Rosh Hashanah Miracles and Blessings

Posted on: September 12th, 2013

Obviously it is our choice to accept or deny that G-d is leading us on our path. Yet that choice will determine the meaning of our lives.

Syria (Today) and ‘Palestine’ (Tomorrow)

Posted on: September 12th, 2013

Now more than ever it is apparent – incontestable, in fact – that the Arab/Islamic world has long been preparing to destroy itself.

Shlomo Zakheim: Exemplar Of Chesed

Posted on: September 12th, 2013

Many of the speakers described the vast chesed that Reb Shlomo performed on a daily basis.

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Eighty Years Ago On Two Sides Of The Atlantic

Posted on: September 11th, 2013

Rewind eight decades to 1933. That year marked the rise of the greatest villain of our time and the biggest Jewish sports hero of all time.

Flawless

Posted on: September 11th, 2013

Approximately 30 days before Shavuos, my fondest friend, Joshua, a prominent diamond importer, invited me to his Fifth Avenue office. “Chaim, I want to show you a beautiful stone. Maybe you have a customer, and I am sure you could use the broker’s commission” (usually not more than two percent).

Philanthropist and Activist Shlomo Zakheim Dies

Posted on: September 11th, 2013

Zakheim frequently used his access to ambulances and helicopters to transfer sick or injured individuals to hospitals.

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Does Putin’s Help Come With A Price?

Posted on: September 11th, 2013

The offer by Russian President Putin to broker a deal that would have Syria turn over its chemical weapons stockpile to the United Nations has given President Obama hope of extricating himself from a mess he himself created.

On Not Learning From The Past

Posted on: September 11th, 2013

The high-stakes controversy swirling around Mr. Obama’s seeming confusion over how to address the issue of Syria’s use of chemical weapons appears to be a byproduct of this president’s inability to learn from the experiences of his predecessors.

Quick Takes: News You May Have Missed

Posted on: September 11th, 2013

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Israelis Watch And Wait As U.S. Debates Syria Strike

Posted on: September 11th, 2013

JERUSALEM – With Israel’s media recounting the decisions made by high-ranking Israeli generals and then-Prime Minister Golda Meir on the eve of the Yom Kippur War 40 years ago this week, IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought to reassure Israelis that the country would not be caught unprepared again amid threats from Syria, Hizbullah and Iran.

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Fractured Man, Whole Man

Posted on: September 11th, 2013

A fisherman living near the banks of a river was making his way home one evening, exhausted from his long labors. As he trudged along the path, he dreamed of what his life might be like if he were suddenly rich. Just then, his foot brushed against a leather pouch. He picked it up only to discover it filled with small stones. Falling back into his reverie, he absent-mindedly began throwing the pebbles into the water.

AIPAC Makes Belated But Big Push On U.S. Response To Syria Chemical Attack

Posted on: September 11th, 2013

WASHINGTON – Pro-Israel officials rolled their eyes this week in response to the opposing spins about their support for President Obama’s drive to punish Syrian President Bashar Assad for his purported use of chemical weapons against his own people.

e-Edition 09/13/13

Posted on: September 11th, 2013

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Community Currents – September 13, 2013

Posted on: September 11th, 2013

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From The Greatest Heights (Part IX)

Posted on: September 4th, 2013

I had to believe that things were going to be ok. They just had to be ok. We had gone through so much, had sacrificed so much and were doing everything the doctors told us to do. I remember speaking to a hesitant professor in my Ph.D. program about getting an incomplete in her class. The conversation stands out in my mind because, looking back, I can see how odd it must have seemed as I matter-of-factly told her I was too busy for coursework because my twins’ amniotic sack was bulging through my wife’s cervix.

Hilary Gatoff: Tikkun Olam

Posted on: September 4th, 2013

Tikkun Olam, “Perfecting the World,” is a central objective in Judaism. A recent best-seller entitled, Activate Your Goodness, focuses on the concept of Tikkun Olam by calling on the readers to be in touch with their innate gifts of kindness and reach out to help others.

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Meriting A Reward For Helping Parents

Posted on: September 4th, 2013

Dear Dr Yael: I loved your answer to Confused Mom (“Should Children Voluntarily Help Their Parents,” August 23). It was a bit unrealistic of the writer to expect her children to do things voluntarily for her and her husband. Even my husband, a good and loving man, does not do anything unless I ask him to, several times. I have spoken to my friends, and this seems to be the norm. This woman is blessed with an amazing marriage, but her daughter is correct: al pi halacha a child gets more sechar if he or she is asked by a parent to do something and then fulfills the request.

Consumer Pet Peeves

Posted on: September 4th, 2013

Given that this is a consumer column, you can rest assured that I spend countless hours coming up with creative and innovative money saving ideas, but for a change, I am going to try something different and share some of my pet peeves, those moments when you can't believe how much you are paying and how little you are getting in return, when you find yourself shaking your head in disbelief and wondering aloud, "Are they serious?"

The Stones, Fauna And Flora Of The Kotel

Posted on: September 4th, 2013

When we come to the Kotel we may be so engrossed in our tefillos that we don’t notice the numerous birds flying close by and the plants growing out of her stones. But the Kotel—spiritual home to millions — is built of stones that serve as the physical home for various animals and plants.

The Secret Social Setback Of Learning Disabilities

Posted on: September 4th, 2013

Dena was the star of her nursery class. All the kids loved her and the teachers gushed to her mother, “Dena is so kind. She shares with everyone and is so inclusive. When we have circle time, she sits attentively and she is always ready with a detailed and fun answer.”