Ben-Tzion Krasnianski

The conclusion of the book of Tanya discusses the theme of observing Shabbat also on an inner dimension. (From an event celebrating the 19th of Kislev at Kehilath Jeshurun in Manhattan)

In the title page of Tanya, the Alter Rebbe lays out his objective to guide us in making our Judaism personal and practical.

Maimonides codifies the belief and anticipation to the coming of Moshiach as an absolute imperative in Judaism. Why is it so necessary to await and year for the Messianic Era?

Shavuot, when we received the Torah at Sinai, is the culmination of the Exodus on Passover. Yet, on Passover we stay clear of the smallest amount of chometz, but on Shavuot two loaves of leavened bread were offered in the Holy Temple.

The giving of the Torah reconciles the dichotomy in everything and reveals the unifying essence in both the spiritual and the material.

What are the spiritual underpinnings of Shabbat that makes it a sacred day of rest? This class explains the deeper understanding of why we rest and celebrate Shabbat.

The House of Shammai says: “On the first day of Chanukah, one lights eight lights; from here on, one progressively decreases.” The House of Hillel says: “On the first day, one lights a single light; from here on, one progressively increases.” (Talmud, Sha...

The Jews' devotion to maintaining their spiritual freedom can only be described as supernatural. What gives us this miraculous strength?

The "Chasidic revolution" of the late 1700s and early 1800s revealed the basic truth that "a Jew is a Jew is a Jew." This premise -- that a Jew always remains essentially Jewish -- also introduced a new approach for dealing with spiritual defects when the...