Why A Bread Blessing On The festival Of Matzahs?
For days and weeks before Pesach, we meticulously clean our homes, making sure that not a crumb of bread might, God forbid, be found when we begin the festival of matzahs.
Shabbat Chevron: On The Deepest Level
On the Shabbat when we read the portion of Chayei Sarah, Chevron residents are joined by thousands of people from all over Israel and around the world in celebrating Father Abraham’s purchase of the Cave of Machpelah and its surrounding fields as a burial place for Sarah Imeinu.
Heshy Frank’s Holocaust Story
I want to share a Holocaust story as told to me by Heshy Frank, owner of Quality Carpet and my radio sponsor for the past 32 years.
Ruby Rivlin’s Victory: ‘Lu Yehi’ Defeats ‘Let it Be’
While the phrase “Let It Be” implies doing nothing, “Lu Yehi” implies working toward a goal.
Smile, Ehud – You’re Convicted!
“The bigger they are the harder they fall” describes what God had in mind for Olmert.
A Nation Of Kreplach
Hoshana Rabbah is, according to tradition, the day the judgment of Yom Kippur is sealed and finalized. There are some changes in the morning prayers. We circle the bima seven times with our lulav and esrog and then we put them down and take five aravos and beat them on the synagogue floor as if to say, “These are being beaten instead of me.”
Presenting Arafat’s Dead Sea Tonic
An Israeli company should make “Arafat's Dead Sea Tonic” with this warning: “may cause severe vomiting or even death.”
Mommy, My Tallis Disappeared
My mother, the eldest daughter of Reb Yaakov Kamenetsky, zt”l, was niftar last month at the age of 92. She took her last breath in her home in Efrat, Israel, next door to the shul that was my father’s for 24 years before his passing in 2007.
My Reasons To Be Jolly
I’m wrapping up my trip to the U.S., a visit that for the first time in many years happened to coincide with Christmas.
Today’s Israeli: A Charming New Breed
In Israel today there is a new generation whose members may not be outwardly observant but who are intrinsically religious and have the utmost respect for the Torah and its scholars.
‘Arik Charbi’ – Arik Is My Sword
This past Shabbos, as we read the weekly Torah portion of Bishalach, my son suddenly said to me, “Dad, I have a feeling Sharon is going to pass away today, because we just read his name in Az Yashir [the Song of the Sea] where it says ‘arik charbi.’ ”
Edge Of The Ledge
Israel feebly begged Hamas to end the barrage, promising that "quiet will be met with quiet."
Israel Is Forever
My most recent column elicited a fascinating response from an American woman. Before I share that letter and my reply, I will briefly reiterate the substance of that Dec. 28 column, which was titled “My Reasons to Be Jolly.”
Bloody Year, Blessed Future
Fortunate are we to have Rosh Hashanah for repentance, a shofar to awaken heavenly mercy.
Operation Pillar Of Defense Becomes A Cloudy Pillar
As I write this, Defense Minister Ehud Barak has just announced, during a televised press conference, his decision not to run in the coming elections and to leave politics.
From Egypt I Called to my Son Jonathan
I hollered over and over again, waving a clinched fist toward the heavens.
When Bibi Did Teshuvah
I’m writing this on the day before Israelis vote for our Knesset, but one thing I can presume is that unless a cow is seen jumping over our ten-day-old new moon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be asked by Israel’s president, Shimon Peres, to form the next government.
Israel: Headed For Disaster?
I just celebrated the 29th anniversary of my aliyah to Israel. I have experienced two intifadas, the disastrous results of the Oslo agreements, the assassination of a prime minister, and the tragic expulsion of thousands of our citizens from their beautiful homes in Gush Katif.
Psalms, Scuds And Shamir
Let me tell you how special it is to live in Eretz Yisrael. The other day I decided it was time for me to say the entire Book of Psalms – Tehillim. I’m the father of ten children and fifteen grandchildren (b’li ayin hara), so the power of Tehillim is where I turn, for my family’s needs.
Therefore Give Honor To Your Nation
You know, it’s amazing. Here we stand before the Heavenly Judge, asking for a year of health for our families and for the nation plus everything else good. That’s what judgment day is for all of us.
The unique text of the liturgy for the High Holy Days begins with the daily Ata Kadosh – You are holy…and “holy ones [that’s us] praise you daily.”
‘Everything Is Great!’
In recent years, the way people greet each other in Israel has changed.
For as long as I can remember the greeting was always, “mah shlomcha,” which is equivalent to “How are you?” The Israeli answer was generally, “B’seder, Baruch Hashem,” equivalent to “I’m OK, thank God.”
Survival Olympics
What were you thinking on Tisha B’Av, the saddest day of the year? The day when we mourn the destruction of our two Temples; our expulsion from Spain, England and France; the Crusades, the Holocaust; our two thousand years of wandering the earth?
The Power of Giving
As I put on my tefillin, I knew we needed a miracle.
Israel Will Stand Alone
To me, the biggest joke of it all was the gleeful announcement by Rabin that “We are no longer an am livadad yishkone, a nation that dwells alone!”
Where Is The Tzaddik? Look In The Mirror!
I’d like to offer the following question: At the Pesach Seder we read about the four sons – the wise, the wicked, the simple and the one who does not know how to ask – but where is the righteous son, the tzaddik?
Twisting Truth for the Sake of Peace
God decided to cast Truth down to earth and went on to create the world.
The Tremendous Heart Of Pinchas Daddy
We’ve just read the Torah portion about Pinchas, an amazing tzaddik who performed an unusual act instinctively and for the sake of Hashem and His honor.
A Great Afterlife Awaits
Isn't it comforting to know that our God loves life, grants life, and promises eternal life?
For Better or for Worse
Hashem simply goes beyond the letter of the law in His love for us.
Rabin’s Guide To Coalition Formation
The post-election coalition negotiations are underway and it may take several weeks for the country to finally have a new government, with Prime Minister Netanyahu once again at its helm.