Shkoyach, Reb Noach
Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow When someone does you a favor, a possible response is “Shkoyach.” “Can you please pass the gefilte fish?” “Sure.” “Shkoyach.” What does shkoyach mean? Although it is obviously not a real word, the closest actual definition based on spelling might be “forget it.” So a conversation might go something like this: “I […]
Leave the Rest To Hashem
Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow The Mishna in Yevamos (49a) tells of a mysterious scroll found in Yerushalayim. The Gemara proceeds to enumerate the contents of the parchment. It is not immediately clear what the common thread is to all the facts listed on the scroll. However, one surprising fact mentioned in it sheds light on a […]
Yibum and Tzitzis
Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow Daf Yomi recently began learning Masechta Yevamos. The Zohar in Parshas Ki Seitzei discusses the paucity of Torah that will exist in the times of Moshiach. The Zohar refers to someone who mastered Shas as an “ani,” a pauper. Ani is spelled “Ayin-Nun-Yud.” The Zohar explains that this word is an acronym […]
The Great Tefillin Divide
Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow Rabbi Yisroel Besser once wrote about his experience standing on the other side of the mechitza. He was attending his daughter’s graduation, and the primary event was for mothers only. While standing on tippy toes, he was able to get glances of the happenings. Depending on what their minhag is and the […]
The Demise of Haman and His Sons
Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow Haman and his sons made a cameo appearance in Tosfos this week. In fact, in various places in Shas, Tosfos makes cryptic references to Targum that discusses how Haman’s sons were hanged. However, in Chagiga (11b), Tosfos is somewhat more verbose. The issue that Tosfos discusses is what is the average height […]
Who is Obligated?
Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow The very first Mishna in Chagigah discusses those who are obligated to make the thrice-yearly pilgrimage to the Beis Hamikdash. The Mishna clearly states that the rule is that everyone is obligated except those specifically listed. Tosfos comments that the rule is that one cannot follow every rule. Tosfos notes that the […]
A Halacha That’s Clear-Cut
Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow In the eighth volume of the Igros Moshe, there is a fascinating teshuvah written to Rav Efraim Greenblatt, zt”l. This teshuvah, which is the 20th one in the sefer, comprises many varied and disparate topics. The teshuvah begins with a discussion of folding one’s tallis on Shabbos and then moves on to […]
A Drive-Thru Eiruv
Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow Can you find the fallacy in the following story? The Katzenstein family follows all the stringencies of the Chazon Ish. Mr. Katzenstein asks his son Yossele, “Please go to the store and buy some bread; make sure it is pas Yisrael. We also need some chalav Yisrael milk. I just remembered we […]
