By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
Summer is rapidly approaching. It is a time when people seek to tune out from the regular daily rigors of life and chill instead. This week, some people pack their belongings into boxes and suitcases, trekking out to cooler, calmer zones for the next two months. They spend more time shmoozing, connecting with their friends, and toning everything down a few notches. Grilling, swimming, bike riding and peaceful walks occupy the day. Nirvana has arrived. All concerns have dissipated. Worries have dissolved.

By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld

Listen to a unique take on what happened in the story of the Meraglim.
Why was it such a big deal?
Why did an entire generation needed to die out in the desert?
Click here to listen now

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
The news this week that Rav Michel Yehudah Lefkowitz’s house was demolished saddened me, as it brought a rush of memories. I remember the first time I saw him. Rav Eliezer Sorotzkin of Lev L’Achim brought me to his home. But before we entered, Rabbi Sorotzkin showed me a small window and suggested that I look inside before entering. It was good advice. Peering through that side window into his room was like looking back in time into the room of a Litvishe rov in a small shtetel.

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
Parshas Shelach opens with the tragic episode of the meraglim sent to investigate Eretz Yisroel. The mission, which was led by twelve great leaders, ended in disaster, with ten of the twelve reporting to the people that they were facing insurmountable difficulties and that it would be impossible for them to enter Eretz Yisroel. Feeling that they were doomed, the people were disconsolate and became angry at Hashem, Moshe and Aharon (Bamidbar 14:1-3) for leading them into a quagmire that would lead to their death. “Had we remained in Mitzrayim,” they cried, “we would have been better off” (ibid. 4).

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
This week, the Torah world celebrated a historic milestone. At a time when everything that happens in our world is described with the adjective “historic,” on Sunday night we witnessed and participated in a historic manifestation of the greatness, vitality and permanence of Am Yisroel.
Twenty-five thousand may not sound like a lot to the younger people of our society, but to those who lived through the Holocaust, or were born in DP camps after the war, or grew up in America during and following the war years, 25,000 bnei Torah gathering to honor the study of Torah is nothing short of phenomenal.

Dear Editor@Matzav,
I saw your stories and pictures and videos from the Adirei HaTorah and really enjoyed them all.
However, I feel compelled to share the following:
I’m a plain stupid Joe. I work at my job from 9 to 5. I’m off on Sundays and legal holidays and I have to negotiate and trade for Chol Hamoed days. They’re pretty gracious about Yom Tov, but Erev Yom Tov is a full work day.
I get up at 5 each morning, learn from 5:30 till 7, at which time Shacharis begins. I’m at the office at 9:00.

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
As I write this, I am sitting on an airplane, flying to Eretz Yisroel to spend the Yom Tov of Matan Torah in Tzion: “ki mitzion teitzei Torah.”
It is now 1:30 a.m. and the end of a long day. I was tired until I got on the plane and began to silently thank Hakadosh Boruch Hu for enabling me to make this trip. My great-grandfather and his family in Lita were left with very little after the First World War, writing letters to people he knew, literally begging them to help him get to Eretz Yisroel. It never happened. He remained in Lita, dreaming of the day.

Dear Editor@Matzav.com,
I write this letter with utmost frustration and disappointment regarding a matter that has deeply troubled me. It pertains to the abhorrent lack of food on Shavuos night at certain shuls.
Devoted individuals stay up all night to engage in Torah study, yet they are left starving, with barely any food served in their shuls. Come on. Would it kill to give some refreshments?
Recent failures in adequately providing food on this important night have left me with a bitter taste in my mouth.

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
My dear friend, Rav Lipa Yisraelson, recently published the latest volume in his Siach Ish series of seforim on Yomim Tovim. They contain halachos, hanhagos and stories from his grandfather, Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, and uncle, Rav Chaim Kanievsky; and are presented in a compact, easy to read fashion.
The newest volume is on the Yom Tov of Shavuos, which is upon us. Rav Elyashiv was known not to be a fan of segulos, but in the new sefer, I read about the one segulah that Rav Elyashiv actively publicized and brought to the attention of many people.