יום ראשון, ו׳ תמוז תשפ״וSunday, June 21, 2026
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Rabbi Naphtali Hoff, PsyD, is an executive coach and president of Impactful Coaching and Consulting. He can be reached at 212-470-6139 or at nhoff@impactfulcoaching.com.
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Asara B’Teves, the 10th of Teves, commemorates the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonian ruler Nebuchadnezzar that ultimately culminated with the First Temple’s destruction on the 9th of Av the following year.
Asara B’Teves, the 10th of Teves, commemorates the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonian ruler Nebuchadnezzar that ultimately culminated with the First Temple’s destruction on the 9th of Av the following year.
As this story illustrates, there is a huge difference between spending time with your children and offering them quality time.
We have neither of the mitzvos at this point. The tefillin were sold and the esrog is invalid. Let us at least have shalom bayis [marital accord and harmony].
A gap year in Israel no longer means a gap in real time communication with your child learning in Israel
The Midrash tells us that Mount Sinai was neither the highest nor the most splendid mountain. In fact it is described as being the lowest and humblest in its vicinity.
Strong listeners better understand others’ opinions and attitudes and are able to take this information into consideration when making decisions.
We did not simply recount what occurred to our forefathers three thousand years ago.
Shimon swore loyalty to the new leader. Alexander, out of respect and gratitude, preserved the Jews’ political and religious rights, both in Judah and throughout the new kingdom.
Avraham’s ability to instill in others a fidelity to righteousness stemmed from a deep sense of connection, a paternalistic drive to ensure the transference of his deepest values.
So if we have people like that to look to for guidance and direction in terms of how to deal with others’ actions, why is it that so many of us struggle in this area?
The Messiah, a descendant of the house of David, will establish a reign of righteousness and truth.
Throughout the early years of his reign, Yannai had resisted taking any actions that the people would deem overly provocative.
“A truly happy person does not allow his happiness to be dependent on any external factor over which he may not have control.” (Chachmah Umussar, vol. 2, pp. 331-2)
Yitro, on the other hand, arrived at the truth through a very different set of circumstances. He had devoted his entire life to idolatry, only to later realize the futility of his efforts.
It felt strange voluntarily leaving shul and getting into my car and driving on Shabbos morning
Chanukah tells of a powerful story of light over darkness, when a small Hasmonean band of Jewish soldiers defeated a vastly larger, better trained, and better equipped Seleucid (Syrian-Greek) force. As we know, the struggle was not primarily militaristic in nature. The main objective for Mattisyahu, Yehuda, and their followers was to eradicate from their […]
Started to strengthen Shabbos awareness in South Africa, 1 million Jews worldwide will participate
Sitting in your Sukkah remember: No one is so powerful, wealthy, smart or talented to not need God
Whether the victim of our deeds is another person or Hashem (or both), we need to be able to express our regret clearly and without condition.
The Second Commonwealth ended due to causeless hatred, sinas chinam, the ultimate lack of respect in one another.
Like the Avos, we are invested with the mission to inspire humanity to become nobler and greater
In addition to the palace’s tremendous size it was home to the “hanging gardens,” which were counted among the seven wonders of the ancient world.
The reaction is so strong that nine times out of ten, parents engage in some form of coping mechanism before arriving at a level of acceptance of a special-needs diagnosis.
We must create an atmosphere of complete intolerance for such conduct, while reminding our children that we can take pride in our unique and distinctive purpose without knocking others.
In which specific respects are we to attempt to “relive” yetzias Mitzrayim?
Until recent times, every powerful nation that has ever ruled the world has been fundamentally anti-Semitic.
The Holocaust was the latest attempt of Amalek to destroy the special bond that we enjoy with God.
A central concept in any discussion about happiness is achieving clarity. “Ain simcha ela k’hataras hasefeikos” – there is no joy as that experienced with the removal of doubt.
Great leaders like Miriam and like Sarah Schenirer possess the capacity to challenge the status quo that confronts them.
He ruthlessly crushed the revolt, and, despite lacking official Roman sanction, ordered the rebel leaders put to death without trial.
Where did this incredible strength come from? What drove these Jews, who had nearly lost all of their national identity and spiritual connectivity, to risk their lives by standing up against one of the strongest and most fearsome governments of its time?
Of all the Jewish holidays, I would say Sukkos is far and away the least appreciated.
While there is no formula that will work for everyone, there are some strategies that if followed carefully and consistently can help our children – and us – gain the most from the upcoming school year.
"If Israel's offering of land, economic improvements, and even autonomy will not help, what will?"
For breaking his oath of allegiance, Tzidkiyahu was forced to witness the death of his sons before he himself was blinded and exiled to Babylon.
It’s as if Hamas has pulled a page out of Pharaoh’s handbook.
As a guide to others and a foremost member of the Great Assembly, Ezra provided strong leadership and a moral conscience to a people that had lost its way.
For our children, technology is not just another activity that is forbidden on Shabbos.
I can testify from experience, however, that despite such experience and/or training, top-tier leaders often begin their tasks unprepared for the rigors of their new position, particularly when the experience and training focused on instructional leadership (such as classroom observation and curriculum) rather than organizational stewardship and management.
Humility is perhaps the least understood quality a person may possess. Often it is perceived as a form of meekness, a reticence that stems from a lack of self-confidence or an unwillingness to stand up and assert oneself. But that is far from what true humility is.
Throughout the past week we have thanked Hashem for the improbable defeat of the powerful Seleucid forces by a small, untrained band of Jewish fighters. We also celebrated the story’s one open miracle, when the menorah’s lights burned for eight consecutive days following the Temple’s rededication.
The exchange was brief and simple in its content, yet profound in its implications. One morning this past summer, I davened at a shul in Passaic, New Jersey. Passaic was our new home as of mid-July, following nearly a decade of school leadership in other communities. After tefillah, I opened a conversation with someone who had also just concluded his tenure as a principal out of state. He informed me he had left the field of education entirely and had moved to the tri-state area to go into business with a relative. In the course of our talk, he mentioned that another colleague, also young by comparative standards, was not returning to the school he had helped found out west.
Throughout our nation’s long history we have resided in countless countries and lived under numerous governmental regimes. For the most part, our existence in the diaspora has been difficult at best, intolerable at worst.
Earlier this month the London Games were all the rage. Tens of thousands descended upon Great Britain’s crown jewel to witness the Olympics and cheer for their respective countrymen.
After three-plus years of economic challenge and uncertainty, we remain anxious for positive news, the kind that will finally let us believe the worst is fully behind us. Unfortunately, the outlook for the 2012 global economy remains uninspiring: recession in Europe, anemic growth in the U.S. and a sharp slowdown in China and other emerging-market economies all weigh on economist forecasts.
Asara B’Teves, the 10th of Teves, commemorates the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonian ruler Nebuchadnezzar that ultimately culminated with the First Temple’s destruction on the 9th of Av the following year.
