יום שישי, י״א תמוז תשפ״וFriday, June 26, 2026
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Though the Yale 5 lost the case and appeal, they ultimately won: Yale became flexible about housing
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Torah is neither a book of history nor science, it is, first and last, a book about how to live.
In the end, I reluctantly moved into the widow’s home on my own, and somehow managed to pull through, despite my acute disappointment and frustration.
I stood up, lurching down the hall, and collided into an old man clutching a pole with in IV bag.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Sukkot's the only festival sharing the pilgrimage cycle & part of Tishrei sequence-hence, double JOY
Immediately people went up to him to help him, to find out what the problem was and to solve it as soon as possible.
By dvora
I was instructed to stop all treatment, and I did. However, I insisted on meeting face to face with my doctor.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
“We received Torah from Moses” or “from our parents” isn't enough. We must write our "own" scroll
He loved to watch the boy’s face light up when he offered to learn with him, and that was reward enough.
The Yale 5 became the cause célèbre of liberals who maligned & conservatives who triumphed the cause
By Naama Klein
Is everything in my life and daily existence a slice of paradise?
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Happiness is not the central value of the Torah. Occurring ten times more is the word "simcha," JOY
Be happy. Be grateful. God knows what he is doing. It is all happening for a reason.
We get so busy living our lives, handling our day-to-day little crises that we forget to go that one step deeper and appreciate our lives.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
If we parents fail to honor responsibilities then society’s children will pay the price for our sins
By Naama Klein
Before divulging the reason for her call, she took quite a while to retrace the circuitous route that had led her to me.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Moshe wasn't the last of the prophets. How would Israel discern his true successors from the false?
The Yale 5 were treated liked pariahs by their fellow Jewish students; their beliefs rejected
By dvora
Upon awakening, I noticed several messages on my phone wishing me “mazal tov” on the arrival of a little maidel.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Three moments, sharing the same message, made a deep impression on me: Greatness is humility.
It is very exciting because the women are answering amen because it is a mitzvah, because it is agreeing with the statement that Hashem creates all our food for us...
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Amongst the greatest disagreements in Judaism is the understanding of the 1st of the 10 Commandments
By D. B. Estrin
Snow in Jerusalem! For many New Englanders like me, snow pulls at our nostalgic heartstrings like nothing else can.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
"When a king dies his power ends; when a prophet dies his influence begins" & their words echo today
Since the students knew the housing rules in advance they should not have picked Yale hoping for an exception in their instance.
Quite different from computers or a secretarial work which are much more in demand, the need for a sports or exercise teacher was obviously not very high, and as much as Sharon looked for work, she remained unemployed.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Sharing influence is like lighting a candle with another: it doesn't mean having less; you have more
By Naama Klein
Yesterday was another heartening day, one that provided me with yet another unexpected, but much-needed boost to my mood and self-esteem.
By dvora
Suddenly, the pilot's voice could be heard. He explained that this was a special day for those passengers on board who lived in Israel.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
All agree that Jews ARE different. How? Why? The Bible's answer is surprising and profound.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Of Chukkim “Satan and the nations of the world made fun.” They may appear irrational & superstitious
By dvora
I realized from this story that I was sent as a messenger from above. Hashem has many helpers in this world to help do his work.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Heaven answered Moshe dramatically. He was proved right. End of revolt. End of story- Not at all...
I had imagined it was my mother who would probably miss us the most. But what do we really know about what is happening?
By dvora
Miraculously, the baby came out without a scratch, though some glass shards had to be brushed off his hat.
Yale argued living on campus meant living in the "real world," with its complexities and challenges
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
There's no obligation TO wear tzitzit; opting to wear them symbolizes free acceptance of the mitzvot
By Naama Klein
As a borderline CDO (OCD alphabetized) sufferer, I really wanted to have every last thread tied up securely before we hit the road.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Sadly, we're no longer an edah; We've fissured and fractured: Orthodox & Reform; religious & secular
WIth this week's parsha, Israel begins its 40 years wandering in the desert before entering the Land
I was about six years old at the time and recall that very special occasion so well.
Rachel was thrown by the sight and began to caringly think whom this person might be.
By Naama Klein
With lots of time on his hands and a wealth of teaching experience under his belt, his answer was a no-brainer.
I felt terror posing questions to Rav Elyashiv doing so only twice in the 9 years I was in his shiur
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
This week's parshah inspired the Jubilee 2000 initiative leading to debt cancellation of $34 biilion
By dvora
This young man was particularly fine, as when his parents suggested he date someone, he didn’t bother to look at resumes or pictures, as many young men do. He trusted his parents knew his best interests, and attempted to put his best foot forward.
By Ann Goldberg
They had realized they would be far from civilization and kosher food and had packed plenty of fresh and canned food as well as making sure there was a microwave in their room which they knew how to kasher.
By Ann Goldberg
He was deeply saddened by the thought of her going to her final resting place alone and that it appeared as if she knew no one and had no family who cared about her.
By Susha Zipper
“What a way to spend a Sunday afternoon,” my husband remarked. “Well, baruch Hashem we are safe, there was no accident, and I’m sure there is a good reason for everything that happened to us,” I mused.
In a cab with Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach & Rav Elayshiv discussing if/when to say tefillas haderech
By dvora
Because of the way the piece of my finger had been severed, the doctors at the hospital were not able to reattach it. They told me I’d have to see a specialist.
Nissim Menashe 50, a resident of Petach Tikvah, celebrated last Israel Independence Day like most of the country, he had a barbecue with his family. It was a memorable event. He was standing close to the grill as a relative went to light it but because of the wind, the flame ignited the bottle of lighting […]
By dvora
Recently, I was outside and noticed two Lubavitcher boys placing fliers in all the mailboxes where they noticed a mezuzah, as Lubavitcher are known to do.
How was I going to get to Manhattan? No cabs were going, we didn't have a car, and many people who did have cars had no gas.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Rambam: Eating blood's forbidden because connected to idolatry;Ramban: We're affected by what we eat
By Naama Klein
B’chasdei Hashem, I found precisely enough chicken, prepared meat knishes and various other foods I required.
Rav Elyashiv favored books about gedolim with 2 caveats: accuracy; and no distasteful elements
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Why should unintentional sins require atonement? What guilt exists when requisite intent is lacking?
By Ruti David
But… “Is there anything…,” I choked out, “that I could do, as a merit that G-d should have mercy on me?”
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Like Shabbat points to something beyond time, the people Israel points to something beyond history
"But you have all our credit card details from when we paid for the car.”
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
The Sabbath is a full dress rehearsal for an ideal society that has not yet come to pass-but will
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Jewish prayer is a convergence of 2 modes of biblical spirituality, exemplified by Moses and Aaron
By Naama Klein
Eventually, after some trial and error, including an experience with a prima donna and one with a thief, I baruch Hashem ultimately found a fine, honest and reliable household helper.
Humility often confused with low self-esteem, truly means that a person realizes his true worth
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
With the synagogue, "Judaism created one of the greatest revolutions in the history of religion"
I was aware he didn’t want me to “imagine” making coffee in a forced new dream.
By dvora
It all started with the recent deluge of rain we here in Israel were privileged to have.
By dvora
After I put the tefillin away, the man said that he felt different, and that he had never felt that way before.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
By wisdom, we come to understand G-d via creation; By Torah we understand G-d through His revelation
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Torah opposes slavery; G-d desires the free worship of free human beings, yet slavery's permitted-?!
Her first tactic was tefillah; she immediately began to recite one perek after another of Tehillim.
Suddenly, she turns to me and says, “B'emet, I need to thank you, you made me excited to come back to Israel.”
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Pharaoh perverted symbols of life (the Nile and midwives) into agents of death.
As we walked, I told her how I had hoped for the chance to thank her for her amazing visit.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
The 5th cup is supported by a 5th expression of Deliverance: “And I will bring you to the land..."
If we are certain that God is on our side, we can easily become arrogant and even cruel
When my father died suddenly when I was newly married there was no one who had to say Kaddish for him. I am one of four daughters and he had no brothers.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
The first recorded instance of civil disobedience is the story of Shifra and Puah, defying Pharaoh
By dvora
Mommy, please don’t be so sad. Here in the next world Hashem Yisborach’s plan is much clearer.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Truthfulness is a fundamental value in Jewish yet truth isn't its highest value. Peace is. Why so?
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Jacob’s blessing of Ephraim over Manasseh had nothing to do with age and everything to do with names
Reb Shlomo Zalman could not endure honorifics applied to him because of his enormous humility
She was determined that the Law class was Dina’s best chance of finding a husband, and that was the real reason she wanted her to go to college.
By dvora
But who would have ever guessed that Hashem would unlock the key to the birth on same day as the English anniversary of our wedding.
By As Told To Esther Leah Avner
In a way that decision was the first in a series of miracles with which Hashem blessed us.
And so it was that both those women whose lives had been saved in Yerushalayim only about a month earlier, were now in a Manhattan hospital with the woman who inadvertently had helped save their lives.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Tamar’s conduct bears an uncanny resemblance to Ruth's; virtuous outsiders at the margins of society
By Naama Klein
When I pulled up at their house, my worst fears were confirmed.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
A Jew is an iconoclast, born to challenge the idols of the age,whatever the idols, whatever the age.
Yet, ultimately, looking back, these “setbacks” turned out to be really for the patient’s best – for the good.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Simply too many cases of prayers being answered to deny it makes a difference to our fate. It does.
Though braggarts come across as conceited, their boasting often reflects a low sense of self-regard
By Jolie Greiff
Dr. Schwartz had no other alternatives up his sleeve. He suggested my mother go home and think about what she wanted to do.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
When Jacob was chosen, Esau was not rejected; G-d does not reject.
By Naama Klein
So why was she forever unceremoniously dumping them in the library after the long school day was over and virtually all the other students and staff members had already gone home?
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Between Judaism and Islam there can be friendship and mutual respect as Abraham loved both his sons.
By dvora
Several months ago, I made a serious effort to find an apartment in the "better" area but, alas, the rents were too high. I felt that I was stuck where I was.
“My mother raised us to independence, all of us,” Rivka says, which certainly plays itself out in the fact that all three children have taken a different path.
June 19, 2026 
