יום שבת, ה׳ תמוז תשפ״וSaturday, June 20, 2026
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Michal can be reached at michal@jewishpress.com
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As we sit at our seders this year, we are not only reliving the past; we are living in the present. We are living through a time when the Jewish people are once again fighting for freedom.
Hashem will show me the way, though I don't know how it will happen. But I know in my heart, that I am meant to return.
We shift from costumes and joy to cleaning and preparing. But if we only focus on scrubbing floors and kashering kitchens, we’re missing the bigger picture.
When a person passes away, we tear our clothing. It’s a sign of mourning, of the unbearable loss. And when we are buried, we are dressed in tachrichim, simple linen shrouds. Clothing marks every stage of life – from birth to mourning to the final journey. And each type of clothing holds meaning.
A tiny baby, a bright spark of light in the darkness. A reminder that even now, Hashem is weaving together the pieces of our redemption. That He has not abandoned us. That our story is still unfolding. That the day will come when the suffering will end, when the exiles will return home, not in sorrow, but in joy.
As Jews, we hold onto the knowledge that Hashem is always with us. Just as He was with the hostages, He is with each and every one of us. Even when the world seems dark, we are never truly alone.
Despite the limited time I spent with him, my grandfather’s warm and loving personality left a permanent mark on me. His kindness, humility, and wisdom are values I carry with me every day.
When Hashem created the world and mankind, He intended for there to be peace and harmony amongst all with holiness, goodness and truth to rule over the whole world.
When we come before Hashem, with only one page in our hands to offer, it might be a good page with a lot of good deeds, but it doesn't represent or reflect who we really are. On the contrary, the judge might look at that one page and say this doesn't show Him who we really are. There's not enough information here.
Each year Hashem grants us only one year ahead, which means every year our lease ends completely and we have to ask again for a new life.
We had a year of sorrow, and bloodshed and it's time for our salvation. It feels almost unfair what we are going through.
This is a lesson we must pass on to all to learn from. As dark as it gets, do not despair since the light is right around the corner.
All the prophecies and all the events that have been going on in the land of Israel, and all over the world, in the past year, all point the finger in the same direction, to Hashem.
How could my best friend have left? I didn't say goodbye, I screamed and cried but he was gone.
Living in Israel one cannot forget the painful past since unfortunately we have constant reminders. The painful past is a part of our daily lives and not just a memory.
Since the beginning of the year we have been going thought so much pain and devastation. So much grief and lamentation. We have troubles from outside and troubles from within. G-d in heaven hear our cry. Master of the world, see our pain. Hashem, our Father save us.
Today, in our generation there is so much confusion and promiscuity. So what do we think about when we want to prepare for such a holy holiday with so much meaning?
We are living in a generation when open miracles are not seen daily or at all. And yet our daily existence in this homeland is a natural miracle.
Women are so innocent and pure. They must be, they bring up the children of Hashem, they give love and attention physically and mentally to all the children of Israel.
This woman of Israel. Have the fear and love of a Hashem in their heart, and in their soul. They shall be praised forever and ever.
We know that we're living for something higher. We know that there is a king and that is Hashem. We know that He's looking down on us all the time and He wants us to go in the right direction.
It is said that in Nissan we will be redeemed. It is also written that only with great joy can we be redeemed.
I then stood at my grandmother’s grave, suddenly the tears started rolling from my eyes, my heart opened up, and it was as if my grandmother was standing right there with me, talking to me and giving me strength. As I spoke the tears kept rolling down my cheeks. I felt like I could hear my grandma as if she was standing there with me.
You taught me so much about love and respect. About the glory and pride of being Jewish. You taught me to never give up, even if I feel that I'm standing alone, since I'm never really alone, Hashem is always there by my side helping me do the right things always.
Between the words that are written in the Torah we must hear the voice of Hashem calling each and every one of us in our time.
There was silence in the room, as she opened her mouth and recited,; Shema Yisrael Hashem Elokainu Hashem Echad. There wasn't an eye in the room that was left dry. To recite that phrase for the first time as a Jewish soul is the most incredible feeling one can ever imagine.
All this war is to ensure our safety in the land of Israel. This power that our soldiers possess, is the power that Yaakov passed on to his children when he did not reveal the future.
So many precious lives have already been taken from us and we do not know when this period will pass. Everything passes however. When one is in the middle of something terrible it is so hard to see the light that will eventually come.
During these times we have the ability, the power, and the energy to see and merit the miracles that Hashem did back then during the miraculous stories of the Maccabees, unto our very days today.
As we read the book of Bereshit week after week, we see how to the naked eye it seems like things just got worse from chapter to chapter. Yet all the harsh events that befall the Jewish people, especially Joseph, we're all sent forth just to save Jacob and his family, and later the entire Jewish people.
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.
As Jewish people we must hug, love and support the families that are grieving and be strong and powerful to keep on moving forward towards destroying the enemy and evil that surrounds us from all corner.
I remember so clearly when thousands of Jews were chased out of Gush Katif in the Gaza Strip so many years ago. How much they warned and begged and pleaded that moving the Jews from the Gaza Strip would lead to bloodshed, but to no avail.
We are Jews and history is constantly repeating itself to help us improve ourselves, and to help us grow and learn from our mistakes. Hashem is always merciful and is always takings care of us.
On the one hand we see how true this verse really is the strongest army in the world, the best technology, the best soldiers, and yet so many slaughtered and sent to their death so brutally.
The yearning for the redemption is so deep inside of us all, and the hardships and tragedies from all the year's gone by are so great to carry, that we simply have no strength left for punishment.
Throughout history there have been great leaders and great rabbis who passed on to us the beautiful ways of life. Through these leaders we've been able to seek higher levels in worshiping Hashem and simply higher spiritual levels.
I now opened my eyes that were wet with tears of the past, the present, and the future and saw how beautiful Hashem's world is and how perfect the cycles of life are. How little of the circle we see at a time.
We all have the same father, we all have the same goals and purpose, which is to serve the Almighty in the best way possible.
I have been going to Meron for so many years, over 20 years on this special day, I cannot imagine this day anywhere else but by Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai's side. I felt hugged, I felt loved, I felt protected, and I felt like the heavens were opened wide to all my heart's desires.
The demonstrations from the left-wing, have been challenging. The air was filled with tension and anxiety and hate.
As we moved around the country to different locations, every section had its own beautiful way of celebrating on this special day. I was so proud. And felt so honored to be living here in the holy land of Israel.
Dubai was so majestic and picturesque that it gave me clarity and strengthened my faith how royal I am as a Jew, and just how beautiful and wonderful the true and final Redemption will actually be.
Even Queen Esther went to the king, which she was forbidden to do, in disguise. She dressed up. Yes, she was a queen and she dressed up as a queen. However she was Jewish and nobody knew that, so she was dressing up.
My grandfather used to call me his precious little Michali and I cherished those words every time I saw him.
The daily experiences do not, and are not usually earth shattering or traumatic. Any small event or disappointment, aggravations and so on, are sometimes even harder to get up from than from big traumas.
There's always something that we want from G-d. And Hashem wants something from us.
Sometimes our children themselves don't even realize how much they need their parents.
When each holiday ends and the routine and mundane days come about, we must take the magic moments and energies from the holiday onwards.
The small light we light on Chanukah it's very symbolic of the Jewish soul. As small as the fire is or as small as a person might think his or her soul is, it’s an everlasting fire and is something that cannot be extinguished.
My grandmother was a pioneer. My grandmother was proud to be Jewish, proud to be a woman, proud to do what was right even if no one else thought what she was doing was the right thing.
I went out to work wishing Hashem well and hoping that very soon He would be able to come down to His True Home right here amongst His children in the holy city of Jerusalem.
I was so encouraged by these words that I decided to show my faith in Hashem and my true belief that He will save me this time as well.
If we take these weekly portions of the Torah and relate the story directly to our daily lives, we will see how each holy figure we read about, we can find deeply within ourselves.
While in this world the soul we have is what we have to fix and therefore each person has a different soul and a different mission, just like the rain drops.
Hashem gives us challenges and sends us different trials throughout the year and Hashem tries to spread out the work throughout the year so we won't collapse or even give up trying.
We are coming close to the holy judgment day and we must make sure that we enter that courtroom as clean and as clear as possible.
During the time leading up to this very special day we must look within ourselves, how do we want to enter the courtroom? How are we going to enter this very awesome day?
Sometimes we have a lot of enthusiasm, energy, and the ability to jump up and do exactly what Hashem wants from us.
Hashem yearns to come home. Hashem yearns to see all His children united and coming to pray in His house right here in Jerusalem.
Every week, when we read the Torah portion about events that took place in the past, I'm not just reminded of a story that happened many years ago, rather I’m reminded of my roots and where I came from and what it is that G-d wants for me to learn from my forefathers and mothers.
What measurements of time does a moment have? How long is a moment ? Can you count the moments? Is a moment a second ?
When we get older we are wiser from life's experiences. However not always do our bodies function as they did when we were 18, 19 and 20.
My mother has given me non-stop love, care and attention since the day I was born. Despite the many challenges I have had in my life, my mother has been with me through thick and thin.
The last place I moved into about two years ago, was heaven for me, and I planned to stay there for as long as possible. Obviously, Hashem thought otherwise.
The Torah we received on Mount Sinai is in every single place we allow it to enter, it is the same Torah from thousands of years ago.
Only Rabbi Shimon in his special way has the ability to make peace and tranquility amongst all types of people, and create such a beautiful environment.
As I was crying I picked up the phone and called my daughter, I told her that I think I stopped believing and once again I started to cry.
Coming from Israel, I wondered how it would be to come to a Muslim country, and this thought crossed my mind and made me a bit nervous. However, when I arrived to Morocco, I found myself being neither nervous nor scared.
There is something about a true leader that makes you feel that he is protecting you even if you don’t know him on a personal level.
The Holy Torah is full of stories and examples of how we must conduct our lives as Jewish people. However, we aren’t always successful at implementing what we know and learn, especially when push comes to shove.
Through thick and thin, and there was a lot of thick times in my choices, my parents were always there for me without any exception.
We each come from different families and different countries, and yet we are all part of the same family of Israel. This is why it's written that Kol Yisrael arevim ze la'ze – all the Nation of Israel are accountable, and responsible one for the other.
All the stories that unfold week after week in the Torah, give us the strength and the direction in how to serve our Creator in the best way possible.
When a person goes astray and doesn’t behave in the proper way, it takes tremendous willpower for that person to repent and come back to Hashem and to the right way G-d chose for us to live.
I believe that a woman has the power to see beyond what makes sense to the human brain.
I realize that without money it can be very challenging to find that inner happiness, since the people who are struggling hard to put food on their table are constantly worried where their next meal will come from.
When the Torah and the nation are constantly compared to trees, this gives us a better understanding of the importance of keeping all the laws written down in the Torah.
An act that seems so natural and easy, which is to bring a man and woman together to build a home and a life together, is associated with the difficulty and impossibility of splitting the sea?
You, Zaidy, were always spoken about in my home at all times to my children, who didn’t really get a chance to know or meet you as I did. You would have loved them all.
He personified a gentle, soft spoken soul who cared so much about every one, and especially about the land of Israel.
It's Hashem's beautiful and merciful way to always ensure that we know where we are heading and what to expect. Hashem never leaves us and is constantly there guiding us every step of the way.
Yosef's story is filled with so much emotion that almost everyone can relate to it; love, hate, hardship, loneness, and salvation.
During the Jewish holidays in Israel, one can actually feel as if they are going back in time to the first time that holiday occurred and can picture themselves actually there.
When someone gets injured physically one can usually see the path ahead and see how many weeks or months it will take for them to recover. When there is a problem with mental health, the unknown is so vast.
She was ahead of her time and was a woman of great value and strength. She spoke up for her family, her friends, and the land of Israel she loved so much.
We don’t need the sun or a projector to see the light. All we need is a small light in the darkness to help us see what is really necessary.
We must remember our parents and be there for them although we are very busy and have so much to do. We mustn't wait for them to be ill in order to visit them or see what they need.
We see amongst our people and great leaders who lived long life that it was the Torah that they learned till their last day which kept them alive. And not just alive physically, but mentally and spiritually.
Mama Rachel's image gives us strength despite the darkness. It's written that she is constantly crying over her children. Hashem tells her to cease crying, but she never lets up.
Sometimes a family member went through some harsh experience and only generations later do one of their grandchildren see the good that came out of their experience and hard work.
Being a grandparent has the privilege of enjoying the children, while the actual caring and challenging long hours of bringing them up, rests upon their parents.
Hashem wants all the Jewish people to return home to Israel and not only for a visit. All the Jews belong in Israel, and there is no better time than now.
We are simply showing Hashem how much we love Him and how much we really want to change despite the fact that we realize that we probably won't be consistent in our change.
What about the big courtroom we are about to enter? Can we really imagine that? And how about the prosecutor, can we imagine that as well?
This strange virus that has made so many changes within us…is basically Hashem trying to help us change in many different ways before the time of the redemption will come.
Men and boys of all religious types gather on the grass in the early morning, before the sun gets the better half of the sky, and pray together.
It seems that the spiritual part of our being is stronger that the physical. And yet without our strong bodies, our soul, the spiritual part of our existence, couldn’t come to light either.
Hashem, in His infinite wisdom, created our lives and the Jewish calendar so that we live through every day, in a way that will help us deal with whatever comes our way.
I opened my eyes and there I was opposite the western wall, no hunger in the air, no Roman soldiers, no fear and no Yirmiyahu. Where were they all?
