Jewish Holidays

An innocent line in the gemara about "grabbing matzot at the Seder so children will stay awake", is open to 5 totally different explanations in the rishonim, where each one sees it as a springboard for his personal educational theory. Each of these chinuchi and psychological approaches will hopefully, not only keep our children at the seder, but also "on the derech" of Torah and Mitzvot, to stay religious for the rest of their lives. In addition to the Talmudic analysis, the she'ur includes humorous anecdotes and personal experiences, which were originally delivered at a Shabbat HaGadol Drasha.

Rav Kook, in his innovative style, explains the necessity for modern man to clean his Chametz in order to achieve individual and national independence and freedom on Pesach. If it's so natural to want to improve, and this "evolution" is built-in to the essence of the world, what are the factors that hold us back from being free to be ourselves? The Rav analyzes the symbols of matzah, maror and their merger in the Korech sandwich, in conjunction with free will, as well as nationalism.

an amazing story about birchat ilanot (the annual blessing made upon seeing fruit trees blossoming, in the month of Nissan).

On Erev Pesach, I will be in a small Jewish community that will not have a siyum. Is it permitted for me – a bechor – to break the ta’anit bechorot based on a siyum in which I “participate” via Skype?