By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5TJT.com The year was 1984, and the place was Beis Midrash Gavoah in Lakewood, New Jersey.  A special day of Tefilah was established for Iosef Berenshtein, a prisoner of Soviet Russia and on trial.  His crime?  He taught Torah to children in Kiev, Russia. The Mashgiach of BMG, Rav Nosson Wachtfogel zt”l, spoke.  What he said then, can shed enormous insight into our current situation now – facing the COVID-10 virus.  These were his words: “We must know that we are davening here on behalf of a Jew who was moser nefesh for Torah – for chinuch.  His entire trial that he faces is on account of the fact that he taught Torah to children. Yisro left all the honors of the world and came to learn Torah.

This Torah article is dedicated in memory of Elisheva Kaplan a”h and Yisroel Levin z”l, whose second Yartzeit is tonight. Miss Kaplan was the author’s student. (By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times) There is a minhag in many families of Klal Yisroel to avoid eating gebrochts. And yet, the Shulchan Aruch (OC 461:4) writes that one fulfills the Mitzvah of Matzoh with matzoh shruyah – gebrochts, soaked Matzah – as long as the Matzoh remains intact and whole.  This is based upon the Gemorah itself (Psachim 41a) which states the very same law. WHAT IS THE SOURCE What then is the source for the custom of avoiding Gebrochts – dipped or wetted Matzoh?

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times We say this Aramaic text just before Pesach every year. We recite it once in the evening and again in the morning.  What is behind the wording of Bitul Chometz? According to Torah law we can dispose of our Chometz before Pesach either by Biur- destruction or by Bitul – negation. By Rabbinic law, however, we must do both – the destruction and the negation. We are all familiar with the text – we recite it in the evening after the search for Chometz, and we recite it again in the morning while we burn it.

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5TJT.com During Yom Tov one must try to visit one’s Rebbe.  One of my Rebbeim was Rav Dovid Kviat zt”l. Rav Kviat was a Rosh Yeshiva in the Mirrer Yeshiva in Brooklyn, a Rav of the 18th Avenue Agudah shul, a member of the Moetzes HaRabbonim of Agudath Yisroel, the author of dozens of Seforim entitled, “Sukkas Dovid” on Shas, a Talmid of Rav Chatzkel Levenstein, and one of the last of the Alter Mirrers. Perhaps an alternative method of visiting one’s Rebbe during this time of Corona isolation, is to learn one’s Rebbe’s Torah – and perhaps spreads it to others. Chometz is unique in that it is completely forbidden on Pesach, and yet entirely permitted after Pesach.  Where do we find such a prohibition?

(By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times) Everyone grew up with it.  It signifies the end of the Pesach Seder. And every family has it’s own tune to it. Father bought the kid (a sheep or goat) for two zuzim. But the bobcat came and ate the kid. The dog came and bit the bobcat. The stick hit the dog. The fire burned the stick. The water extinguished the fire. The ox drank the water. The slaughterer shechted the ox. The Malach HaMaves slaughtered him. And the Holy One came and slaughtered the Malach HaMaves. We are all familiar with it, but what does it really mean?

Jewish News and Jewish Chronicle had previously announced a planned merger, but now say they can't survive the impact of the coronavirus epidemic in their current forms

by Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5TJT.com This guide is presented, as a last minute “just in case.”  It is presented in honor of an old friend, Rabbi Yitzchok Scherman, who made the request.  Also, the Chofetz Chaim tells us that if we learn the halachos – it is as if we had actually brought it.  So, technically, it is not merely – “just in case” – but it is like we actually brought it. PROCEDURE OF THE KORBAN PESACH GROUPS It should be noted that the Korban Pesach must only be brought in groups.  Anyone within a three day walk of Yerushalayim must join up with the group.  The group is called a Chavurah.  One may not eat of the Korban Pesach if one was not previously a member of a group.

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5TJT.com Yes, you had better check that Matzah. This is for two reasons:  The first is to fulfill a Torah Mitzvah of personally guarding the Matzah – and the second is to make sure that they are not Chometz.  We will start with the second reason first.

by Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5TJT.com This week, Shabbos HaGadol, most Rabbonim would have spoken about the upcoming need to make an eruv tavshilin.  So why not give your own Shabbos HaGadol drasha to your family?  Print this out – and you can be yotzeh!  Remember, the Eruv Tavshilisn should be done on Wednesday.. Whenever any day of Yom Tov comes out on a Friday – an Eruv Tavshilin must be made before the Yom Tov begins.  WHAT IS AN ERUV TAVSHILIN? An Eruv Tavshilim is a Rabbinic device – that involves 3 things: a baked item a cooked item and a special formula to recite. This Rabbinic device allows one to “continue preparing and cooking” for Shabbos on Yom Tov.

by Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5TJT.com [culled from 2 Shabbos HaGadol Darashos 5780 and 5779] One should not order Chametz before Pesach from Amazon etc. to be delivered after Pesach. There are two types of garbage bins – depending upon the city. Some garbage bins belong to the municipality – these may be filled with Chametz if put out on the curb before Pesach.  Those that belong to the homeowner may not. The Burning of Chametz, (YH: where it is allowed by the Rabbonim) requires either one piece the size of a kzayis or combined smaller pieces totaling a kzayis – but then it needs to be in one kli. When buying  a kli that requires tevilah from a store, it is best to sell it to the Goy.