I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up, and Yosef will place his hand on your eyes” (B’reishis… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to this morning’s JM in the AM to discuss the Torah Portion of the Week. This week Rabbi Yudin focused on Shabbos Chanukah and Parshas Mikeitz elaborating on several of the laws and customs of the day and the connection… Read more

    The Rambam (Hilchos M’gila v’Chanukah 3:1) summarizes the history of Chanukah: “During the Second Temple, when the Greeks ruled, they made decrees against Israel (the nation) to undermine their religion, and didn’t allow them to be involved with Torah or Mitzvos and took control of their money and their daughters, and entered the… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to this morning’s JM in the AM to discuss the Torah Portion of the Week. This week Rabbi Yudin focused on the Holiday of Chanukah and Parshas Vayeshev elaborating on several of the laws and customs of the Holiday and… Read more

    “And Yaakov settled in the land of his father’s sojourning, in the Land of Canaan” (B’reishis 37:1). The commentators (e.g. Ramban, Radak and Chizkuni) discuss why the area is described using both terms (“where his father sojourned” and “Canaan”). The Midrash (B’reishis Rabbah 84:4), based on the letters for the word “sojourn” being… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to this morning’s JM in the AM to discuss the Torah Portion of the Week. This week Rabbi Yudin focused on Parshas Vayishlach elaborating on the connection between the "gid hanashe" (sciatic nerve)  and Tisha B'Av.   Click the Picture… Read more

    Before returning to Canaan, Yaakov sent a massive gift to his brother Eisav, hoping to make amends for having “stolen” Yitzchok’s blessing decades earlier (B’reishis 32:14-21). Initially, Eisav declined (33:9), but Yaakov persisted, asking Eisav to “take my present from my hand” (33:10) followed by asking him to “take now my blessing that… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to this morning’s JM in the AM to discuss the Torah Portion of the Week. This week Rabbi Yudin focused on Parshas Vayeitzei elaborating on the importance of being someone who is forgiving and someone who can let go of the… Read more

    “And Yaakov left from B’er Sheva and he went to Charan” (B’reishis 28:10). Even though we were already told -- twice -- that Yaakov left for Charan (28:5 and 28:7), Rashi tells us that when the Torah resumes Yaakov’s narrative after it was interrupted by Eisav’s marriage (28:9), it resets the scene by… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to this morning’s JM in the AM to discuss the Torah Portion of the Week. This week Rabbi Yudin focused on Parshas Toldos, elaborating on the connection between events in the parsha and current events. Rabbi Yudin explained how we… Read more

    “And [Yitzchok] said [to Eisav], ‘who, then, hunted game and brought it to me, and I ate from everything before you came, and I blessed him?” (B’reishis 27:33). After Yaakov brought food to Yitchok and received his blessing, Eisav showed up with the food he had hunted/prepared, expecting to be the one Yitzchok… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to this morning’s JM in the AM to discuss the Torah Portion of the Week. This week Rabbi Yudin focused on Parshas Chayei Sarah, elaborating on the importance of seeing the "Hand of the Almighty" in everything that happens.  … Read more

“And Yitzchok lived with B’er Lachai Ro’ee” (B’reishis 25:11). B’er Lachai Ro’ee is mentioned three times in Tanach, all three in Sefer B’reishis. Although it is mostly associated with Hagar, who, after fleeing from Sara, saw (and received divine communication from) G-d’s angel(s) there and gave it its name (16:13-14), two of the three times… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to this morning’s JM in the AM to discuss the Torah Portion of the Week. This week Rabbi Yudin focused on Parshas Vayera, elaborating on the importance of cultivating a sense of pride in our performance of mitzvos and in… Read more

    “What is the difference between the prophesy of Moshe and that of all other prophets? All of the prophets [had their prophecies either] in a dream or a vision, while Moshe was awake and standing” (Rambam, Laws of the Foundations of the Torah 7:6). Or, as others put it, only Moshe was able… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to this morning’s JM in the AM to discuss the Torah Portion of the Week. This week Rabbi Yudin focused on Parshas Lech Lecha, elaborating on the importance of going beyond our routine or comfort zone, even just a little,… Read more

    “And Avram was 75 years old when he left Charan” (B’reishis 12:4). Since he was 100 when Yitzchok was born (21:5), the move to Canaan from Charan must have happened 25 years earlier. However, when explaining how the verse (Sh’mos 12:40) could say the Children of Israel were in Egypt for 430 years,… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to this morning’s JM in the AM to discuss the Torah Portion of the Week. This week Rabbi Yudin focused on Parshas Noach, elaborating on the importance of focusing on the positive aspects of our fellow man, rather than their… Read more

 “Cursed is Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers” (B’reishis 9:25). Why was Canaan cursed if it was his father, Cham, who had acted inappropriately (9:22)? B’reishis Rabbah (36:7) quotes several approaches that address this issue. Rabbi Yehudah says that Noach would have cursed Cham, since he was the one who… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to this morning’s JM in the AM to discuss the Holidays of Hoshanah Rabbah, Shemini Atzeret, Simchat Torah and the parsha of Bereishis elaborating on the various laws and customs of the Holidays.   Click the Picture to check out Rabbi… Read more

    “This is the land about which I (G-d) made an oath to Avraham, Yitzchok and Yaakov, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants’” (D’varim 34:4). The Talmud (B’rachos 18b-19a), apparently trying to explain why the word “saying” is needed, tells us that G-d was asking Moshe to tell our forefathers that He… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to this morning’s JM in the AM to discuss the Holiday of Succot elaborating on the various laws and customs of the Holiday including building the succah, taking the arba minim/4 species, eating/sleeping/spending time in the succah and more.   Click… Read more

    The Talmud (P’sachim 71a, Succah 48a) tells us that even though the Torah tells us (D’varim 16:14-15) that on Succos we should rejoice for seven days, we are also supposed to rejoice on the night of the eighth day (the night after the seventh day ends, when Sh’mini Atzeres starts). This is learned… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to this morning’s JM in the AM to discuss the Holiday of Yom Kippur elaborating on the various laws and customs of the Holiday including fasting, prayer, and proper perspective of the day. We wish everyone an easy, meaningful fast and Yom… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to this morning’s JM in the AM to discuss the Holiday of Rosh Hashanah and Shabbos Shuva. Rabbi Yudin elaborated on the various laws and customs of the Holiday including eruv tavshilin, blowing the shofar, the special prayers and more.… Read more

(This is a piece that I first wrote 11 years ago. I re-edited this year since it is not currently available on any online archive. There is a strong "pircha," question, on my premise, based on the continuation of the Talmud. I hope to address this issue next week, but if you can figure out… Read more

As we approach the final Shabbat of 5774, Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to this morning’s JM in the AM to deliver his weekly Torah address. This week Rabbi Yudin discussed parshas Nitzavim-Vayelech.   Click the Picture to check out Rabbi Yudin’s new book on… Read more

    “And Moshe went” (D’varim 31:1). Where did he go? The verse continues, “and he spoke these words to all of Israel,” leading Ibn Ezra to say, “he went to each and every Tribe” to give them words of encouragement and/or to bless them. However, Ba’al HaTurim connects these words with the words of… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to this morning’s JM in the AM to deliver his weekly Torah address. This week Rabbi Yudin discussed parshas Ki Savo focusing on the mitzvah of bikurim, a farmer bringing his first fruits to the Kohen in the Beit Hamikdash. Rabbi Yudin explained… Read more

    “You have declared today regarding Hashem, that He shall be your G-d, and that you shall follow in His ways, and that you will keep His statutes and His commandments and His laws, and that you will listen to His voice. And Hashem has declared about you today that you will be a… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in live from Israel to this morning’s JM in the AM to deliver his weekly Torah address. This week Rabbi Yudin discussed parshas Ki Teitzei focusing on the first mitzvah listed in the parshah concerning female captives of war. Rabbi Yudin used the… Read more

    “No Amonite or Moavite may enter the congregation of G-d” because “they did not offer you bread and water, on the road when you left Egypt” (D’varim 23:4-5). In “Iyun HaParasha” (#13), the expression “on the road when you left Egypt” is questioned, since this slight on the part of Amon and Moav… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in live from Israel to this morning’s JM in the AM to deliver his weekly Torah address. This week Rabbi Yudin discussed parshas Shoftim elaborating on the purpose and significance of the "rabbinic commandments."   Click the Picture to check out Rabbi… Read more

    “And do not erect for yourself a monument, which Hashem your G-d despises” (D’varim 16:22). “And even though it was beloved to Him in the days of the Patriarchs, now it is hated, being that [the Canaanites] made it into a standard for idol worship” (Rashi, ibid). Because things had changed over time,… Read more