Taking Sefira With Us and Preparing for Shavuos

Bentch-a-phobia (B'haaloscha 5786)

The fear of bentching, from its very beginning A havtacha from the Chida if one sings their bentching Birchas Kohanim protecting us Kedusha D'sidra - what is it, why is it so important, and why was it instituted?

Parshas Naso

Is(/was) every Yeshiva Bachur a Nazir? What is Parshas Sotah (and Nazir) doing here? Why now? Why a Nazir can drink schnapps but not wine Who carried the Kiyor? How did Yaakov Avinu travel to Mitzrayim? The Radak teaches that wordly pursuits are "Af" (frustration) Rashi in Toldos is the key to understanding wine and hair The Shalah HaKadosh helps us understand the Rokeach

Taking Sefira With Us and Preparing for Shavuos

(Parshas Bamidbar) As Sefiras Ha’Omer comes to a close, how do we make sure that the growth of these weeks does not remain behind in the sefirah calendar, but continues with us into the rest of the year? In this episode, we discuss practical and attainable kabalos — small steps in both בין אדם לחבירו and בין אדם למקום — that can help preserve the avodah of Sefiras Ha’Omer as we approach Kabbolas HaTorah on Shavuos. We also explore one central yesod that sheds light on several fascinating minhagim and questions connected to Shavuos: * Why some Rishonim specifically initiated children into Torah learning on Shavuos * Why certain Rishonim recorded a unique נוסח for Birchos HaTorah on Shavuos * Why we count upward toward Shavuos, even though we are eagerly awaiting its arrival * Why there is a custom to place grass and flowers in the home or shul on Shavuos

Turning Klalos into Brachos (Behar Bechukosai)

Why does the Midrash say that you might think Brachos are not a good thing? The Shitta M'kubetzes' Chidush from Rabbeinu Yeshaya How tefilos of Tzadikim help What good does reading the klalos now do? Why do we need to read the curses specifically by these 2 Rosh HaShana's? What does it mean to finish the year and the klalos? The Dubno Maggid's Mashal The Ben Ish Chai's Chiddush (and Mashal) The Zhviller Rebbe

Is not shaving during sefira a goyish idea ?!

Why we play games on Lag Ba'Omer A fascinating opinion from the Ramchal's Rebbe, Rav Moshe Dovid Valle, regarding shaving during Sefira. Can a Nazir shave their beard? The minhag of Yeshivas Chafetz Chaim and Rav Soloveitchik regarding shaving The missing page from Sefer Kushyos Finding 8 pages missing from the Cambridge Manuscript The Chasam Sofer regarding shaving The Chavos Yair and his illustrious grandmother The Chavos Yair on various minhagim Did the Rama M'Pano have a beard? The great debate