By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
Yom Tov provides an idyllic break from the ups and downs of life. Each day of the yemei chol is a battle between our yeitzer tov and yeitzer hora. Throughout the day, we endeavor to do what is right, to follow the path of Hashem, seeking to rise and better ourselves, while pushing back on thoughts and actions that veer us from the correct path and lower us.
Every day, we work to be good and do good to ourselves and to those around us. Hashem put us here to daven, learn Torah, perform mitzvos, help others, and contribute to the betterment of our world. Life is a daily contest between doing what we know is right and trying to do enough to get by.

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
The essence of the Haggadah and Pesach is the relationship between father and son and the obligation for a father to transmit to his son the story of the geulah from Mitzrayim. The Torah and Chazal prescribe different ways to speak to different children and lay out the format for the Seder evening conversation.
Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein related the following story.

By John Nolte, Breitbart
A troubling new study backs up what has become obvious since the November presidential election: the political left is seeking to normalize and use violence to achieve its fascist political goals.
This is also known as terrorism.
The Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) recently issued a new report which “found that a growing number of people are willing to justify and even applaud killing in the name of politics and a warped sense of social justice,” per Fox News. “The chilling change appears to have accelerated in recent months.”

By Rabbi Moshe Dov Heber
Menachem Chaifetz was a bochur in Yeshivas Chaim Berlin in the 1990s. When he became engaged to the daughter of Rav Avrohom Turin zt”l, the esteemed Mashgiach of Scranton Yeshiva, it was a joyous occasion for both families.
Menachem eagerly anticipated his first Pesach in his father-in-law’s home. The thought of spending Yom Tov in such a distinguished Torah environment filled him with excitement. The home of Rav Turin was known for its warmth, depth of Torah, and unwavering commitment to mesorah.
Erev Pesach arrived, and as the house bustled with final preparations, Rav Turin called Menachem aside.

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
I am writing this on Rosh Chodesh Nissan, grateful to have arrived at the month of geulah—both for the past and, hopefully, for the present as well.
Just as the month was about to begin, Klal Yisroel suffered a devastating tragedy, losing a mother and her two precious children on Shabbos afternoon. At their levayah on Sunday, there was an overwhelming outpouring of grief.

By Avrohom Birnbaum
No, this article is not about the new affinity for electric cars that seems to have taken hold in the frum community. Everywhere you go, you see frum Yidden driving electric cars, Telsas or otherwise. In truth, this has nothing to do with Elon Musk nor does it indicate any new “green” environmentalism that has gripped us. It is pure economics. If the government wants to basically give away electric cars for half price, it is worth it.
Exhibit 1: Burn the Teslas

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
This year’s Purim was different from most years. We had the rare occurrence of celebrating the special day on a Friday, with the specter of Shabbos hanging over us. Everything we did on Purim day was rushed because we knew Shabbos was coming. We had our usual stops – the people we visit every year to bring mishloach manos and to make a lechaim with – but this year, we had to cross some of them off the list. There was so much to do, and we wanted to get the seudah started before chatzos as well. We had to end the festivities early, quickly clean up, and restore the house because Shabbos was approaching, and we couldn’t afford to be late.

By Rabbi Moshe Dov Heber
In the eighth perek of Megillas Esther, the passuk tells us that Haman’s estate was given to Esther and Mordechai. The Satmar Rebbe explains that had Mordechai been provided with the resources—materials, money, and skilled professionals—to build a home, he would have constructed a simple dwelling, as the righteous are content with less and have no desire for extravagance. However, Hashem orchestrated that Mordechai receive Haman’s grand and elaborate home.
Imagine asking the workers building a house who they were building it for. Of course, they would answer, “Haman!” But it was really Hashem orchestrating everything behind the scenes. Now, picture if the workers would have shown up each day if the house was being built for Mordechai!

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
People wonder how we can celebrate Purim with true joy while a war is going on in Eretz Yisroel. People ask us how we can sing when Jews are being held hostage in terrible conditions, barely hanging on to life. How can we smile when Jews are being chased around the world and anti-Semitism is on the rise? How can you dance, they ask us, when people can’t make ends meet, when children can’t get into a school of their choice, when children are falling through the cracks? How can you be enveloped by joy when so many people are lacking, confused, lost, and disillusioned? How can we be happy when there is so much strife?

Dear Matzav Inbox,
Each year, as Purim approaches, we eagerly anticipate the sacred and joyous mitzvah of hearing the Megillah. It is a time to celebrate and relive the miracle of our ancestors’ deliverance from the evil hand of Haman. But, unfortunately, a growing trend threatens to overshadow this special occasion. As a parent and a member of our Yeshiva community, I feel it must be addressed before it becomes even more pervasive: the incessant noise during the Megillah laining.