יום שבת, כ״ב תשרי תשפ״זSaturday, October 3, 2026
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After all, the exact amount one will make throughout the year is determined on Rosh Hashanah. It was only during Rosh Hashanah davening that I realized exactly what the kaparah was for.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
For G-d, the Sabbath was the last day of the week; for human beings, it was the first.
The woman closest to her smiled and said, "I'm not, but my great grandmother was, and I like Jewish people."
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
The paradox of Jewish spirituality: No religion holds God higher, but none feels Him closer
By Chava Dumas
Where could we go? There was no shelter anywhere! But then we noticed a small white house beside an old red barn hiding behind the trees.
One evening, that young man ‘happened’ to leave just as I did, and he chivalrously offered to walk me to my bus stop.
A Job…good girls… “I’ll get one,” I whispered furtively to Blankie. “I’ll be one of those good girls.”
How the "Broken Windows Theory" helped solve graffiti on NYC subways and led to a more orderly NYC.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
The only way to understand life is by living itL "Na’aseh venishma//We will do and we will obey.”
By Chava Dumas
He handed it to me and hmm… yes, it was definitely a private check book left unattended, with a woman’s name, address, and phone number printed at the top.
The day finally came, and with great anticipation and joy, both Einat and her husband went to the hospital.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Moses prepares the Israelites for freedom by discussing-children, several times in the parsha
This was just one of the odd things I heard, there were more when we visited the family sitting shiva.
A person's environment can work for the good or the bad; but it works more powerfully for the bad.
By Naama Klein
As he was en route, with one scholar and one scholar-wannabe in tow, he was unfortunately involved in a too-close encounter with a huge army truck.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
God is found in this world, not just the next. To grow spiritually, first satisfy material needs.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Jewish history isn't just Jews enduring catastrophes but renewing themselves after every disaster
By dvora
As he was leading the kehillah, he heard a voice in his ear instructing him “to take care of my daughter.”
Occasionally, Shimon would enquire after their children and grandchildren but for many this was too painful as they had little or no contact with them, so he had learnt over the years who he could ask and who he shouldn’t.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
HaShem wanted the Israelites to become a living testimony to the power of freedom.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Joseph reframed his entire past, now understanding himself charged with a life-saving mission by God
By Naama Klein
It was only later in the day, during afternoon carpool, that things abruptly spun out of control. Literally.
No year will exceed the seminary year in influencing the development of these young women.
Rabbi Margalit, wanting somehow to soothe the man’s pain, began to respond but the man wouldn’t let him.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
t was not Joseph but Judah who conferred his identity on the people; Judah who became the ancestor of Israel’s greatest king, David; Judah from whom the messiah will be born. Why Judah and not Joseph? The answer undoubtedly lies in the beginning of Parshat Vayigash,
By Y. Alterman
“Don’t say a word,” Mrs. P warned us with a wag of her finger. “Let the kallah think for herself.”
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Tamar realizes Judah has no intention of giving her his last son. Now trapped-an agunah-she acts
Although I did not know it yet, missing my stop was predestined.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
“Jacob was very afraid and distressed.” His fear was physical-fear of death. His distress was moral.
I was not going to be the one to point out to her that there had been no reason for her to turn around at all.
By Naama Klein
Our reactions range from dismay to shellshock to utter helplessness. In fact, her youngest sister has yet to forgive her for the very unpleasant and unwelcome surprise that greeted us that morning.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
It's not difficult understanding why Rebecca loved Jacob, the real question's why Isaac loved Esau?
Chanukah teaches the secret that greatness is how you respond-It’s how you fight&sacrifice for RIGHT
By Ann Goldberg
I opened my e-mail and for the first time there was an e-mail from her waiting for me.
By dvora
The woman next to me leaned even further forward, and soon started to interject comments as I spoke to the couple.
By dvora
My parents knew so much but were never too proud to learn something from their children for whom they provided a proper Jewish education.
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
October 2, 2026 
