The Minchas Yitzchok, Rov of Yerushalayim - HaRav Yitzchok Yaakov Weiss, zt"l
In honor of his yahrtzeit, 11 Sivan (5749)

In the aftermath of the First World War many Jews found themselves displaced, disoriented and far away from home. R' Yitzchok Yaakov, then a boy of twelve, managed to return to Munkacz with his parents, where he did not allow the war and its aftereffects to affect his learning. He sought out his corner in the beis medrash and there he sat, studying, learning, and reviewing, until he distinguished himself even among the great talmidei chachomim of Munkacz.

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Opinion and Comment Brochos for Apples or Apples for Brochos Based on shiurim of Rav Dovid Siegel A well-known gemora in Talmud Yerushalmi states that after the end of a person's life, he will have to defend himself for any pleasure he could have experienced in this world but did not. The Midrash Rabba on Koheles says that Hashem created everything for our sake and that we must be careful not to destroy His world.

Opinion and Comment Kabolas HaTorah Only Through Ahavas Torah by HaRav Yitzchok Yeruchom Bordiansky Part II In the first part, HaRav Bordiansky discussed the fact that at Sinai there was "a strong indication of duress, which would [free one from being obligated to observe] the Torah." Hashem, so to speak, forced us to accept the Torah. Since this was the very purpose of the Creation, Klal Yisroel had no choice but to accept it. Why was it so important that we not accept the Torah under duress? Because we cannot achieve the goals without ahavoh which truly brings us to unite with the Torah and with Hashem. Fear cannot bring this closeness. Therefore we had to accept the Torah with love, without duress.