I am pleased to inaugurate a new column here on Torah Musings where we will be reviewing a number of new books. Reviews by Rabbi Ari Enkin The Legacy: Teachings for Life from the Great Lithuanian Rabbis By Rabbis Berel Wein & Warren Goldstein Maggid (Koren) / 215 pp The Legacy: Teachings For Life from the Great Lithuanian Rabbis is ...

By: Rabbi Ari Enkin Tu Bishvat is, of course, the New Year for trees[1] and it is said that from this day onwards the upcoming season’s fruits have begun to take root. It is customary to partake lavishly in as many different fruits as possible on Tu Bishvat.[2] Some Chassidim, including many Rebbes, wear their distinctive Shabbat garb on Tu Bishvat ...

By: Rabbi Ari Enkin One is required to ensure that even one’s general activities and comportment on Shabbat reflect the intended serenity of the day. The source for this requirement originates from the prophet Isaiah, who instructs us to modify our behavior on Shabbat in three very specific areas: the way we walk, the way we talk, and not to ...

By: Rabbi Ari Enkin Although the Torah clearly prohibits the consumption of worms, or all other insects for that matter, there are, however, some interesting exceptions to the rule. The Torah’s prohibition on consuming insects applies only to those things that “live in the seas and in the streams”, “fly in the air” and “creep on the ground”.[1] So severe ...

Book Review: Inside Chanukah By: Rabbi Aryeh Pinchas Strickoff Feldheim / 704 pages Reviewed By: Rabbi Ari Enkin Rabbi Aryeh Pinchas Strickoff’s latest offering is the book Inside Chanuka. Inside Chanuka probably addresses any question that one can possibly come up with on anything related to Chanuka. There are dozens and dozens of such questions and difficulties. For example: Why ...

By: Rabbi Ari Enkin The Torah commands us to always remember six specific experiences. These things are known as the “Six Remembrances” and can be found in most siddurim at the end of the shacharit service. The six remembrances are: 1) To remember the Exodus from Egypt 2) To remember the sin of the Golden Calf 3) To remember the ...

By: Rabbi Ari Enkin Although the Torah contains six hundred and thirteen mitzvot, most of them only apply in specific places or circumstances, and some only to specific people. Believe it or not, from among the six hundred and thirteen mitzvot of the Torah, there are only six which apply to every Jew, every second of every day. This group ...

By: Rabbi Ari Enkin One should be especially meticulous with the mitzva of lighting the Chanuka menora.[1] We are taught that those who are careful in this area will merit having children who are Torah scholars.[2] Even the most destitute person is required to light a Chanuka menora even if he is forced to beg or even sell his garment ...

By: Rabbi Ari Enkin The Torah conveys to us the importance of formally dedicating one’s new home by exempting from army service those who had recently purchased a home but had not yet dedicated it.[1] As we will see, this ceremony is much more than merely hanging one’s first Mezuza, although that is essential as well.[2] One is advised to ...

By: Rabbi Ari Enkin Among the precautions that Kohanim must take in order to ensure their ritual purity is the prohibition against coming into contact or even close proximity to dead bodies. Female Kohanim are generally not bound to these Kohanic laws of purity and impurity. Even a Kohen who is a minor should be educated in all the laws ...