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Oct 10, 2018, 3:05 PM

I Plead to Study My Books: 75th Yahrtzeit of the Piaseczner Rebbe

R. Kalonymus Kalmish Shapira of Piaseczna was born in Grodzisk Poland in 1889 to R. Elimelech and Hannah Bracha Shapira. On both sides he was descended from a long line of distinguished Polish Hasidic rebbes, including R. Elimelech of...

Oct 1, 2014, 3:22 PM

Motzei Yom Kippur: Our first sin

Immediately upon the conclusion of the pageantry at the end of the Neila prayer that closes Yom Kippur, even before we break our fast, we pray the regular evening service. In it we recite the silent Amida just as...

Jan 14, 2014, 3:34 PM

Yitro: Receiving the Torah throughout our lives

The highlight of Parshat Yitro is the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. The Beit Aharon teaches that HaShem actually gives the Torah to Am Yisrael every Shabbat. In fact, he states, if we prepare ourselves properly on Shabbat, the Torah is given to us...

Sep 8, 2013, 7:02 PM

The Challenge of Forgiveness

We are now within the Ten Days of Repentance between Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur. As part of this process we have been reciting the Slichot (penitentiary prayers), and will continue to do so through Yom Kippur. These prayers...

May 8, 2013, 12:20 PM

Jerusalem Day: Nature and civilization

During the Hebrew month of Iyar we experience numerous transitions. In addition to the ongoing process of counting the 49 days of the Omer, within which the month of Iyar is completely encased, we also transition from Holocaust Remembrance Day to Memorial Day, from the latter...

Apr 26, 2013, 1:40 PM

Lag B’Omer: The Fires of Rashbi

On Lag B’Omer, the 33rd day between Pesach and Shavuot, weddings and haircuts are permitted, unlike during the rest of the Omer period, because the 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva, who died from a plague due to internal dissent, ceased dying. In addition...

Apr 11, 2013, 1:30 PM

Independence Day 5773: Simple Siren

On the Shabbat around the time that we mark Yom HaZikaron, the Day of Remembrance for Israeli Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism, and celebrate Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel's Independence Day, we read Parshat Emor, which includes a list of the Torah's...

Mar 27, 2013, 8:31 AM

The taste of freedom: On eating matza 5773

The taste of matzah evokes one struggle for freedom and a fervent prayer that all people should be completely free

Mar 10, 2013, 2:10 PM

Breslov’s masters came to life in Froman and Shagar

Master of prayer and master of the field. The late Rabbi Menachem Froman (photo credit: Yossi Zamir/Flash90)

The late Rabbi Menachem Froman personified Rebbe Nachman's archetypal Master of Prayer

Mar 6, 2013, 11:20 AM

Memories of Rav Menachem Froman, a unique friend

I’ll begin with a confession: I never made it to the funeral. Driving from Jerusalem, by the time I reached the turn to the town of Nokdim, a few kilometers before the steep hill leading up to Tekoa, there...

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About Me

Rabbi Dr. Zvi Leshem directs the Gershom Scholem Collection for Kabbalah and Hasidism at the National Library of Israel. He is the author of 'Redemptions: Contemporary Chassidic Essays on the Parsha and the Festivals'. Many of his articles can be accessed at https://nli.academia.edu/zvileshem

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