Columns

Not only does G-d strengthen those who are tired, He also energizes those who are completely exhausted.

What could David do? He wanted to help out a fellow Jew but he had waited for this opportunity all year, had scrimped and saved.

Is counting the people an expression of love or does it arouse Hashem’s anger?

In the same way that rays of light spread out to illuminate as much as possible, an enlightened person must spread his intellectual purview…in order to not violate what is expected of him.

Jerusalem is just like Mount Sinai, where Hashem spoke to the whole nation and gave us the holy Torah.

About two months later, she called to inquire if I want to work for her daughter. My heart danced at her thoughtfulness. Even though the job was not my line of work I enthusiastically accepted.

Rav Kook was incensed over the relinquishing of ownership of the Western Wall. "No one," he declared, "possesses that power of attorney."

In what sense were the Jews in France and the Jews in Spain responsible for one another? What constituted them as a single nation?

According to Rabbinic tradition, the infinitive verb “la’gur” connotes living in a certain place under a temporary arrangement.

I didn’t know what to think or where to go. I wanted to turn around and see that it was just a bad dream and that the music would start playing again.

I turned to the safe and placed my hand on the lock. With one robust yank, the old safe opened wide. It hadn’t even been locked!

When Jews are defeated and sent into exile, it is not only a tragedy for them. It is a tragedy for G-d.

I used to think that the English word “bizarre” is related to “zar,” but the Oxford English Dictionary maintains otherwise.

The more successful we are and the more money and power we have, the more we forget who gave us all that success.

That evening, while her husband was out, in the private recesses of their bedroom, Esther sobbed, “Hashem, I am not asking You why You put us in this trying economic situation. I am asking You what You want me to do.”

If one made early Shabbos and postponed beginning the meal until after nightfall, he would be obligated to recite Shema prior to eating.

All the high ideals in the world count for little until they are turned into habits of action that become habits of the heart.

We must also stop on this very special day and say is that all? Is that all Hashem wants from us, to return home and that’s it?

The semantic range of “dod” later expanded to include lover or companion, as the word seems to mean throughout Song of Songs.

My inability to lift myself from lying on the grass with his children happened before I began phone calls for him to put feet on a stepladder and change a ceiling light bulb.

In order to nullify one’s acceptance of Shabbos we must weigh all of the affects it will have and determine whether it is beneficial for him.

Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai was a great teacher because five of his students became giants in their own right. The mishnah is telling us how he did it: with focused praise.

And so it was that the rabbi thanked the bestial terrorist for his sick act of atrocity, for it was precisely that act which became the extraordinary link to the doctors' saving the rabbi's life.

How are we to understand Aharon’s silence? ... Does it mean that he couldn’t say anything, didn’t have any urge to say anything, or that he desperately wanted to cry out but controlled himself?

The real contrast here, though, is the difference between Aaron and his two sons. They were, it seems, opposites. Aaron was over-cautious and had to be persuaded by Moses even to begin. Nadav and Avihu were not cautious enough. So keen were they to put their own stamp on the role of priesthood that their impetuosity was their downfall.

Hashem in His infinite wisdom created the holidays for His children.

I was in a place of bittul – of nothingness. I woke up each morning in a daze, not knowing what to do with myself. Life seemed eerily silent except for some annoying noise I heard every morning that I couldn’t place.

Did I mention that my daughter-in-law has seemingly unlimited excess energy, and is one of the best cooks and bakers I know?

The real motivator for the British was to win over the Jews, and Zionism seemed like a promising card to play.

From a Jewish calendrical perspective, Rosh Hashanah, the Ten Days of Repentance, and Yom Kippur embody a fresh start perspective with change embedded in the framework of the new year.