By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com This year, many frum people are mourning the loss of Shatzer Matzah.  It was one of the most beloved Matzos in the nation and people are at  a loss as to why, exactly,  it had closed.  The reason for it’s popularity?  It was thin, fresh, and crunchy. But how […]

by Rabbi Yair Hoffman Tonight, the 22nd of Adar, is the 65th yahrtzeit HaGaon HaRav Reuvain Grozovsky zatzal.   Rav Grozovsky was Rosh Yeshivah of Knesses Bais Yitzchak in Kamenetz, Poland with his illustrious father-in-law, Rav Boruch ber Leibowitz zatzal.  Rav Reuvain Grozovsky zatzal was critically responsible for bringing Rav Aharon Kotler zatzal and Rav Yaakov […]

by Rabbi Yair Hoffman This week is Parshas Parah.  All 4 Parshios are read to enhance our Dveikus Bashem.

by Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Sefas Tamim Foundation Question: Whenever we go to my mother, who is getting older and has some health issues, she uses her limited strength to constantly shop for us and pack us up with food to take home. We feel badly about her overextending herself on our behalf. Am […]

by Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com Yes, you can bathe and shower.  And yes, you can brush your teeth.  Here is why. HISTORICAL OVERVIEW During the time of Mordechai and Esther , the Jews united on the 13th of Adar to fight and wage war, standing up for their lives. They fasted during the day […]

by Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com The mitzvah of matanos l’evyonim on Purim is discussed in the Gemara at the bottom of Megillah 7a. The mitzvah is to give at least one gift to two different poor people on the day of Purim. The plural form of the word “l’evyonim” appearing in the verse teaches us […]

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com It was a tale of two shuls.  One shul was in Yerushalayim, the other in Bnei Brak.  Both made a request of Rav Avrohom Genachovsky zt”l of the Chebin Yeshiva.  Each needed a baal koreh for the Megillah on Purim.  Rav Genachovsky had two young men available – one […]

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Sefas Tamim Foundation Parshas Tetzaveh is somewhat unique.  It is the only parshah after Bereishis in which Moshe Rabbeinu’s name is strangely absent. Bereishis, of course, all took place before Moshe Rabbeinu was born.  (In Dvarim, the entire sefer begins with, “These are the words that Moshe spoke,” so […]

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com 404 Pages. 2023, Artscroll’s Shaar Press There is no storyteller like Nachman Seltzer.  And there is no story like that of the development and growth of Roy and Leah Neuberger.  Put them together in a manner that only Artscroll knows how to do, and you have a winning combination […]