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I am not unaware of my country's faults and weaknesses, but I continue to be proud and thankful that I live in America.

In high school, you do Model UN and everyone learns about the existence of Djibouti and Burkina Faso. But that’s not what country means for Jews. If we’re talking Jewish, there is the country and there is the old country.

Country represents the sprouting of our nation’s home in the Promised Land where we are immigrants but we are finally home. Where we begin to picture the redemption and work together to bring about kvod shamayim.

Israel. Where every tiyul is something new. Where G-d shows all the colors, the vibrancy of life, the stark contrast between vast sea, open desert, and lush forest.

The issue of identification with a country can go far deeper and far longer past a simple yom tov, too. Immigrants from all over the world come to America, yet still retain the culture and flavor along with them.

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There’s no question there’s an international mashgiach shortage, not just in America but across the world, Dubin admitted.

The mission of Am Olam was to establish agricultural colonies in America and encourage Jews from Eastern Europe and Russia to move there and work the land.

One problem with Ologists (I will give them a capital “O” in this chapter as I have invented a proper-noun) is their tunnel-vision. Each has become a respected specialist in their field, but it is rare that they bother to consider the “whole” patient when assessing a course of action.

I’ve been viewed as someone who is less partisan and someone who doesn’t get involved in a lot of controversy. So, I certainly felt I could be the one to restore integrity in the office and hire the right people to get the job done.

Take a look at some of the most productive people in society - many are yeshiva graduates. They own real estate, hotels and nursing homes. If we are as uneducated as the New York Times is claiming, how did so many Jews become doctors and lawyers, or other highly educated professions?

Ruach is described in various contexts in Tanach as wind, spirit and breath. As the physical world had not yet been created, the first mention of ruach connotes a spiritual desire of Hashem.

Even the other Hebrew words for soul or spirit – like nefesh and neshamah – are related to the words for breathing.

It's crucial to remember that before Hashem created anything, before even light, the ruach Hashem was already everywhere, just waiting to be breathed into us...

Connecting our ruach to its source requires our avodas Hashem to not be confined to theological abstractions or routine religious observances.

Speech itself is referred to as ruach... This G-dly spirit gives us the power of intelligent speech that elevates and separates humans from other living creatures.

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With the decline of memory and the increase of stress, the days in recent years were often difficult. There was little joy in a condition which was becoming more and more complex.

Only eight of the ten Torah scrolls went to Ahavat Achim – Bavli. A ninth Torah scroll was presented to a hospital sanctuary in Islip, New York, and a tenth Torah scroll was presented to Beit Choron, which was established as a kibbutz on December 1, 1977.

Developing substantive analysis of Benjamin’s Judaism and the degree to which he used his influence and position to advocate for his coreligionists is seriously hampered by the fact that he was a very private man who remained intentionally opaque and rarely discussed his role.

Amid a time of utter chaos, Shmuel stood up to help bring order to the nation. He was the one to appoint a king, to bring order to the nation.

My husband has inherited some of his namesake's traits. He is steadfast in what he believes is truth and will pursue it, much like Shmuel HaNavi did.

Based on this small sample size you might say that the name Shmuel carries power but also is a big burden to bear. Of course, you can probably say that with every name!

Interestingly, Shmuel’s name doesn’t say what we’d expect it to say: That G-d has answered. After all, Chana finally becomes pregnant with Shmuel after many years of waiting. So why only credit G-d for hearing? Why not more dramatic language?

Chana named Shmuel to commemorate her prayer to G-d for a child – Shmuel, Because I have asked him of the L-rd.

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We were both upset to distraction. Yelling at one another accomplished absolutely nothing and it took us hours to calm down, each blaming the other.

Weegee’s notable photographs of Jewish New York that reflect his Jewish sensitivities include subjects such as bagel sellers, street peddlers and garment workers, and I include here four of my personal favorites of his “Jewish genre” work.

The Magen David is a testament to our mission and our existence.

This past spring, the yeshiva undertook a renovation of the beit midrash. One of the major projects, apparently, was the removal of the Magen David pattern and these light fixtures, painting the ceiling white and installing beautiful chandeliers instead.