by Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com Yes, people are going to think it is strange, but there are a number of people that should not necessarily be drinking large shiurim of wine.  According to the practical and halachic research done by this author, this glass is the way to go. It seems that the shiur […]

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com This article is dedicated in honor of the 15th yahrtzeit of Rav Henoch Liebowtz zatzal which is tonight – the 10th of Nissan.   Every year at this time, we negate the Chometz.  But what is it, exactly, that we are doing? Our great Roshei Yeshiva have always taught us […]

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com 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 […]

by Rabbi Yair Hoffman UPDATED: We need $30,000 of it by Monday, before the lawyer appears before the judge. There is an incarcerated frum individual from the Five Towns/Far Rockaway community who has struggled with addictions and has made some poor choices. He has been there for 8 weeks and is facing several years in […]

by Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com SPECIAL LIGHT There is a fascinating Zohar Chadash (Shir HaShirim 1a) that tells us of a special holy light that encompasses every Jewish Neshama on each of the six Yomim Tovim (and most Poskim include Rosh HaShana as well). This light, however, is unable to shine forth and impact […]

by Rabbi Yair Hoffman 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 […]

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com Recently, I ran into Rav Chaim Kanievsky zatzal’s son in law, Rav Yitzchok Koledetsky shlita lbc”l, who was leaving the Vasikin minyan in the Agudah shul before davening had finished.  Where was he headed in the middle of davening? I had previously translated for him at a number of schools […]

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com We do it every year.  Negate the Chometz.  But what is it, exactly, that we are doing? Our great Roshei Yeshiva have always taught us that we must look at everything that happens in the world through a Torah lens.  This was a constant theme when I was in […]

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com The Gemorah in Psachim (116b) informs us that, in each generation, we are obligated to view ourselves as if we actually left Mitzrayim. Rav Dessler zt”l writes in his Michtav M’Eliyahu that since time does not progress linearly, but rather travels in a carousel-like circle or spiral, the 15th […]