Judaism

A report issued after Protective Edge by high-level military officials, including top generals from the U.S. and Europe, found that Israel’s conduct in the 2014 Gaza Conflict met and in some respects exceeded the highest standards we set for our own nations’ militaries.

One might wonder, why is it all worth it? Why work to attain a higher intellectual or spiritual level if it incurs greater liability.

It is one thing to commit a crime, another to witness someone committing a crime and failing to prevent it. We might hold a bystander guilty, but not in the same degree.

“Flattery is all right if you don't inhale.” -Adlai E. Stevenson

Ya'akov's youth resembles that of his passive and isolated[…] father, his adult life resembles the trials and tribulations of Abraham among the nations.

You may be a wonderful, accomplished, and successful individual, but as long as you are not on speaking terms with your own sibling, you will not be whole. As long as a family is torn by mistrust and conflict, none of its members can be whole.

The Arizal finds not only this earthly, historic struggle in these passages but the roots of corruption in Creation.

R’ Dancziger points out that our sages tell us that before all else Yaakov Avinu prayed, not that he did teshuva. We would think that repentance would have been the more instinctive response if Yaakov Avinu thought he might have sinned. Why did he engage in prayer?

In Modern Hebrew, the term miklat came to refer to a bomb shelter, which likewise receives those fleeing air raids and protects them.

Most people believe that they “have” a soul, some spiritual essence they possess within themselves. However, the deeper Jewish sources reveal a profound spiritual secret: You don’t have a soul, you are a soul.

Even the one honored with lighting the menorah in the synagogue is required to light the menorah again at home, as the mitzvah of lighting the Chanuka menorah is discharged only when performed in one's home.

The Italians enjoy their pasta, the Eskimos live in the snow, and we thrive with prayer!

Though we are motivated to be proud of our country Israel, on a personal level when it involves one’s family it is best to be safe and not invite danger in displaying the Israeli flag outside one’s home.

We cannot ignore the fact that everything is coming from the Torah at the exact time. The Torah teaches us where to look for guidance, support and anything we need.

New York City CANDLE LIGHTING TIME December 1, 2023 – 18 Kislev 5784 4:11 p.m. NYC E.S.T.   Sabbath Ends: 5:14 p.m. NYC E.S.T. Sabbath Ends Rabbenu Tam: 5:42 p.m....

What adjustments are we making to our lives and routines to reflect that for so many of our people, nothing is normal?

Nedarim are bad, except...

For quite a few years I have come to realize that when a day presents a lot of problems, it’s probably very good – because Hashem is involved and is offering a special opportunity.

Even though you told me to repay Moshe, argued Mr. Stern, essentially, I owe you. Giving to your son is in lieu of giving to you. If you're willing to forgo, why do we need to involve Moshe?

Taking The Law Into One’s Own Hands ‘Break His Teeth And Tell Him I Am Taking Mine’ (Bava Kamma 27b)

In connection to the Kinus HaShluchim HaOlomi, the global conference of the Rebbe’s emissaries, the following is a selection of freely translated priceless letters and answers from the Rebbe about the greatness of shlichus.

Carl Jung once remarked that our ability to influence others correlates with their perception of our openness to being influenced by them.

Tens of thousands of us studied Mishnayot in memory of those killed on Simchat Torah. Acheinu allowed us to do so together with Jews around the country and the world.

Before becoming Israel, Yaakov had to first spend several years in exile learning to be more like Esav.

Rashi suggests here that while Yaakov has faith that G-d will bring him back in one piece and that his children will inherit the land promised to his fathers, he does not know whether all of his children will be worthy of this promise.

As we mark the holiday of Thanksgiving this weekend, it is an opportunity to remind ourselves that the most authentic thanks is for that which we are tempted to take for granted and not even recognize at all

He who knows he has enough is rich. -Lao-Tzu

If we are constantly looking for the ideal, we may never find it, but if we start doing the possible, we may find that the ideal is just down the road

Yaakov is now so confident in his newly acquired ability to protect himself from the scammers of the world, that he feels that he doesn’t need G-d’s help. So he heads straight for the web of deception in Charan. Something makes him pause, however.

What Jacob shows, by his sheer quick-wittedness, is that the strength of the strong can also be their weakness.