For those struggling with infertility,  Purim can be an especially painful time. Here are some ways you can support a friend who is experiencing infertility. 
The post Support a Friend Through Infertility appeared first on The Yeshiva World.

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5TJT.com It is a mitzvah to have a festive meal on Purim (Ramah 695:1). It is during this meal that one experiences the most profound growth and escalation in our connection to HaKadosh Baruch Hu. This meal should include both meat and wine. One should also wash on bread at this festive meal because there are many authorities who hold that it is an obligation (Raavya Vol. II Siman 563).  By the same token, it is preferable to have beef during this meal and not just chicken, as there are some authorities who hold that chicken does not fulfill the requirement of simcha. STATE OF HAPPINESS A person should eat and drink the seudah in a state of happiness.

The Blue and White party experienced a great deal of political drama in the past few days due to party leader Benny Gantz’s decision to pursue the formation of a minority government supported by the Arab Joint List. Two Blue and White MKs, Yoaz Hendel and Zvi Hauser, who are both part of Bogie Yaalon’s center-right Telem party and former Likud members, are refusing to support a minority government with the Arab parties. The two were reportedly summoned to Yaalon’s office where a tense and loud exchange took place. Hendel and Hauser pointed out that Blue and White had repeatedly promised voters that they would never form a government with the Arab parties who deny Israel’s right to exist but to no avail.

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5TJT.com Rav Yeruchem Levovitz zt”l writes something absolutely fascinating (Daas Chochma uMussar Vol. I page 76) about the Megillah.  He writes, basing himself on the Vilna Gaon’s pshat on the last pasuk in Megilas Esther, that the entire Megilah is a mussar sefer – wherein we derive lessons in both inspiring behaviors that we should imitate, as well as horrible behaviors that we should stay away from.  Everything act and character trait that Esther and Mordechai do in the Megillah are perfect prototypes for us all to follow. Conversely, every character trait and act that Haman and Achashveirosh do are examples of horrible character traits from which we must distance ourselves.  Examples abound.  Vechamaso baarah bo – and his anger seethed within him.

Dear Friends נדיבי העם אחינו כל בית ישראל רחמנים בני רחמנים, This Purim be מקיים the great מצוה of מתנות לאביוניםin its highest and best form by donating to and helping a very poor family that is struggling financially and has accumulated huge amounts of debt and is begging for your help. The פוסקים write that you should spend more on the מצוה of מתנות לאביונים than on משלוח מנות and סעודת פורים. The Gemara says that the eyes of the poor are looking out for מקרא מגילה as this is when they will get the מתנות לאביונים.

10K Batay Yisroel is a project rooted in a horrific accident and the reaction of two ordinary– but extraordinary– families who transcended that tragedy and transformed it into an incredible organization. Yisroel Levin a”h and Elisheva Kaplan a”h, were engaged and preparing to build their own Bayis Bi’yisroel when a terrible car accident took them from us and left the world a smaller place. At their levaya, R’ Shaya Levin beseeched that in exchange for these pure souls, 10,000 shidduchim be made. 10K Batay Yisroel was then created in order to make R’ Levin’s request a reality. The goal of 10K is to unite the klal and empower the individual to join the effort in creating ten thousand shidduchim, one suggestion at a time.

Purim is traditionally one of the most joyous Jewish holidays, but some celebrations in Israel and hard-hit parts of the United States are being scaled back or canceled due to the coronavirus threat. One of the biggest jolts has come in the city of New Rochelle, a few miles north of New York City, where the rabbi of the Young Israel synagogue has the virus. The synagogue has been shut down by health authorities and all its Purim festivities canceled. Dozens of families from the community are in self-quarantine after learning last week that one congregant, a 50-year-old lawyer, had tested positive for the virus.

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5TJT.com There is nothing quite like lifting the burden of someone who is facing challenges with no apparent resources. Whether that person be young or old, they have carried a burden that they feel uncomfortable sharing. Chazal knew the joy and happiness that both parties, actually, feel. This is the Mitzvah of Matanos l’Evyonim on Purim. THE MITZVAH AND ITS SOURCES The Mitzvah of Matanos L’Evyonim on Purim is discussed in the Gemorah at the bottom of Megillah 7a, Tani Rav Yoseph. The Mitzvah is to give at least one gift to two different poor people on the day of Purim. The plural form of the word “L’Evyonim” appearing in the verse teaches us that it must be given to two people.

Ask Arlene Williams about President Donald Trump’s promises to bring back auto industry jobs that have evaporated across Michigan and she’ll point with irony to the Chevy Blazer. General Motors is now remaking the iconic American SUV after a lengthy hiatus — but building parts of it in Mexico and elsewhere overseas. “These are some of the staple brands and yes, they’re back,” said Williams, 49, who works at a GM plant in Romulus, Michigan, southwest of Detroit. “They’re just not being made in the U.S.” The largest of six states voting Tuesday, Michigan could redefine a Democratic primary that has become a showdown between former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5TJT.com There are a remarkable pshatim that one can think about when preparing the Shalach Manos.  But first a question.  With what power did Haman succeed in getting his agenda passed? The answer is that he pointed out to Achashveirosh – “yeshno am echad mefuzar umeforad bein ha’amim bechol medinos malchusecha – there is one nation scattered and separated from all the nations in all the states of your realm.”  He pointed out the division within us.  The Chasam Sofer points out that the word yeshno means that we are sleeping – we are thus sleeping in our achdus.