The Torah’s Ways are Pleasant The Gemara states that one cannot use a palm shoot to fulfill the mitzvah of lulav, because although its stems can be tied and this would fulfill the requirement of kafus, tied up, it  is invalid because it is said regarding the Torah its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its pathways…

Humble in a Group The Gemara states that Rabbi Yehudah maintains that one is required to bundle the lulav with the other species, and he derives this ruling from a gezeirah shavah of taking, taking, from the case of the bundle of eizov, hyssop, that the Jews took prior to departing from Egypt. That verse states and you shall take a…

Mitzvah Performance with more Intention The Gemara discusses the concept of a mitzvah that is brought about through one who violates a prohibition. The Rishonim explain that this principle only applies when the mitzvah cannot be performed unless one violates the prohibition. This principle teaches us a profound lesson regarding mitzvah performance. Very often we…