Author's posts
Sep 28
Revealed!
- By Dovid Saks in 5784, Succos Message, Yom Tov Messages
The joyous holiday of Succos comes just five days after Yom Kippur, which is observed ten days after Rosh Hashana. There are three tractates of the Babylonian Talmud dedicated to these holidays. Tractate Rosh Hashana deals with the laws concerning Rosh Hashana, such as the Shofar and its sounds, the unique prayers, and how we …
Sep 21
High-Rise!
- By Dovid Saks in 5784, Yom Kippur Message
Let’s face it, the thought of Yom Kippur gives us a certain pit in our stomach. It’s not only the prospect of the hungry feeling that we’ll experience during the course of the day, it actually comes from our built in spiritual DNA that intuitively knows that Yom Kippur is a sacred day. Recently, in …
Sep 14
Apple & Honey!
- By Dovid Saks in 5784, Rosh Hashana Message
There is known custom to dip a sweet apple into honey during the first night meal of Rosh Hashana. A blessing of Ha’aitz is made over the apple before it is eaten and then the following prayer is recited, “May it be Your will, Hashem, our G-d and the G-d of our forefathers, that You …
Sep 07
No Summons!
- By Dovid Saks in 5783, Devorim
The way our calendar is structured, Rosh Hashana cannot begin on a Sunday, Wednesday or Friday. The Ashkenazic custom is for us to begin reciting the Selichos – penitential prayers – on the Saturday night before Rosh Hashana, provided that Rosh Hashana begins on a Thursday or Shabbos. If Rosh Hashana begins on a Monday …
Aug 31
Drawings!
- By Dovid Saks in 5783, Devorim
The other day I visited an elderly woman who is confined to a bed. However, she is sharp minded and amazingly upbeat. She asked me if I had anything special to tell her. Pointing to the window, I said it was a magnificent sunny day. She said that does not really help her since it …
Aug 24
Rhythm!
- By Dovid Saks in 5783, Devorim
The Medrash quotes a verse from Proverbs, “For they are a wreath of grace,” and explains that it refers to Mitzvos that accompany a person wherever he goes. Reb Pinchos begins with a Mitzva that is included in this week’s Parsha. When you build a house, the Torah tells us to build a safety fence …
Aug 17
Graphic Image!
- By Dovid Saks in 5783, Devorim
The Torah instructs us to appoint honest and wise judges in each city, stating, “Tzedek, Tzedek Tirdof – You shall surely pursue righteousness.” Based on this, the official stamp of the great sage Rabbi Akiva Eiger had a picture of a scale with the aforementioned verse underneath. The signet of the great kabbalist, Rabbi Avraham …
Aug 10
Remarkable Dividends!
- By Dovid Saks in 5783, Devorim
The Torah clearly and repeatedly prohibits any type of idol worship. In our Parsha, Moshe details the laws of a false prophet or dreamer who performs a sign or wonder, and based on it will say, “Let us follow other gods that you do not know, and we shall worship them.” The Torah instructs us …
Aug 03
Our Leader!
- By Dovid Saks in 5783, Devorim
The devotion of our leader Moshe to the Jewish people was unparalleled. Moshe loved life and he pleaded with G-d numerous times to keep him alive. Moshe did not pray to G-d because he craved life’s experiences. Rather, he desired life, for only when one is alive do they have the opportunity to serve G-d. …
Jul 26
Rebuild!
- By Dovid Saks in 5783, Devorim
When our forefather Yaacov was leaving the land of Israel to look for a wife, the Torah relates that he stopped at a ‘place’ where he prayed and then went to sleep. Our Sages teach us that he established the nightly Maariv prayer. That night he had a prophecy of a ladder which stemmed from …
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