The same covenant that promises suffering, promises redemption.

An overview of the joyous day of the fifteenth of Av, its inner meaning and significance.

The Shabbat before the Ninth of Av is called Shabbat Chazon

On this Shabbat, say the Chassidic masters, we are granted a vision of the Third Temple; we may not see it with our physical eyes, but our souls see it, and are empowered to break free of our present state of galut (exile and spiritual displacement) and bring about the Redemption and the rebuilding of the Temple

Tammuz is the fourth month, it always has 29 days, its zodiac is cancer

What can happen when we see everything as being fully within our grasp and under our control.

The fast of the 17th of the Hebrew month of Tammuz, known as Shivah Asar B’Tammuz, is the start of a three-week mourning period for the destruction of Jerusalem and the two Holy Temples.

The fast actually commemorates five tragic events that occurred on this date.

A Dvar Torah for every aspect of Shavuot

The 14th of Iyar is Pesach Sheni, “the Second Pesach,” the second chance for those Jews who were unable to bring the Pesach Offering on the original date. We learn from Pesach Sheni that nothing is ever lost – we can always rectify the situation. No matter what condition a person is in, he can always rise up and rehabilitate himself. On Pesach Sheni, those who were ritually impure on the first Pesach, or were far away – even if they went afar on purpose in order to distance themselves from G-d –have a second chance.

Pesach Sheni is also the day of passing of the illustrious Tanna, Rabbi Meir Ba’al Hanes. It is accepted practice that if a person is in trouble, he can give some charity and say, “the G-d of Meir, answer me.” We do not say, “The G-d of Moshe Rabbeinu, or the G-d of Abraham, or of Rabbi Akiva – but for some reason – “the G-d of Meir, answer me.” Rabbi Meir Ba’al Hanes has a special merit to save people from trouble – both personal troubles and general troubles. Regarding personal, emotional troubles, the tzaddik who is most able to help is Rabbi Meir. And his day is Pesach Sheni.

A rich overview of the many customs that surround this special day

The power of turning the bitter into sweet, sickness into healing.

Iyar is the month after Nissan and the Exodus. Talk about a hard act to follow!

Iyar is referred to as the month of radiance or budding, "ziv" in Hebrew. There are several reasons for this, and the more we look at the events that took place in this month, the more we will understand its unique power.