Torah Devarim News Today

At first glance, Tu B’Shevat, the Rosh Hashanah for fruit trees, [1] seems to be of mere technical significance, the calendar marker for a new cycle of fruit. [2] Surprisingly, though, we treat Tu B’Shevat as a minor holiday on which we skip tachanun [3] and avoid fasting [4]. What are we celebrating on Tu […]

From the blog of Dovid Vigler at The Times of Israel

Ari and Ari retrace our forefathers' journey to Egypt

The Rant A talmid shared a disturbing report of a history professor’s bizarre behavior.

  Shemitat Kesafim Last week we noted that many misunderstand Shemitat Kesafim as the cancellation of loans at the end of the shemitah year.

Shemitat Kesafim seems utterly irrational.

From the blog of Kenny Schiowitz at The Times of Israel

Ashkenazic Approach Many Ashkenazic yeshiva students wear their tzitzit out, in line with the Mishna Berura’s (8:26) powerful exhortation to do so.

In Tribute to Rav Moshe Kupetz ztz”l I once heard the venerated rosh yeshivah of Gateshead, Rav Avrohom Gurwicz, recount at a hesped that in ancient times it was tradition to lay the niftar’s book and key on the coffin. For Rav Moshe Kupetz, who passed away this past Sunday, 8 Adar, that book would have been the Torah he taught to a wide assortment of Jews in Manchester and beyond, and the key would have been the one to unlock hearts of all ages. He was a pivotal resource for so many Jewish...