Connecting to Hashem when in the depths..

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman One month ago, the Far Rockaway/Five Towns community lost an extraordinary woman.  Rebbitzen Toby Weitman a”h, was one of the builders of the Torah community in Far Rockaway and the Five Towns, who personified a regal and quiet dignity.  The Bais Yaakov she had built side by side with her husband, […]

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman The excitement is palpable.  It is a cooking event for single women who have lost a parent or sibling, r”l.  And it is a chance for them to bond, meet new people and interact. It is being held at Apron Masters in Woodmere and it is tomorrow night, January 11th.  Instruction […]

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com This January 26th, the 4th of Shvat will be the 57th  yahrtzeit of the renowned Gaon Rav Yechiel Yaacov Weinberg zt”l.  He came from Poland originally and was a student of both the Slabodka Yeshiva and the Mir Yeshiva in Poland.  The future author of the Sridei Aish was, […]

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Sfas Tamim Foundation On December 13th, Mr. Trump had hyped and promoted a “major announcement” on his social media website, Truth Social.  Both Republicans and Democrats speculated about what Mr. Trump might have planned for his major announcement.  The New York Times reported that they assumed that, “it related […]

by Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com The section below was originally entitled, “From American Universities to the Polish Yeshivas.”  It was written by Chaim Semyatitsky (1908-1943) and published in Sefer Mir.  I believe that he had studied in Mir in 1932. *** In America one often hears about restless youth who wake up one morning […]

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com “No, honey.  I do not want you to drive on this holiday.  It is simply not safe!” “Mommy!  Everyone else’s mother says it is fine.” This conversation has probably taken place in many Jewish homes across the country, and many mothers have been up late worrying about their sons […]

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com There is a fascinating halacha that applies to expectant mothers of which  many of us may not be fully aware.   But first, a quick overview. According to recent statistics, there are over 4000 mani-ped salons in New York City and its immediate environs alone. The very first one was […]

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 […]