by Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com The Aviudraham lived in Seville in the part of Spain known as Andalusia in the 1300’s.  What follows is an in-depth view of Asara B’Taives, which is this coming Tuesday. The author of the Shulchan Aruch, Rav Yoseph Karo (in his Bais Yoseph 550), cites the view of the […]

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com “The Proud. The Few. The Marines.”  This motto could very well have been used by another group of dedicated few – the Five Towns Far Rockaway Chaveirim Volunteers. Last weekend a state of emergency was declared in the area.  Nonetheless, Chaveirim 5T/FR was out there – answering a record […]

by Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Sfas Tamim Foundation At times, one needs to understand the historical context of what our Gedolim have said – in order to fully plummet their meaning.  This is especially true regarding the Sfas Emes, who lived during very dark times.   In his piece on Parshas Vayigash (1884), this author […]

The Case of the Insided-Out Duvet Cover By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com Every so often it happens.  One is a guest at another’s home.  Sometimes it is an aufruf.  Other times it is for a sheva brachos.  The husband notices that the duvet cover is put on upside down. He now has a halachic […]

Watch Roy Neuberger on Chanukah, and on Miracles..  

Of Phil and Dovid – The 15-Item List of What You Needed to Learn in Mir, Poland By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com Ninety years ago, a deep friendship formed between Phil and Dovid.  They were both American Yeshiva students in America in the 1930’s.  They had both studied under Rav Dovid Leibowitz zt”l, then […]

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com   based on a compilation by Rav Yehudah Gestetner Rav Shlomo Miller shlita is one of the leading Poskim in North America One should preferably not make travel plans that interfere with lighting the Menorah in its proper time. This is because Hadlakas Neiros of Chanukah was so important in […]

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com – If we delve into the prehistory of Chanukah, we learn all sorts of interesting new information.  When we combine this information with Midrashim – it enhances our understanding even more.  Finally, when we unearth lost midrashim and combine it all together – the information can be downright fascinating. […]

[By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times] There are a number of fascinating halachic debates concerning where Yeshiva students should be lighting their Chanukah menorahs. When dealing with in-town Yeshivos, there are hundreds of Yeshiva boys who eat supper in Yeshiva but who sleep nearby in their own homes. Where should these […]

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com It is a pasuk found in Tehillim chapter 104, the 24th pasuk. How great are Your works, O Hashem! You have made them all with wisdom; the earth is filled with Your creations! The following imaginary situation, based upon Ed Yong’s recent book, “An Immense World,” gave this author […]