From the Files of Tzvi Sinensky

Shabbat Morning Derasha Young Israel Talmud Torah of Flatbush 20 Cheshvan 5784 November 4, 2023 Rabbi Yoni Rosensweig, a colleague in Israel, recently wrote as follows: “My daughter told me today, she feels so pointless, there is nothing she can do to help the situation, she has no strength to

As we brace ourselves for an impossibly anxiety-ridden Shabbat, I am inspired by recalling the origin of the popular wartime greeting Chazak venitchazak, Let us be strong and let us be strengthened together, with which many have the practice to conclude and, as we will do this week, begin reading

The rise of materialism in the Orthodox community has become an urgent topic of discussion. Tradition recently dedicated a full-day summit to the subject. Rabbi Jeremy Wieder’s “Kosher Money” podcast, in which he expressed grave concerns about levels of Orthodox consumption and exhibitionism, went viral. Yeshiva University’s most

Reading Rabbi Sacks Perhaps the greatest rabbinic communicator of our era, the late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks zt”l remains one of the most popular Torah authors in the world today. Hundreds of thousands have devoured his books and essays. His books have been translated into a dozen languages. We

Originally published on Tradition Online. What’s happening? A March 26, 2015 article in the Wall Street Journal detailed the fifth annual “Guys Night Out and Seder Summit” at Congregation Beth Sholom in Potomac, MD. The event “drew nearly 500 men who came to sample 900 pounds of kosher ribs

In the days since Rav Druckman’s passing, there has been intense debate as to whether remembrances in the immediate aftermath of his death should mention his mishandling of the abuse charges against Zev Kopilevich and his championing and attempts to rehabilitate Moti Elon. Some argue that we do not

Originally appeared in Yeshiva University's Mitokh ha'Ohel on the haftarot in November 2011. In general, the topic of Yemot Ha-Mashiach is shrouded in mystery, so much so that Rambam famously cautioned against excessive messianic speculation. This is particularly true with respect to Mashiach ben Yosef, whose

Modern Orthodoxy And Morality: In Response To Ben ShapiroThis is a false choice. We must be forthright and confident in articulating our values, but we should also avoid being needlessly antagonistic, intellectually dishonest, or uncharitable in our interprThe Jewish PressRabbi Dr. Tzvi Sinensky In his recent op-ed in The Jewish

In using the word na’ar to describe the ill reports Yosef delivered to his father, does the Torah depict Yosef as the first biblical teen? If we pose the problem literally, the answer is obviously yes. Yosef was, after all, 17 years old. But our question runs deeper: did

What was Yaakov’s wrestling match with the angel all about? A number of points jump out in the narrative: the timing, shortly after escaping Lavan and immediately before encountering Esav. His loneliness: ויותר יעקב לבדו. The significance of darkness and dawn. The meaning of his divine interlocutor’s blessing:

Do real Jewish men cry? If we cursorily examine Tanakh, the answer comes back loud and clear: yes. The verb בכה, cry, appears 116 times in Tanakh. Avraham, Yaakov, Esav, Yosef, the Egyptian people, the Jewish people, David, Yehonatan, Elisha, Chizkiyahu, Yirmiyahu, Ezra, and Nechemia all cry. These cries represent

The story of Esav and Yaakov is a story of dueling models of manhood. From the beginning, it is clear that of the twins, Esav is portrayed, as measured against a biblical and Ancient Near Eastern yardstick, as more “manly” than Yaakov. He is hairy, red or ruddy, and a

Demystifying R. Eliezer Waldenberg on Sex Reassignment Surgery Tzvi Sinensky The Enigma R. Eliezer Waldenberg (1915-2006), arguably the previous generation’s greatest decisor in the area of medicine and Halakhah, is cited more often than any authority concerning the halakhic efficacy of sex reassignment surgery (SRS). Ironically, the steady stream

The Torah Is Not A Political FootballWe dare not cavalierly throw around the Torah as if it’s part of a political game. It’s not a plaything that can simply be discarded. It’s a sacred text to be treasured, revered, and explored agThe Jewish PressRabbi Dr. Tzvi Sinensky

The best children’s books miraculously manage to transport their readers to innocent and inspiring realms. For children’s books designed for parents to read to their children, these readers include children and adults alike. The deceptively high level of difficulty in pulling off this feat is magnified for non-fiction

Delivered at Kehillat Sha'arei Orah, Shabbat Parshat Ekev, 8/20/2022 At the end of this Dvar Torah, it’s entirely possible that an Ashkenazi will wish me a big “yasher koach.” This is, of course, a diminutive of “yishar kokhacha” (not yeyasher kokhacha, as is commonly thought,

Most chapters of Eikhah feature a woman, Chapter 3 a gever or quintessential male. Most chapters feature a woman’s suffering in agonizing detail, Chapter 3 a gever’s anguish in almost stylized terms. Most chapters feature a woman and narrator who speak at varying lengths, Chapter 3 a man

Originally published on The Lehrhaus [https://thelehrhaus.com/commentary/a-return-to-moderation-rabbi-lamms-passionate-plea-for-civility/] : R. Norman Lamm’s reputation rightly rides on his commitment to Torah u-Madda [https://amzn.to/3pbacaU]. Yet throughout his life, another motif rivaled, and perhaps even eclipsed, his embrace of Torah u-Madda: passionate moderation. Unlike Torah u-Madda, which became

(originally posted June 23, 2022) “Let us be strong and resolute for the sake of our people and the cities of our God; and God will do what He deems right.”חֲזַ֤ק וְנִתְחַזַּק֙ בְּעַד־עַמֵּ֔נוּ וּבְעַ֖ד

(originally posted June 26, 2022) For any men who are applauding the Supreme Court ruling, or even ambivalent: There is a time to promote your political position or debate the issues. But that time is decidedly not now. In case it isn’t blatantly obvious, now is an especially poor

What motivated Balak to seek to destroy the Jews? On its face, it was sheer terror. But a close reading suggests that something else was also at play. The Torah says not only ויגר מואב, that Moab trembled in fear, but also ויקץ מואב מפני בני ישראל. The root קוצ,