Rav Elyashiv, A Personal Memoir (II)
In a cab with Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach & Rav Elayshiv discussing if/when to say tefillas haderech
The Breakfast Of Champions (Part I)
Dear Readers:
You may remember how we once did an experiment with a story (about a monster fire in Arizona) without Jewish protagonists, but containing a universal lesson that I believed worthy to record for the readers of Chodesh Tov. We are there yet again, this time directly north in Wisconsin.
Please bear with me as we once again record a story we investigated in the hope that the lesson is unique and worthy of our attention. It is going to take us five full columns to complete the tale, and I thank you in advance for your patience.
The Rubashkin Saga (Part IV)
These PETA people are not Orthodox Jews. So, why would they so strongly criticize a kosher packing plant for what they believe to be violations of kosher practice?
What Was The Gravest Crisis Of Israeli Democracy?
Although many Israelis realized how important the reparations agreement was for the economy and safety of Israel, nonetheless, for survivors and non-survivors alike, the notion that money could somehow atone for the suffering and mass murder inflicted upon the Jewish people was utterly unconscionable.
Friendship To The Rescue
The United States was convinced that Israel could never prevail against so many Arabs and feared that U.S. troops would be called in to save Israel.
Education In The Shtetl
The shtetl of Apt would rise early every weekday morning when the men would rush to one of the houses of prayer, better known as shteiblech.
Harnessing Information
This precise question does not arise in the Talmud. But young Reb Shlomo Zalman was able to marshal his breadth of knowledge and genius of application to render a most innovative ruling.
A Humbling Lesson (Part IV)
“he’s my rabbi” the Black painter said with pride, pulling out a photo of the Rebbe from his wallet
The Belzer Rebbe’s Flight To Freedom
Beginning in the tiny Galician town of Belz, Rabbi Aharon Rokeach, better known as the Belzer Rebbe, maintained his chassidic court despite the constant danger.
Breakfast And Happiness (Part VI)
If you expect more, you will be less grateful; if you expect less, you will be more grateful.
A Successive Tribute To Lion of Justice Norman Rosenbaum, z”l (Part 3)
Norman Rosenbaum was the only one in his family up to making the trans-world trip and accepting the challenge.
Jewish Practice In The U.S. Military (III)
Dr. Goldman went from testifying as an expert witness to being the defendant. Could it have been because of his yamulke?
What Does The Halachic Man See?
It is, as Rabbi Shalom Rosner explained, an outlook on life, arguably the outlook on life. It means giving halacha dominance in one’s worldview to the extent that our perception of reality is shaped by halacha.
The Quality Of Life
Axel Pflueger then turned to the head of the committee, acknowledged to be one of the most celebrated medical ethicists in the world, and inquired, What precisely are the criteria to determine one’s quality of life?
A Humbling Lesson (Part III)
Nothing is more effective to diminish envy than gratitude.
A Humbling Lesson (Part V)
A humble person who achieves a position of prominence will utilize the standing to benefit others.
The Breakfast Of Champions (Conclusion)
Overtime proved to be as tense and white-knuckled as the fourth quarter. Halfway through, New London grabbed a defensive rebound and charging toward their basket when Monona’s forward poked away the ball and broke away. In a slick maneuver he managed to split the defense and went up virtually slamming it to give Monona Grove the lead.
Swords Of Iron, Hearts Of Gold
The sense of brotherhood is so genuine because aside from the fact that Israel is now caught in an existential struggle, it is fighting as a family.
Guard Your Influence (III)
How the "Broken Windows Theory" helped solve graffiti on NYC subways and led to a more orderly NYC.
The Yale Five (IV)
The Yale 5 became the cause célèbre of liberals who maligned & conservatives who triumphed the cause
The 29th Of November And Its Aftermath
Eight days after he was sworn into office, Truman was visited by a Zionist delegation headed by Rabbi Steven S. Wise. Truman told his visitors that he supported the Zionist goals, but he was very concerned about the very vocal opposition of the State Department.
Jewish Practice In The U.S. Military (IV)
Law-abiding, mild-mannered, Rabbi Dr. (Psychology) Simcha Goldman was unprepared to obey the direct order of his commander that he could NOT wear his yarmulke outside the hospital. Strike 2 on Goldman
A Humbling Lesson (VIII)
If we are certain that God is on our side, we can easily become arrogant and even cruel
Shabbos In The Shtetl
In preparation for Shabbos, Salik Orenstein's (our protagonist, and through his eyes and his memoir are we viewing the shtetl) mother baked challos.
Reb Elimelech’s Ascent To Leadership (Part XIII)
In 1648 and 1649 Bogdan Chmelnitzky and his hordes of Cossack warriors perpetrated an annihilation campaign against the Jews of Poland and the Ukraine....
Jewish Practice In The U.S. Military (IX)
The ongoing legal saga of whether Dr. Simcha Goldman could wear his yarmulke while serving in the US Air Force
Israel’s Burma Road
Whatever the proposal would be to supply Jerusalem, it would have to circumvent the Latrun fortress equipped with Jordanian artillery that peered over the single artery into the city. The motherhood of necessity was deeply challenged by Jerusalem’s existential predicament.
Reb Elimelech M’Lizhensk (Part IX)
The Baal Shem Tov was the founder and the visionary of chassidus, but the architect who built and spread the movement was Rabbi Dov Ber, the maggid of Mezeritch.
Reb Elimelech M’Lizhensk (Part X)
To the misnaged-opponent, chassidus was not perceived as a different strand of normative Judaism, nor as a movement to uplift downtrodden Jews – but as an existential threat to Judaism itself. And the threat was no longer viewed as a futuristic potentiality; it was a real and imminent danger, for the movement was no longer limited to just the commoner but had infiltrated the ranks of scholars.
The Rubashkin Saga (Part II)
With the opening of Agri in 1987, Postville was beset with what the locals dubbed, “The Jewish Invasion.” The arrival of the Jews caused a local polarization.