Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

May 9th, 2021

Our Gemara on the top of Amud Aleph states a powerful idea: Thoughts of transgression are worse than transgression itself, הִרְהוּרֵי עֲבֵירָה קָשׁוּ מֵעֲבֵירָה Of course, literally and logically sin in action, is much worse. Is it worse to brood for 10 years about killing someone than actually killing someone? Obviously not. So what did our Sages intend? Let us try to understand this from a psychological perspec …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

May 7th, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Beis discusses learning from Avraham’s trait of Zerizus (see Rashi). The term zerizus does not easily translate into English because it represents a certain mindset that is less prevalent in current culture. The words that most closely fit are assiduous and zealous, but they aren’t perfect. Those words imply dedication and consistency which is within zerizus, but does not include quickness. On the other hand, the te …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

May 7th, 2021

  Our Gemara cites a verse in Bamidbar (18:7): וְאַתָּ֣ה וּבָנֶ֣יךָ אִ֠תְּךָ תִּשְׁמְר֨וּ אֶת־כְּהֻנַּתְכֶ֜ם לְכָל־דְּבַ֧ר הַמִּזְבֵּ֛חַ וּלְמִבֵּ֥ית לַפָּרֹ֖כֶת וַעֲבַדְתֶּ֑ם עֲבֹדַ֣ת מַתָּנָ֗ה אֶתֵּן֙ אֶת־כְּהֻנַּתְכֶ֔ם וְהַזָּ֥ר הַקָּרֵ֖ב יוּמָֽת׃ (ס) &n …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

May 6th, 2021

Our Gemara discusses certain tribes who were noted by the verses for Torah teaching and halakhic acumen.  Issachar and Zevulun are labeled by cited verses for their ability in Torah teaching and halakha.  The Gemara also considers the Tribe of Judah based on a verse, and then rejects it.   Apropos this passage in Deuteronomy, Rava said: You do not find a young Torah scholar who gives halakhic instruction unless he comes from t …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

May 5th, 2021

Our Gemara mentions that the ketores incense is a segulah for becoming wealthy. Even today, there are those who read the ketores from parchment so as to come as close as possible to fulfilling this mitzvah (Kaf HaChayyim 17:18). What is special about the ketores?  The Zohar (II:218b) explains a number of spiritual benefits that the Ketores bestows: One who smells the burning incense as it ascends experiences a great clarity of purpose and jo …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

May 4th, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Beis quotes a verse in Psalms (55:15) אֲשֶׁ֣ר יַ֭חְדָּו נַמְתִּ֣יק ס֑וֹד בְּבֵ֥ית אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים נְהַלֵּ֥ךְ בְּרָֽגֶשׁ׃ sweet was our fellowship; we walked together in God’s house. Based on this verse, Ben Ish Chai (בן איש חי הלכות השנה א, מקץ), instructs one to pause a moment before entering a shul.  During this moment he should me …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

May 3rd, 2021

Our Gemara discusses the prohibition of revenge and grudge bearing: ⁦What is revenge and what is bearing a grudge? Revenge is illustrated by the following example: One said to his fellow: “Lend me your sickle”, and he said: “No”. The next day he, the one who had refused to lend the sickle, said to the other person: “Lend me your ax.” If he said to him: “I will not lend to you, just as you did not lend t …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

May 2nd, 2021

Our Gemara on Amud Aleph tells us that originally they had a race up the ramp of the mizbeach to determine which Cohen got to do the Terumas HaDeshen (removal of the ashes). Since the competition led to falling and injury, the rabbis held a lottery instead. After the rabbis instituted the lottery, the Gemara reported that there was a drop in interest (it was an early morning non-glamorous service), and so they had to add more services to the &ldq …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

April 30th, 2021

Our Gemara lists a number of miracles that occurred in the Beis HaMikdash, including that a pregnant woman never miscarried as a result of smelling the cooking sacrificial meats and craving them, as well as that the Coeh Gadol never had a nocturnal seminal emission on Yom Kippur night. What was the exact miracle regarding the pregnant women not miscarrying?  Some quote in the name of Rashi that the women would feel cravings for the meat, not …
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Author: Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, DHL, LCSW-R

April 30th, 2021

The Sages taught: Three sounds travel from the end of the world to its other end, and these are: The sound of the sphere of the sun, and the sound of the bustle of the crowds of Rome, and the sound of the soul at the moment that it leaves the body, which should be audible throughout the world. And some say: Even the sound of a woman giving birth. What are we discussing? Based on Kli Yakkar (Bereishis 32:25) and Yismach Moshe (Bo 19:1) the Gemara …
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