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 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.
The Ever-Amazing Reb Elimelech (Part XIV)
As has been noted in a previous column, Reb Elimelech – like the Baal Shem Tov before him – asserted that pessimism and depression cause sin and spiritual apathy. Repentance (yes, even repentance!) that causes depression and sadness distances the Holy Presence.
A Humbling Lesson (Part VI)
Though braggarts come across as conceited, their boasting often reflects a low sense of self-regard
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.
Clandestine Weapons For A New State
For the washing machine to conceal the noise and smell of the factory, it had to be in use 24 hours a day – which adds up to a lot of loads for a small kibbutz. Even the clothing had to do its share for the nascent State...
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.
The Origin Of The Floating Underground Railroad
He left the meeting with no doubt that if Hitler only could, he would destroy European Jewry.
A Humbling Lesson (IX)
Humility often confused with low self-esteem, truly means that a person realizes his true worth
The Emergence Of The Steipler
Habbat Shalom and Chag Sameach
The Auschwitz Protocols
A great story told by a master storyteller--better still--it's TRUE!
The Rubashkin Saga – XVIII
Another installment in the ongoing Rubashkin saga
Motivation Climbs The Ladder
Even with night school, Avraham remained only nominally educated, but he was high on motivation. So high that he taught himself to become a CPA and then returned to the very office where he had started, at the very lowest rung.
Look Inside Before Condemning Others
The end of the story is that my wife and family are pleased with the new oven. (This was pretty much a win-win as the old oven barely cooked, and anything with a functional heating element would have been an improvement.)
The Rubashkin Saga
Rubashkin’s idea was sound. A kosher slaughterhouse located in Pottsville, Iowa provided many benefits for consumers of kosher meat and the local economy.
The Crux Of Our Egyptian Slavery
When G-d redeemed us from slavery he saved us from purposeless work and life without purpose.
Breakfast And Happiness (Part VII)
People expectantly go through their lives awaiting the event that will make them happy.
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.
The Rubashkin Saga – IX
While we rejoice at the recent release of Shalom Mordechai Rubashkin from prison, the series continues this month and beyond.
Close Encounters With Rav Elyashiv, zt”l
I didn’t let go of what I correctly perceived was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and accompanied Rav Elyashiv all the way home – again just the two of us.
The Kielce Pogrom
The Poles were also fearful that the Jews who had returned to Kielce would reclaim their prewar houses and businesses.
Jewish Practice In The U.S. Military (I)
The story of Air Force Chaplain Rabbi Geller's options concerning his beard: "Either you go to the barber shop or you go to jail."
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 Impetus For Two Improbable Movements
By 1939, not only had Novardhok reestablished itself on Polish soil, but it also had a network of 85 yeshivos! This dynamic phenomenon, unparalleled in Jewish history, came about as a result of a single statement.
A Humbling Lesson (VIII)
If we are certain that God is on our side, we can easily become arrogant and even cruel
Breakfast and Happiness (II)
One of the ancillary axioms of cornflake fights is that they can never be contained between just two warring parties.
From A Gallon Of Gas To Gallons Of Tzedakah
As franchisees of Shell Oil, the Raffs had to sell a certain amount of fuel to be eligible for loans and other company benefits. Alas, a filling station that cannot pump gas is what rain is to a garden wedding.
The Rubashkin Saga – VI
The desire to build a social justice program with a huge lucrative potential, required an appalling trigger. Agriprocessors and Rubashkin fulfilled that need
A Humbling Lesson (Part II)
The enormity of Hiram’s accomplishments crazed him and deluded him into self-deification.
Reb Elimelech’s Ascent To Leadership (Part XII)
Wandering from town to village, the Holy Brothers neglected their physical needs and were sustained by meager coins or scraps of food that were donated along the way.