The Iyar Journey

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
Having recently celebrated Pesach, we are now in the Sefirah period, counting towards Shavuos and striving each day to refine ourselves, so that we may be worthy and prepared to accept the Torah and its way of life.
Our study this week of the parshiyos of Tazria and Metzora is an essential part of that process. Otherwise, we would not be laining these parshiyos during this time of introspection and personal growth.

Dear Matzav Inbox,
Why do we allow the shidduch process to consume us? Anyone in the parshah—whether for themselves or for their children—knows the crushing anxiety that accompanies the research phase of a potential match. How are we expected to determine compatibility from a resume? Is he like this or like that? Will her personality align with our expectations?

By S. Rosen
I recently heard Rabbi Avi Shafran on Halacha Headlines with Dovid Lichtenstein explain that the primary rabbinic objection to voting in the WZO elections is the technical requirement to confirm that: “I pledge to support the Jerusalem Program and the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.”
Curious, I decided to review the Jerusalem Program myself to see if it was something I could sign. Here are my thoughts, line by line:

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
Yom Tov provides an idyllic break from the ups and downs of life. Each day of the yemei chol is a battle between our yeitzer tov and yeitzer hora. Throughout the day, we endeavor to do what is right, to follow the path of Hashem, seeking to rise and better ourselves, while pushing back on thoughts and actions that veer us from the correct path and lower us.
Every day, we work to be good and do good to ourselves and to those around us. Hashem put us here to daven, learn Torah, perform mitzvos, help others, and contribute to the betterment of our world. Life is a daily contest between doing what we know is right and trying to do enough to get by.

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
The essence of the Haggadah and Pesach is the relationship between father and son and the obligation for a father to transmit to his son the story of the geulah from Mitzrayim. The Torah and Chazal prescribe different ways to speak to different children and lay out the format for the Seder evening conversation.
Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein related the following story.

By John Nolte, Breitbart
A troubling new study backs up what has become obvious since the November presidential election: the political left is seeking to normalize and use violence to achieve its fascist political goals.
This is also known as terrorism.
The Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) recently issued a new report which “found that a growing number of people are willing to justify and even applaud killing in the name of politics and a warped sense of social justice,” per Fox News. “The chilling change appears to have accelerated in recent months.”

By Rabbi Moshe Dov Heber
Menachem Chaifetz was a bochur in Yeshivas Chaim Berlin in the 1990s. When he became engaged to the daughter of Rav Avrohom Turin zt”l, the esteemed Mashgiach of Scranton Yeshiva, it was a joyous occasion for both families.
Menachem eagerly anticipated his first Pesach in his father-in-law’s home. The thought of spending Yom Tov in such a distinguished Torah environment filled him with excitement. The home of Rav Turin was known for its warmth, depth of Torah, and unwavering commitment to mesorah.
Erev Pesach arrived, and as the house bustled with final preparations, Rav Turin called Menachem aside.

The Song of Pesach

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
I am writing this on Rosh Chodesh Nissan, grateful to have arrived at the month of geulah—both for the past and, hopefully, for the present as well.
Just as the month was about to begin, Klal Yisroel suffered a devastating tragedy, losing a mother and her two precious children on Shabbos afternoon. At their levayah on Sunday, there was an overwhelming outpouring of grief.

The Tesla Effect

By Avrohom Birnbaum
No, this article is not about the new affinity for electric cars that seems to have taken hold in the frum community. Everywhere you go, you see frum Yidden driving electric cars, Telsas or otherwise. In truth, this has nothing to do with Elon Musk nor does it indicate any new “green” environmentalism that has gripped us. It is pure economics. If the government wants to basically give away electric cars for half price, it is worth it.
Exhibit 1: Burn the Teslas

Be Smart, Be Happy

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
This year’s Purim was different from most years. We had the rare occurrence of celebrating the special day on a Friday, with the specter of Shabbos hanging over us. Everything we did on Purim day was rushed because we knew Shabbos was coming. We had our usual stops – the people we visit every year to bring mishloach manos and to make a lechaim with – but this year, we had to cross some of them off the list. There was so much to do, and we wanted to get the seudah started before chatzos as well. We had to end the festivities early, quickly clean up, and restore the house because Shabbos was approaching, and we couldn’t afford to be late.

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