Mazal Tov to Rabbi Benjamin Yudin on the release of his new book "Rabbi Benjamin Yudin on the Parsha - Tomorrow We Have the Privilege." Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to JM in the AM to deliver his weekly Torah address. Rabbi Yudin discussed this… Read more

“Life and death I have put before you, the blessing and the curse; and you shall choose life, in order that you and your descendents shall live” (D’varim 30:19). The ability to choose between “life and death,” between right and wrong (or, more precisely, between long-term benefit and short-term benefit) is one of the cornerstones… Read more

“Today I have told Hashem, your G-d, that I have come to the land that G-d has sworn to our forefathers would be given to us” (D’varim 26:3). These are the first words spoken by one who brings his “bikurim” (first fruits) to the Temple in Jerusalem (Rambam, Laws of Bikurim 3:10). Or are they?… Read more

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

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to JM in the AM to deliver his weekly Torah address. Rabbi Yudin discussed this week’s Torah portion of Ki Seitzei elaborating on the importance of having hakoras hatov, being grateful. Rabbi Yudin also explored how the lessons of the… Read more

  “When you build a new house, you shall make a protective structure for your roof, so that you shall not put blood in your house when the one who falls from it falls. Do not plant different species [together]” (D’varim 22:8-9). Rashi (22:8) tells us that the series of commandments within which these are… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to JM in the AM to deliver his weekly Torah address. Rabbi Yudin discussed this week’s Torah portion of Shoftim elaborating on the concept of "shoftim & shotrim" (judges and officers) that are needed on both a communal and personal… Read more

“You shall place over yourself a king” (D’varim 17:15). Our sages tell us (Sifre 157, see also Sanhedrin 20b) that this is one of the 613 Biblical commandments; Rambam lists it as positive commandment #173 and the Chinuch lists it as commandment #499. Yet, when the nation requests a king, (Sh’muel I 8:5), which would… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to JM in the AM to deliver his weekly Torah address. Rabbi Yudin discussed this week’s Torah portion of Re'eh elaborating on the commandment of giving tzedakah, charity. Rabbi Yudin emphasized the importance of "opening our clenched hands" to help… Read more

This week’s Parasha ends with a short review of the biblical holidays. However, there are five biblical holidays, and only three are discussed here; Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are not mentioned at all. Additionally, Sh’mini Atzeres is not included with Succos (putting aside whether it is considered a holiday in its own right, which… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to JM in the AM to deliver his weekly Torah address. Rabbi Yudin discussed this week’s Torah portion of Eikev elaborating on the commandment of birkat hamazon, the series of blessings after a meal with bread. Rabbi Yudin emphasized the… Read more

   “And I prostrated myself before G-d like the first time, forty days and forty nights” (D’varim 9:18). Based on Moshe telling the nation how long he had begged G-d not to destroy them despite their having worshipped the golden calf (see 9:26), Rashi reconstructs the timeline of Moshe’s primary stays atop Mt. Sinai. Included… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in to JM in the AM to deliver his weekly Torah address. Rabbi Yudin discussed this week’s Torah portion of V'eschanan, as well as Shabbos Nachamu elaborating on the love that Hashem has for the Jewish people and the verses in… Read more

“You (Moshe, said in the masculine) go close and hear all that Hashem our G-d says, and you (Moshe, said in the feminine) shall tell us all that Hashem our G-d tells you, and we will hear and we will do” (D’varim 5:24). This verse, with Moshe paraphrasing what the nation had said to him… 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.  Nachum began with lectures from Rabbi Wein's Jewish Values series, continued with Rabbi Wein's Lost Communities series, the 3… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in live from Jerusalem to JM in the AM to deliver his weekly Torah address. Rabbi Yudin discussed this week’s Torah portion of Devarim , as well as Shabbos Chazon and the upcoming Tisha B'Av observance. Rabbi Yudin elaborated on the… Read more

“Eleven days from Chorev, by way of Mt. Seyir, until Kadesh Barneya” (D’varim 1:2). Although maps of the area vary greatly, the general consensus is that Kadesh Barneya, one of the markers for the southern border of the Promised Land (Bamidbar 34:4), is somewhere in the middle between the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean Sea… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in live from the Holy Land to JM in the AM to deliver his weekly Torah address. Rabbi Yudin discussed this week's double Torah portion reading of Mattos & Masei, as well as the upcoming observance of the 9 Days which… Read more

After describing (at length) the division of the spoils from the war against Midyan (Bamidbar 31:25-54), the Torah tells us of the request made by the Tribes of Gad and R’uvein, when they asked to receive the territory on the eastern side of the Jordan River as their “inheritance.” With no apparent reason to assume… Read more

Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, called in live from the Holy Land to JM in the AM to deliver his weekly Torah address. Rabbi Yudin discussed Parshas Pinchas elaborating on the conversation between Hashem and Moshe regarding Moshe's successor. Rabbi Yudin emphasized a key aspect of good… Read more

“Our father died in the desert, and he was not part of the assembly who gathered against G-d in the congregation of Korach” (Bamidbar 27:3). As a prelude to their request for their father’s inheritance, the daughters of Tzelafchad told Moshe and the other leaders that their father had not been part of Korach’s rebellion.… 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. Rabbi Yudin discussed Parshas Balak elaborating on the importance of proper boundaries. Rabbi Yudin explained how even love can turn into something damaging if it is not… Read more

   “How good are your tents, Yaakov” (Bamidbar 24:5). Why did Bilam praise the “tents” of the Children of Israel? “Because he saw their doorways, which did not face each other” (Rashi, based on Bava Basra 60a). This is hinted at when the Torah introduces Bilam’s prophecy by telling us that “he saw Israel dwelling… 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. Rabbi Yudin discussed Parshas Chukas elaborating on the para adumah (the red heifer) and the passing of Aharon HaKohen. Rabbi Yudin focused on the fact that Aharon… Read more

Much has been written to try to explain/understand what Moshe and Aharon did to warrant the severe consequences of not being allowed to enter the Promised Land (20:12). My previous contributions to the discussion can be found at http://www.aishdas.org/ta/5764/chukas.pdf (page 4), http://www.aishdas.org/ta/5768/chukas.pdf(page 2) and  http://rabbidmk.wordpress.com/2010/06/17/parashas-chukas-5770/; by taking a closer look at how Rashi either understood… 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. Rabbi Yudin discussed Parshas Korach elaborating on the conflict brought upon Moshe by Korach and his assembly. Rabbi Yudin emphasized the importance of realizing and appreciating our… Read more

  The rebellion had been quelled. The rebels were swallowed up alive by a giant sinkhole formed just for this purpose (Bamidbar 16:31-33). The political leaders who insisted on being religious leaders too were burnt by a fire sent by G-d to devour them (16:35). Many who had supported the rebellion perished in a plague… Read more

The second to last thing described in this week’s Parasha is the “m’koshaish,” the individual who did a prohibited activity on Shabbos. Rashi, based on the Sifre, says that this incident was a disgrace for the nation, as they only kept the first Shabbos, the second being desecrated by the “m’koshaish.” Since the laws 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. Rabbi Yudin discussed Parshas Beha'aloscha elaborating on the end of the parsha, the incident involving Miriam, Aharon, and Lashon Hara.  Rabbi Yudin emphasized the importance of honest… Read more

“And the Children of Israel traveled” (Bamidbar 10:12). The procedure for breaking camp and starting to travel is described at length, including the order in which each Degel (set of three Tribes) started to move and when the Levi’im, who were responsible for transporting the Mishkan, did so as well. The following is a summary… 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. Rabbi Yudin discussed Parshas Naso elaborating on the priestly blessings that are elucidated in the verses. Rabbi Yudin emphasized the inherent aspect of faithfulness in the performance… Read more

One of the key moments in M’gilas Rus is the conversation between Boaz the unnamed relative of Elimelech’s (Rus 4:1-6). Although originally this relative agreed to “redeem” the field that had been Elimelech’s and was sold by his widow Nu’umi, after being told that doing so included marrying Rus, he backed out. However, it is… 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. Rabbi Yudin discussed the Holiday of Shavuos elaborating on its various laws and customs. Rabbi Yudin emphasized the importance of making the experience at Sinai a relevant… 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. Rabbi Yudin discussed Parshas Bamidbar elaborating on the connection between the parsha and the upcoming Holiday of Shavuos which will be taking place the coming Tuesday night… Read more

After completing the census (Bamidbar 1:44-46) and delineating the role of the Levi’im (1:48-53), the arrangement of the “D’galim,” the four sets of three tribes and how they camped, is described (2:1-31). A straightforward reading of the text indicates that this was where the D’galim were set up--after the census, which took place in 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 deliver his weekly Torah address. Rabbi Yudin discussed Parshas Behar & Bechukosai  elaborating on the laws of Shemittah (the Sabbatical year for the land every 7 years), as well as the significance… Read more

After detailing the horrible things that will happen if we don’t keep G-d’s laws, we are reassured that things will never reach a point of no return. “And they will confess their sins and the sins of their fathers, regarding the disloyalty they showed me, and even for having acted with me contrarily (or with… 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. Rabbi Yudin discussed Parshas Emor, as well as our counting the Omer, in anticipation of Lag BaOmer (33rd day in the counting of the Omer) coming up… Read more

   “One who curses the name of G-d shall be put to death; the entire congregation shall stone him. Whether a stranger or a native, when he curses [G-d’s] name he shall die.” This law (Vayikra 24:16) was taught to Moshe after a member of the Children of Israel blasphemed (24:11), clarifying what should be… 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. Rabbi Yudin discussed Parshas Tazria and Metzorah elaborating on the spiritual ailment of tzora'as  and how it demonstrates the unique relationship between God and the Jewish people.… 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. Rabbi Yudin discussed Parshas Shemini elaborating on the concept of kosher and our dietary laws. Rabbi Yudin also related a  powerful story from the Holocaust in honor… Read more

“And Moshe called to Misha’el and to Eltzafan, the sons of Uzi’el the uncle of Aharon, and he said to them, ‘go closer and carry your brothers (i.e. your relatives, referring to Nadav and Avihu, their cousin’s sons, who had just died when they brought a strange fire before G-d) from before the face of… Read more

Nachum Segal welcomed Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, to this morning’s JM in the AM to discuss Shabbos Chol Hamoed. Rabbi Yudin elaborated on the unique nature of tonight's Shabbos prayers, as well as tomorrow's Torah portion reading. Rabbi Yudin spoke at length about the portion of… Read more

Although the Torah calls it “Chag HaMatzos,” highlighting the mitzvah to eat matzah (and nothing leavened) for the entire holiday (seven days; eight where historically it wasn’t always known on which day it started), the holiday is more commonly referred to as “Pesach,” or Passover. One of the sweet ideas we are taught as young… Read more

Nachum Segal welcomed Rabbi Benjamin Yudin, spiritual leader of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Fairlawn, New Jersey, to this morning’s JM in the AM to deliver his annual Pre-Pesach address. Rabbi Yudin discussed several of the laws and customs of today, Erev Pesach, and then went on to the Pesach Holiday, elaborating on the Pesach Seder,… 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. Rabbi Yudin discussed Shabbos Hagadol elaborating on the reasons why this Shabbos was named Shabbos Hagadol, and its relationship to the upcoming Holiday of Pesach. Rabbi Yudin… Read more

One of the main focuses of the Pesach Seder is the transmission of our traditions to the next generation. As such, one of the prominent parts of the Haggada (i.e. the actual words we read) is the question and answer section featuring the four sons. They are usually described as the wise son, the wicked… 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. Rabbi Yudin discussed parshiyos Vayikra, elaborating on the unique mitzvah that comes to us in the month of Nissan (or early Iyar), the annual blessing on blooming… Read more

There are many karbanos (offerings) described in our Parasha, but only two nouns used to describe the person bringing these offerings. One who brings an animal offering that is not obligatory (or mandated), but brings it out of a desire to do so, is called “uh-dum,” a human (Vayikra 1:2). Pronouns are then used until… 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. Rabbi Yudin discussed parshiyos Vayakhel, Pekudei, and Parshas HaChodesh elaborating on the significance of the Jewish people's role in "controlling time" with the commandment of bearing witness… Read more

    “And [Moshe] placed the Testimony into the ark” (Sh’mos 40:20). Rashi tells us that “the Testimony” refers to the Luchos, the stone tablets into which G-d had carved the text of the Ten Commandments. However, when G-d commanded Moshe to build the ark and instructed him to put “the Testimony that I will give… Read more

“And he (Moshe) saw the [golden] calf and [the] dances, and Moshe’s anger raged and he threw the tablets from his hands and he broke them at the bottom of (lit. under) the mountain” (Sh’mos 32:19). There is much discussion about why Moshe broke the Luchos, the tablets into which G-d carved the words 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 deliver his weekly Torah address. Rabbi Yudin discussed parshiyos Parah and Ki Sisa elaborating on the Parah Adumah (red heifer) and the need to be pure for the upcoming Holiday of Pesach… Read more

After first listing the items that G-d asked the Children of Israel to donate (Sh’mos 25:3-7), the Torah then tells us what these donations will go towards: “And you shall make for Me a sanctuary, and I will dwell amongst you” (25:8). This is the case not only when G-d commands Moshe about the Mishkan,… Read more

02/08/2013 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. Rabbi Yudin discussed parshiyos Mishpatim and Shekalim elaborating on the special nature of this Shabbos and its relationship with the upcoming Holiday of Purim. Rabbi Yudin… Read more

02/08/2013 “And Moshe came, and he told over to the nation all of G-d’s words” (Sh’mos 24:3). It is quite difficult to keep track of the conversations between G-d and Moshe and between Moshe and the nation just prior to the public revelation at Mt. Sinai without a scorecard (see http://ohr.edu/991 and http://www.virtualjerusalem.com/holidays/shavuot/chronology.htm). For example,… Read more

02/01/2013 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. Rabbi Yudin discussed parshas Yisro elaborating on chapter 18, the coming of Yisro to join the Jewish people, and why that is presented in this proximity… 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. Rabbi Yudin discussed parshas Yisro elaborating on chapter 18, the coming of Yisro to join the Jewish people, and why that is presented in this proximity to… Read more