By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — Sefirah reminds us to elevate ourselves each day. Sometimes we stumble and fall down. At those times it is more important than ever to elevate ourselves, brush ourselves off and carry on. Rabbi Aryeh Leib HaCohen Heller was appointed Rav of Rosiantov at a very young age. In [...]
By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO –Twenty four thousand talmidim (students) of Rebbi Akiva perished in a horrible plague. These were the best and the brightest. It was a devastating blow to the leadership, to the entire existance of Klal Yisroel. Hashem in His infinite mercy enabled our nation to rebuild after this tragedy. Torah [...]
Rabbi Baruch Lederman By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — The Torah tells us that we cannot eat just any animal, bird, or fish. It has to be kosher. But don’t worry, even though the Torah prohibits us from many many foods, there is still plenty of kosher food to be found. Just have a [...]
By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — Pesach is a time of salvation and redemption. Despite our bitter bondage, we were faithful to Hashem (G-d) and the ways of the Torah. Against all odds, open miracles occured to sustain our lives and freedom. This happened then and it still happens now as the following true [...]
By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — Hashem (G-d) in His infinite mercy redeemed us from our bitter bondage. Not only did He free us physically, Hashem with boundless love restored our spirits emotionally and psychologically. We have the capacity both to pick ourselves up and to restore and comfort others, as the following true [...]
By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO–The word Korbon (offering) comes from the word karov (close). When we bring offerings to the temple, it brings us closer to Hashem. The korbonos have many seemingly daunting details; but we can never lose sight of the big picture. The korbonos offer us an intensity of closeness that is [...]
By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — Fifteen years ago there was a family from New York who lost their father. Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel ztl, Rosh Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim, had a particularly fond relationship with the deceased father and took it upon himself to ensure that his orphans would have a fatherly figure [...]
By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO — Purim is referred to as Kabbalas haTorah miahavah – acceptance of the Torah out of love. This is the yesod (foundation) of Purim – returning to Hashem (G-d) and fulfilling His Torah with love. The practices of Purim, such as Shalach Manos (Gifts of Food) and Matanos L’evyonim [...]
By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO –A woman answered the front door to find a workman standing on the porch and carrying a box of tools. “I’m the piano tuner ma’am” he announced. “But I didn’t send for a piano tuner.” “I know, but the neighbors did!” Some people know the Torah. Some people know [...]
By Rabbi Baruch Lederman SAN DIEGO–Jewish jokes tend to be insightful: A man was traveling through a town where an old friend of his lived. He decided to seek him out and pay him an impromtu visit. He asked someone, “Excuse me, I am looking for a friend of mine Mr. Schwartz. Do you know [...]
