Beit Midrash for Birurei Halachah Binyan Zion

ועשו לי מקדש ושכנתי בתוכם The Rishonim debate whether the third and final Beis HaMikdash will be built by human hands, like the first two, or will descend from Heaven as a structure of fire made by Hashem's own hands, as implied by the verse, "מקדש ה' כוננו ידיך- The Mikdash, Hashem, that Your hands have made."[2] The Rambam[3]states clearly that Moshiach will build the third Beis HaMikdash, aided by the re ...

פן תשכח את הדברים אשר ראו עיניך[1]                Har Sinai.  We are commanded never to forget this momentous event, as the passuk states, "השמר לך... פן תשכח את הדברים אשר ראו עיניך", beware and guard yourself lest you forget the things your eyes have seen.  According to the Ramban, this is counted as one of the מצות לא תעשה, the negative commandments.[2]          ...

The Ramban calls Sefer Bereishis “The Book of Creation,” since it begins with a description of the world’s creation, and continues with the lives of our Forefathers who “created” the patterns that their descendants were destined to follow.[1]  Our Forefathers’ mitzvos and good deeds were not intended for their own spiritual benefit, or even for the benefit of their generation, but for the benefit of the ent ...

היום הזה נהיית לעם לה' אלקיך “Today you have become a nation to Hashem your G‑d.”[1] Rashi explains that the word “today” refers not to the specific day on which Moshe delivered this message to Bnei Yisrael.  Rather it means that on each and every day we must feel as if we had just now entered into a covenant with Hashem. Constant renewal is the key to remaining fresh and energetic in Hashem’s service.  Oth ...

In this week’s parshah, we learn about the reward claimed by Pinchas for his zealotry in defending Hashem’s honor: “Behold, I grant him My covenant of peace.”  Rashi explains that Pinchas justly earned his reward.[1] What does Rashi mean to add?  Is it not obvious that Pinchas deserved reward for fulfilling this important mitzva, in which he sanctified the Name of Heaven, and prevented a plague that could h ...

Unable to curse Bnei Yisroel, Bilam returned to his homeland in disgrace.  But before he went, he turned his powers of prophecy to the future, to gaze behind the curtains of secrecy, and foretell what would befall the nations of the world in the end of days.  Among these prophecies, he said the following possuk:   "וישא משלו ויאמר אוי מי יחיה משמו אל."   “And he lifted his parable (employed his po ...

Torah L'Shma Introductory Note Our Sages[1] have greatly commended one who learns Torah לשמה-Lishmo-literally, for its own sake.[2] Many times in the Talmud [Pesachim 50b, Nazir 23b, Horiyos 10b, Sotah 22b, Sotah 47a, Sanhedrin 105b, Erchin 16b] they have stated that one should always learn Torah, even if it not Lishmo, for through this one will eventually reach Lishmo. The goal, though, is total Lishmo. Tw ...

Question: Is Quinoa permissible for Pesach use for Ashkenazim who do not eat kitniyot? Answer: One should be stringent and treat quinoa as kitniyot on Pesach. :תשובת מורנו הרב נשאלתי ע”י רבים בזרעוני קינואה שלאחרונה רבים הצורכים אותם כמאכל בריאות, והוא מעין מין קטניות ועושין ממנו מעין דייסה ומיני מאפה, האם יש בזה איסור קטניות בפסח. ולאחר דרישה וחקירה נתברר לי שמזון זה היה עיקר מזונם של בני שבט האינקה בדרום ...

מוקצה דבעלי חיים הן הלכה פשוטה היא דבעלי חיים מוקצין בשבת וכמבואר במשנה (שבת קכ"ח ע"ב) לגבי אפרוחים, תרנגולים, עגלים וסייחים, וכ"ה בשו"ע (סימן ש"ח סעיף ל"ט – מ') "אסור לטלטל בהמה, חיה ועוף, ואעפ"י כן מותר לכפות את הסל לפני האפרוחים, כדי שיעלו וירדו בו, ובעודם עליו, אסור לטלטלו: כל בהמה חיה ועוף מדדים אותם בחצר, דהיינו שאוחז בצוארן ובצדדים ומוליכן, אם צריכין הבע"ח לכך, ובלבד שלא יגביהם בענין שיעקרו רגליהם מן ...

The Beis Yosef’s Question The Beis Yosef[1] asks why the festival of Chanuka was instituted for eight days. Since the Chashmonaim found one jar of oil that would have been sufficient for the first night[2] it would seem that the first night wasn’t miraculous. This question is also asked by the Tosfos HaRosh[3]. It is very interesting to note that both of them give almost identical answers to this question. ...