Miracles In The Maternity Ward
“But they told me to come in today,” she said. They gave me this date months ago. It’s not my fault if it’s the wrong day.”
Forget About It
Rabbi Hirsch writes that “shachach” implies forgetting as a result of focusing on something else while “nashah” is forgetfulness that results from a weakened memory.
Moving Out, Moving On
An outsider might expect that we would have moved out long ago, but we had put down roots there. We were educating our children there and it was where we intended to remain.
The Breakfast Of Champions (Part III)
With absolutely nothing to lose, including his employment for the coming year, Dan Zweifel devised a strategy for a team that could not seem to catch an offensive rhythm and for players that had protracted shooting slumps and 10-minute-long droughts. His solution, his only recourse, was defense.
In The Grace And Beauty Of The Matriarchs
When I was considering making aliyah, I was aware of how challenging the move might be, especially since much of my family stayed behind in the U.S. But the deep longing to be in Israel was too strong. It was like a giant magnet pulling on my soul, until I finally let go and came home.
Double Or Nothing
Only when Shabbos finally arrived and the food was cooked, table set, baby sleeping peacefully, did those angels remember to come and wish us a gut Shabbos.
Rabbi Yehuda Kelemer, zt”l, And The Gedolim
The technician was certain that the Rabbi intended to upbraid him personally for having caused him discomfort and for attempting to continue against his will. Rav Moshe, however, had something else in mind.
Parshas Toldos: The Cosmic Battle Between Yaakov and Esav
The physical is not an end in itself- it is meant to serve as a vehicle for transcendent, spiritual, conscious living. This is the battle we face on a daily basis, a battle of perception.
The Two Stages of History: Seeing And Hearing
You must pick up on every hint of clarity you receive, put the pieces together, and form the image in your mind while still walking in darkness.
Dress For Success
Then she dangled the bait in front of me: “If I pay for you to buy a gown, would that help?” Well, I guess a little bribery never hurt.
The Politics Of Responsibility
Only one other nation in history has consistently seen its fate in similar terms, namely the United States. The influence of the Hebrew Bible on American history – carried by the Pilgrim Fathers and reiterated in presidential rhetoric ever since – was decisive.
A Time For Simcha: Singing And Music For 60 Days
Although the Rebbe does not have to explain the reason for his directives, on Shabbos, the Rebbe spoke about it and explained it in a way that even we can understand.
The Far Horizon
Moses’ insight was profound. He knew that you cannot change the world by externalities alone, by monumental architecture, or armies and empires, or the use of force and power.
Lag Ba’Omer
The entire mountainside is transformed into a promenade where superstars of the Israeli religious music scene participate in impromptu jams with tourists.
Message In A Dream
Last Shabbos morning, I reached for my siddur and started to daven. When I opened up the first page and saw the Ma Tovu prayer, I unexpectedly started crying.
The Rebbe’s View On Vacation
As we are approaching vacation time, this is a letter by the Rebbe to the children of the graduating class and their parents. It was sent to various Jewish educational institutions throughout the United States.
Individually First
I value solidarity and community, but I also think it is healthy and desirable to be able and willing to think and act independently with a strong sense of self.
One Good Deed Brings Another
After months of packing and many weeks of divesting themselves of furniture and other belongings, they were experiencing decidedly mixed emotions as their departure date approached. We were definitely feeling likewise, and dreading having to say goodbye.
Only Hashem Is In Charge
When Mrs. Rosner was done with her account of the saga, I told her, Mrs. Rosner, my food is really good. I want you to keep whatever you took and enjoy it in good health! Just remember to heat it up before Shabbos as everything tastes better when it’s warm!
My Personal Shofar Blower
Rosh Hashanah memories take us to our shuls, homes and families. They remind us of promises made about how we would change our lives and rearrange our priorities. There may also be memories of the delicacies we ate when we were children – the chicken soup, gefilte fish and great desserts. And one sound, the sound of the shofar blasting away with its shrill notes of tekiah, shevarim... and finally the long, very last sound – the tekiah gedolah.
Just Say No
Various prohibitions in the Torah use the word lo when mentioning a proscribed act while the rabbis instead use the word bal.
Talmud on Social Media: Is It A Risk Worth Taking?
Many people have asked me to comment on Miriam Anzovin’s Daf Reactions on TikTok.
Loneliness and Faith
I believe that isolation contains, within it, spiritual possibilities.
Klal Yisrael’s Transformative Origin Story
How many things are we holding ourselves back from achieving simply because we believe them to be impossible?
To 120: Growing Old, Staying Young
There is something moving about seeing Moses, at almost 120, looking forward as well as back, sharing his wisdom with the young, teaching us that while the body may age, the spirit can stay young
One Mitzvah Leads To Another
Our story takes place in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan in 2014. What?! You never heard of Sault Ste. Marie? The very town of legendary native American fur trapper Ozhaguscodaywayquay.
The Universality Of Sukkot
On the one hand, Sukkot is the most universalistic of all festivals with the sacrifices brought by the 70 nations; on the other, it is the most particularist of festivals, the festival of a people like no other, whose only protection was its faith in the sheltering wings of the Divine presence.
How To Know If You Have Attained True Teshuvah
The litmus test is quite simple: What is our reaction when we hear someone insult or belittle us?
The Healer
As the number of infected and deceased leaped up dramatically at the summer's end – together with a commensurate increase of protests, strikes and Covid-deniers – our government decreed the Tishrei lockdown.
Billionaires
“If you have children, you are a millionaire. And if all of your children have children, you are a billionaire.”