Living In Mitzrayim
It is only prohibited to dwell in Mitzrayim while it is under non-Jewish rule. The reason for this is because the actions of the people of Mitzrayim were the most immoral, and thus the Torah did not want individuals to dwell there under their influence.
Facing The World – Minchat Lechem Hapanim
As I headed to work on the subway one morning, two men boarded the train carrying on their shoulders crates of sandwiches and toiletries. They put the crates down and invited anyone who might be hungry or had not slept in their own bed that night to help themselves from the crates. Everybody hid behind his or her newspaper.
The Need To Change
Wisdom from Rebbetzin Jungreis on Shalom Bayis and healing the rifts in the greater Jewish people.
The Last Sobibor Survivor
Simjon Rosenfeld, 96 years old, was the last survivor of the Sobibor death camp. In a camp in which 150,000 Jews were murdered, he and his friend managed to kill 11 SS people and escape. Most of the rebels were caught and murdered. Simjon survived, until yesterday.
The Voice of a Child
Children should be seen and not heard. It was a maxim that I heard many times throughout my childhood and which caused me a fair amount of frustration. When, I often wondered, would I cross that invisible line and move out of the periphery to which I was assigned, into the arena of adulthood and be given the chance to express an opinion that people would listen to?
With Gun Pointed, I Became A Rabbi
The first and only time I said I was a rabbi was also the first and only time I had a gun pointed at me. What led me to that moment was my need to stay on the Upper West Side for a Shabbos and a hospitality committee that arranged for me to stay with a man who lived in the former janitor’s apartment on the fifth floor of a synagogue.
Believe It
During the subsequent Days of Penitence, we prepared for the awesome and holy day of Yom Kippur, begging our Father and King to grant us a tabula rasa, so that we can begin anew.
Peace At All Costs
In what manner was Aharon distinguished? Why were Klal Yisrael protected with Clouds of Glory in his merit?
A Hanukkah contemplation: ‘To Another Year’
To lead meaningful Jewish lives, our personal journeys must be actively shaped by the events and populated by the personalities of our peoples’ past.
Let Torah Unite Us
As Purim approaches, and as we open the megillah, I can’t help but think about how, sadly, we are too often united because of dangers facing our people.
Already Paid
"I have no way of paying you back in the near future," said Mr. Stein. "I have no more assets to sell."
Parashat Emor: Learning Compassion
The Talmud tells us that compassion is one of the three traits that distinguish the nation of Israel (the others are shame and kindness). The Torah abounds with commandments that exercise this quality, and Rabbi Avigdor Miller, zt”l, explains that they are given for exactly that purpose.
The Taxi Minyan
That night a memorable prayer rose to Heaven and went straight to the Throne of Glory. It was offered by an unusual gathering, a minyan of Jews that one doesn't see every day.
Q & A: How Are We Permitted To Dance On Simchat Torah?
Question: I recently learned that one may not dance or clap hands on Shabbat or Yom Tov. If so how do we dance on Simchat Torah?
Aryeh Josefsohn
via e-mail
Mi Casa Es Su Casa
We were literally in “seventh” heaven. The Sabbatical year in Eretz Yisrael was almost too good to be true. My husband was enjoying a rare break from his hectic schedule of teaching and administrating and was thrilled to be able to instead sit on the other side of the desk, quenching his perpetual thirst for knowledge. The entire family felt blessed to have so much heretofore unheard of quality time with Abba, while living in the Promised Land and participating in frequent exciting family activities and touring opportunities with the program. We unanimously agreed that our proverbial cup had indeed runneth over.
Welcoming A Special Guest – A Lesson From The Rebbetzin
The treasure that Rebbetzin Jungreis, a”h, left behind is her teaching that continue to guide us. This week's legacy is a personal story from her daughter.
What Will It Take For Us To Get It?
Those of you who have been following my column and those of you who have read my books, especially Life Is A Test, know that in the closing chapters, I focus on Acharit HaYamim - the days that will precede our Redemption, known as Chevlei Moshiach - the birth pangs that will herald the coming of Messiah.
A Stolen Teivah?
As long as an individual is still alive and his possessions are still intact, they belong to him – and one may not steal them.
Neglect To Save
"Preventing loss is also included in the mitzvah of hashavas aveidah," answered Rabbi Dayan.
Why We Count, What We Count
The more a person focuses on his purpose in the world, the more he values the Torah.
Rescue Us From The Valley Of Tears
Our forefather Yaakov is considered to have been the patriarch who endured the most suffering. Although our rabbis look to the binding of Yitzchak and the trial of Avraham as the epitome of suffering in the form of self-sacrifice, Yaakov is our greatest teacher in the difficult subject of dealing with life's hardships.
Ba’al Teshuvah Parents, Resentful Son
Dear Rebbetzin Jungreis,
The letter you shared last week from a troubled wife who became a ba’alas teshuvah, a returnee to religious observance, hit a sensitive spot in my heart. My husband and I have also been struggling with this problem – albeit from a different perspective.
Beyond The Curtain
So long as we are alive, we have the ability to strive for higher and greater levels.
Giving Up On Rebellious Children? (Part One)
Based on the response to my recent columns, it seems the problem of parents struggling with rebellious children may be more prevalent than even the pessimists among us had assumed. As we approach Pesach, the great yom tov during which we confront the Haggadah’s four sons –one wise, one wicked, one simple and one who does not know how to ask – we need to remember that these sons are in our midst in every generation and that we invite all four to join us at the Seder.
The Weighing Of The Heart
Issues of the heart
Reform Jediism, Not, It Is
Liel Leibovitz misunderstands The Last Jedi. It is not about a community that abandons its religion for an ephemeral universalist creed, but one that seeks out its ancient religion and returns to it.
Two Magic Words
Last week I mentioned that I’d received numerous reader responses to my series of columns detailing my experiences in a San Diego hospital following surgery for a broken hip. I shared one such note with you last week. Here is another.
Better Offer
"Is there any ethical issue in accepting the enhanced offer of the second employer?" asked Nate.
Larger Than Life
"The answer depends on the terms of the purchase agreement and local customs," replied Rabbi Dayan.
Daf Yomi
The Threat Of Death
‘Sign or Else…’
(Kesubos 19a)
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