יום חמישי, י׳ תמוז תשפ״וThursday, June 25, 2026
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Aliyah isn’t just the uplifting of a soul. In a quite different meaning of the same word, aliyah refers to the men, women and children who have uprooted themselves and have returned home to the land of Israel.
How can something that is produced in a pure meat entity bring forth its opposite?
There is a consensus amongst people in North America who are making aliyah, that it is at times a physically, emotionally and even financially draining endeavor. We joke that the reason it is so difficult is to test us. If you have the stamina and determination to get through the process, you’ll make it as an oleh.
The fourth son is what I call totally parve – he has no association, no involvement, no relationship with his surroundings. Because a narcissist is only interested in himself.
We are admonished to live our lives, b'simcha – in joy. But kvetches wallow in misery, because they have no hakarat hatov, no recognition of the chesed Hashem has bestowed on them.
Some of these women have been agunot for years. They are trapped in a bizarre world where they are not single but not married.
When ego or a sense of being worthier or more expert and thus the belief that my way is the only way infiltrates members of the community, it can lead to friction, discord, antipathy, antagonism, hostility and baseless hatred.
The Torah revolves around one simple but powerful precept - to not treat others in a way you wouldn’t want to be treated. The following poem offers insight as to why.
We are assured that ultimately, justice does prevail. That there is a Day of Judgement in the Eternal World. Those of unwavering faith focus on adjusting to their new normal and embrace Hashem's will and continue to find purpose and simcha, as we are exhorted to do.
The dreidel should be celebrated as the healthiest and financially friendly Chanukah item. The dreidel is not fattening – it is 100 percent fat-free, sugar-free and salt-free.
Perhaps we should not sweat the small stuff – the pekalach – but be grateful and feel blessed that we do not have to deal with a life-draining pekel.
We turn to You, the G-d of mercy, You, who we fear and adore, Please heed our prayers and pleas and bring relief, For our battered souls cannot take too much more.
We ask for a long life, so why ask for strong bones? I realized that being blessed with many years of life, of a ripe old age – isn’t enough. One needs strong bones – physical well-being.
Everyone was so focused on my brother becoming bar mitzvah that no one remembered it was my birthday too! A milestone birthday. I had become a teenager.
Any misstep is publicized globally, and with social media, it's on display almost immediately and intensely. That is the price of being royal – of being in the extremely tiny minority. Of having all eyes on you on the balcony.
He was even open to his father-in-law's advice to delegate judging disputes, instead of acting like he could do it all.
As someone who used to be on the receiving end of this toxic behavior from friends and family – I say used to be because I stopped all contact with these health-destroying individuals – I have zero tolerance for any emotional and verbal abuse – I wonder why the spouse doesn't just walk away.
While it might appear that unmarried men and women have less complicated lives by virtue of being on their own, and hence have fewer responsibilities and obligations to take up their time and energy, life for them is nonetheless more difficult.
Moe would show his displeasure with his cohorts by slapping their faces, or poking their eyes out. It might have been fake, but we kids didn’t know that.
I realized that I should be a “patient” patient – I’m not the only person being looked at and should wait my turn.
As the Yiddish saying goes, Man plans (estimates) and Hashem laughs. He does not give estimations.
But a doctor, even a specialist, is not a rav steeped in Torah knowledge, whose daas Torah is indisputable. I know that in most medical situations, there is a second opinion by an equally learned specialist who can disagree with his colleague’s conclusion as to the best course of action to take and when.
Unlike King Solomon, I cannot communicate with animals and had to keep my sage advice to myself. Perhaps the next generation of genius, Israeli high tech innovators will figure out animal translation and resolve that dilemma.
The little engine, despite the fact he wasn’t built to pull a large train, wants to try. If he doesn’t, then for sure he won’t succeed.
Our lives have a time limit. Some of us may have a bigger personal hourglass; some have smaller ones. Nonetheless, the sand in our unique hourglass is flowing down and our time in this world will conclude.
According to their misguided logic, life must have a seder – a specific order – with the oldest getting married first, followed by younger siblings. However, their thinking is so illogical.
Bruriah was a female scholar, but in addition to being brilliant in her knowledge of halacha, she was also considerate, brave, resilient, and defiant.
Whereas good-hearted Leah went the proverbial “extra mile,” her siblings couldn't be bothered giving her an extra inch.
Popsicles came in varying colors and flavors. Vanilla white, lime green, chocolate, banana yellow, cherry red, etc. Yet they are all labeled as popsicles.
Towards the end of the Seder, there is a song we sing that answers the question of how many matriarchs launched the people of Israel. Four.
Jews had freedom of religion and were able to avoid assimilation no matter where they lived in the empire. They had no legal restrictions to live Jewishly.
A modern-day version of sanctuary would be a foreign embassy. If the good or bad guy being chased by local authorities could get into the embassy, he was untouchable.
We turn to You, the G-d of mercy, You, who we fear and adore, Please heed our prayers and pleas and bring relief, For our battered souls cannot take too much more.
They are all heroes, I thought to myself, those who go – and those who let go.
How do you forgive those who are chayav mita, deserving of death for murdering their victims’ future on so many levels, emotionally, physically, socially and financially?
Even though some may seem rude, or impatient, they still have my best interests at heart – even though they may give confusing and conflicting directions (seemingly on purpose).
It’s like being told you’re fat, and even after actually losing weight and looking slim and svelte for years, the person will likely see herself as a fat person masquerading as a thin one.
Make sure when walking alone on Shabbat and Yom Tov, that you have your name and/or address in a pocket (if there is a eruv) since you won’t have your purse or phone with you.
When it appeared that I was going to be okay and the teachers could start breathing again, they asked what in the world made me do such a dangerous thing, jumping off the swing in midair.
I am convinced that when it comes to expressing one’s feelings or opinions about anything under the sun, Yiddish is one of the best languages to do it in.
We assure ourselves that we will take the high road and refrain from lashon hara or spreading gossip – even if the information is true.
The odds of me bumping into this stranger whom I had never met previously, or since, were extremely low except that Hashem had engineered this scenario.
There are subtle signs of a potentially problematic person. I have often said, people should marry people with compatible meshugasim.
It’s one thing if you are responsible for your own misfortune, but so much more unbearable if you did all the right things and someone else who was not paying attention, or who took safety shortcuts, or used shoddy materials, caused horrific, irrevocable harm.
Visitors have to be mindful when they are visiting family in a private house, that they are not in a hotel, where they feel it's ok to leave a mess for someone else to clean up.
Ruth knew that Torah was the fount of all spiritual and emotional growth. And like the sage Hillel,... Ruth too was willing to suffer both physically and emotionally to honor her vow to be a Torah Jew.
The teacher was so distraught and horrified, both by the murder and his undeniable failure to get through to his students, that he packed up and left.
As a consequence of these negative thought processes, opportunities to achieve one’s goals are flitted away, having never been given a chance to develop.
If one can’t watch the simcha live, there is the option to view it in its entirety at a more convenient time.
The city decided to have a forum at which people could express their opinion for or against Sunday closures. My parents had a shoe store and I decided to argue on their behalf as to why they should be allowed to open on Sunday.
A situation that I’m sure happens way too often is when a friend or relative pressures someone who can’t afford to lose money to “invest in a sure thing.”
Without fail, as I would approach the curve and continue on the sidewalk that was near the road, there would be one or two squirrels recklessly darting into the road, pausing and darting back as they sensed a car driving by.
It was the mask. A very cute mask with a witty message – but nonetheless, I realized that the mask represented something deeply distressing. Forced separation.
We tend to eat too much; smoke, and under exercise. For some, the only significant movement they do is walk to shul and back – but only because driving is forbidden on Shabbat.
Like an oversized umbrella it covered the entire land.
I always feel that it’s important to fight back – even if you are going down, at least the opponent will have a scratch or bruise as well.
She would not focus on what she didn't have, but on what she did have.
It’s important to be mindful of changes not just in yourself, but in the activities, habits and personality of family members and close friends.
There is another element to mindful walking that I want to point out – being on guard against those who deliberately want to disturb or cause harm.
Truth be told, if you were to ask graduate students in ancient history who Amalek was, you’d likely get blank stares.
Looking at the story, one could argue that Mordechai was somewhat responsible for what happened and it was only through Esther’s heroic sacrifice that the Jews were saved.
Young children observe and absorb even the tiniest details of their parents behaviors.
My all powerful Father hadn’t protected me. He had let a biological bogeyman grab me.
Don't we all complain about being tired or having aches and pains somewhere?
The fact is more people are getting cancer – but not necessarily dying from it. Many are cured, or at least are in remission for years.
If I am a victim of some mishap, let it be because of my own shortcomings, not someone else’s.
Hitler's destruction of the Jewish family continued long after the liberation.
Internal bullying is a private version of lashon harah.
I know that in the great scheme of things, these irritants are minor, but they do tend to add up.
I knew that there would be many women at this Chanukah party who, like me, were reeling over the news that a friend of ours had been niftar a couple of days earlier from cancer. We were beyond shocked.
So is this demoralizing situation fixable?
Why did no one speak up and warn this young lady?
Why does Chani have a lollipop in her mouth? I told you not to give her another one!
We still have an inner voice that silently screams, It's just not fair!
Purim teaches us that life is like a Ferris wheel – one moment you can be on top, and suddenly you are at the bottom.
Is there a precedent in the thousands of years since Jews accepted the Torah where there was such a widespread disdain of working?
Pure evil speech is a weapon of mass destruction...
The fact is there are so many second-time singles in heimische communities and the numbers sadly are growing each year – to such a degree that several organizations have sprung up to provide networking opportunities and social support.
Why would it be more “tznuisdik” for me to go to a Shabbat meal in a sheitel when my host thought my own hair was one?
Prayers of thanks make us focus on the reality that we do have it much better than we think we do.
Perhaps we need to review, as Jews, what defines success.
How efficient to kill two birds with one stone – or booking. Actually three birds, since I invited a man I had commiserated with while waiting my turn to join me.
Times have changed and divorced people have sadly gone from being singularities to almost a sub-community.
The role of the rav has expanded to include situations that have nothing to do with halacha.
Is the Torah offering nechama by subtly hinting that death brings reunion with loved ones who preceded you?
Was it possible that these butchers of Jewish children had been living the "good life" all these years?
I believe that each person is half a soul and marriage reunites the two.
The Presbyterian Church USA voted to divest from three companies that do business with Israel.
Sadly, there are mothers who, due to severe depression are unable or unwilling to prepare nourishing food for their children.
Neglect, indifference or criticism can break a person's neshama.
She told me that she was busy and that he could sit in his wet clothes for the rest of the day. It would teach him to be more careful.
June 19, 2026 
