Truth in Titles: Volume 6, Issue 19, Vayakhel-Pekudei

March 14, 2026; 25 Adar, 5786 Sponsored anonymously for the Refuah Shleimah of Yair Nissan Ben Sara

Rabbonim have responded differently to the great titles of honor that they have received. Rav Elya Lopian, for example, would often get letters that contained elaborate titles praising him; he made it a habit to fold down the top of such pages before reading them, thus avoiding seeing the praise. In contrast, the Chacham Tzvi read every title addressed to him, using the compliments as motivation to better himself so that the praise people attributed to him would at least be partially true in his eyes.

The term "Rav" is commonly used today, but Rabbi Elchonan Wasserman, quoting the Chofetz Chaim, emphasized that only someone who decides Halachic matters or serves as a Rosh Yeshiva should be called “Rav.” Using this title for anyone else, he warned, goes against the Torah's commandment to distance oneself from Sheker (falsehood)...

Click Here To Download Or Print

Prince Harry and the Ghostwriter: Volume 6, Issue 18, Ki Sisa

March 7, 2026; 18 Adar, 5786 Sponsored anonymously for the Refuah Shleimah of Yair Nissan Ben Sara

QUESTION: Actress M.B. Brown released a bestselling novel, although a ghostwriter actually wrote it using Brown's input and ideas. The book credits M.B. Brown as the sole author—there is no mention of the ghostwriter on the cover, nor has Brown acknowledged her in interviews. However, the ghostwriter agreed to this arrangement and had no objections.

Does one transgress the prohibition of deception (“Geneivas Daas”) or telling a lie (“Midvar Sheker Tirchak”) in the foregoing? Does it matter that the ghostwriter consented to the arrangement?

As an aside, it is interesting to note that when Prince Harry published his book, he did publicly credit his ghostwriter and his book sold just as well.

Click Here To Download Or Print

A Lingering Impression: Volume 6, Issue 17, Tetzaveh

February 28, 2026; 11 Adar, 5786 Sponsored anonymously for the Refuah Shleimah of Yair Nissan Ben Sara

In the beginning of this week’s Parsha, Hashem says to Moshe: “And you shall draw close to you, your brother Aharon… from among Bnei Yisrael to serve Me as Kohanim…” (Shemos 28:1)

The Midrash (Shemos Rabbah 37:2) explains the need for Hashem to tell Moshe to draw Aharon close to him. The Midrash states: “When Moshe descended from Sinai and saw Bnei Yisrael engaged in that act [with the golden calf], he looked at Aharon striking it [the golden calf] with a hammer. Aharon intended to delay the worship of the golden calf (by working on it himself to slow the process) until Moshe would descend the mountain...

Click Here To Download Or Print