The Bitachon Blueprint (Part XXI)
Engaging in aimless activity creates the illusion of progress, allowing us to sidestep decisive action that could expose us to failure.
Israeli Basketball Stars
I root for all of the Detroit teams and Detroit has been energized by the recent success of the Tigers baseball team and the football Lions. But now basketball has become my third favorite and the Brooklyn Nets have replaced the Detroit Pistons as my favorite hoopsters.
Absolutely Perfect
When someone makes shalom between rival parties, what does that mean?
What is a DJ?
In some ways, in this column I’m kind of a DJ.
Q & A: The Blessing of Ha’Gomel (Part II)
Question: I recently returned from a trip abroad. When I entered my synagogue early one weekday morning, I asked the officers for an aliyah so that I could bless Gomel. I was informed that I could receive an aliyah; however, as per the rabbi’s instruction, I would have to wait until the Sabbath to bless Gomel. I was not given any reason for this and did not wish to display my ignorance, so I quietly acquiesced. Can you please explain what was meant?
Name Withheld
Via E-mail
Dear Dr. Yael
Of all the things that we can give our children, self-esteem is the most important.
What Happens to Israeli Real Estate After a War?
Despite the challenges of war, Israel’s economy is widely viewed as resilient and fundamentally strong, giving both local and international buyers confidence in the market’s long-term prospects.
The Enduring Bond Of The Jewish People
We daven together in synagogues that feel familiar whether we’re in Toronto or Tel Aviv. We mourn together when tragedy strikes and we celebrate together when a lost hostage comes home or an aliyah flight lands in Ben-Gurion Airport.
A Work from An Obscure Spanish Mekubal-Turned-Philosopher
The title page itself announces the work’s ambitions: a composition… measured and delved to uncover allegory and parable in the words of Chazal, standing on the shoulders of giants like the Ibn Ezra and the Rambam.
Shattered Peace
Going out before the people and going in before them is one type of leadership. It is the leadership of the humble public servant who bends before the needs of his people.
A Silent Mountain of Hope and Tears
We must not be discouraged or lose heart in the face of the long arc of life in Israel.
Empathy In Action (Part II)
When confronted by Leah’s harsh words, Rachel certainly could have argued back, showing how she, not Leah, was the victim in this situation. She now had to share her husband, when she could have had him all to herself.
Man of Measure
You don’t need a girl who see you and sees short. You need a girl who sees you and understands that you are everything she ever hoped for.
Parshat Pinchas: Between the Spear and the Whisper
Not every gut impulse is a moral directive. When we confuse conscience with certainty, we risk mistaking personal anger for sacred missions.
Tolerance on Wheels: Tour Bus Promoting Tolerance Visits Hudson Valley Baseball Stadium
The message is about tolerance, anti-hate, anti-bias, anti-discrimination. It’s not just that we need to be more tolerant, because students understand that but we really get to focus on how I can be more tolerant. What actions can I take?
The Pulpit Must Not be a Political Podium… Most of the Time
If rabbis begin to offer public endorsements, especially from the pulpit, will those who disagree with his conclusion still feel comfortable being part of that shul?
Tribal Tallies & A Syllable Syllabus
If Parshat Bamidbar showed why the Book of Bamidbar is called the Book of Numbers, then Parshat Pinchas confirms that name.
A Sin-Offering For Hashem
Rabbbeinu Bachye finds it problematic to accept the literal interpretation that Hashem somehow erred, requiring our intercession on His behalf. He explains that the real purpose of this mitzvah of the Chatat on Rosh Chodesh is to give hope to those who have gone astray but wish to return to the faithful service of Hashem.
Helping Orphans Be Seen
The stories are compact, yet feature writing that is solid, lively, and packed with emotional depth.
Apportioning Hishtadlus
Striking the right balance between Torah and one’s livelihood is a tricky business. Especially since making a living is a mitzvah in itself.
Moses Montefiore’s One Hundredth Birthday
Five decades before Herzl’s Der Jundenstaat, Montefiore was arguably the first contemporary Zionist.
The Goalie Gets The Same Trophy As The Forward
We might think ancient society was cruel to women – and in many ways, the ancient world did not sufficiently protect individual rights – but I can’t think of anything more cruel than the modern conception that a woman should feel obligated to compete in the employment marketplace and jump back into work six weeks or three months after the most profound experience of childbirth.
What Drives Trump’s Support for Israel?
In truth, though, as recent events in the Middle East demonstrate, the relationship between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu was a function not of them complimenting each other but rather of their respective militaries complementing each other in meeting a shared challenge.
Gather Up Your Things And Get Thee Out
So where do we go from here? Don’t ask me. I have difficulty making decisions that affect my own life, let alone those of millions.
How Globalization Warped America’s Universities – And Bred Hatred for Israel and America
It’s no accident that the universities with the most radical anti-Israel protests – in which bloodthirsty slogans in support of Hamas are commonplace – are also among those with the largest foreign student enrollments.
Shabbat: Understanding Rest and Creation
Working six days and resting on the seventh reminds us that Hashem did the same when He created the world. Shabbat is a weekly reminder of how the world came to be. It was created by Hashem, and is not just here on its own.
Word Prompt – CATASTROPHE – Maayan Zik
Catastrophes can strengthen communal ties and can paradoxically be a catalyst for profound positive change.
Word Prompt – CATASTROPHE – Yitzchak Sprung
We do not respond to catastrophe with questions of why and we do not think of calamities gone by in order to be sad. We respond as best as we can.
Headlines
Latest News Stories
Recommended Today
Sponsored Posts
