יום ראשון, ה׳ כסלו תשפ״זSunday, November 15, 2026
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What You Pray For ‘… Acts As Befitting Your People’ (Sanhedrin 85a)
By Lisa Liel
Judaism is about making distinctions and Israel and Amalek are polar opposites.
The real question is where was man? Where was man when six million were being shoved into cattle cars and burned in the crematoria? We were waiting for someone to say something, do something, bomb the railway stations as we were taken to the concentration camps. No one did a thing. The world remained silent.
Question: If someone heard Megillat Esther in shul, and he then has to read the Megillah at home for his wife and other members of his household, does he recite the blessings again? Menachem Via E-mail
Israel’s mourning is not just for Kfir, Ariel, and Shiri – it is for every victim of terror, every life that was cut short in the name of hate and destruction.
Even after the pogroms of 1391 and the expulsion from Spain in 1492, those expelled from Catalonia maintained their customs and nusachs – at least partially – which they took with them to new places, including North Africa (primarily Algeria and Tunis), Italy, the Ottoman Empire, and the Land of Israel.
Nowadays, there is more than enough violence around even without drunkenness. And, of course, an all too contemporary translation of violence happens to be chamas (Hamas).
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
The word kavod – dignity or honor – appears sixteen times, but in fourteen (2x7) of these cases the reference is to the glory of G-d.
In the back of the Choshen Mishpat there was a slip of parchment, known as the Urim Ve’tumim, containing G-d’s ineffable name. G-d was behind every decision the judges rendered. Even those decisions, which in hindsight appeared wrong, were right, because G-d was behind them.
The nexus of all worlds, the point of conjunction of the physical and spiritual poles is the golden Mizbe’ach.
Our sages teach us, Words that exit from the heart [of the one who utters them] enter into the heart [of the listener]. This suggests that if someone does not truly believe or feel that which he is saying out loud it has no effect or impact on the listener.
The Megillah is called Esther, which means hidden. This is because the Divine Hand was cloaked under the guise of palace intrigue, and within the lust and caprice of the royal court.
Our Gemara on amud aleph continues its discussion of various indirect forms of murder, including the case of one who causes a snake to bite a person. There is a dispute regarding how direct this action is, and according to our Gemara’s analysis, it depends on where the venom is located.
If Esther failed to act, Hashem would find another way to save the Jews, but she and her family line would be lost.
Assimilation was quite prevalent at the time with many prosperous exiled Jews preferring a liberal, cosmo-political approach as opposed to a conservative, separatist approach. Very few remained true to the old teachings and values, like Mordechai, the former head of the Sanhedrin.
Torah is not simply a guide to living a life of truth; it is the blueprint and DNA of this physical world.
How often do we try to live life on our terms, even when the reality of the situation is clearly otherwise?
Even drinking for adults on Purim needs to be directed to enhance the festive nature of Purim and not be a cause of revelry or lead to inappropriate behavior.
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.
We are now entering the season of faith-building that begins at Purim and ends at Pesach. More than at any time in our calendar, it is a season when we remember the long-term
Nadav and Avihu don’t only teach us about how to relate to God, but also how to relate to each other
By Naama Klein
Lo and behold, both my niece and nephew decided on an arrangement that I had rejected just a few minutes earlier! And although it was not particularly my taste, I was so beyond grateful that they both agreed that the style, the colors, the flowers, basically everything about it, would be to our mutual in-laws' liking.
The following month, Mr. Gold again approached Mr. Neuman for the money. What do you mean?! asked Mr. Neuman. You said that I don’t have to pay and that you don’t need my money. That was mechila on your part – you relieved me of the need to pay!
One’s Lifetime Partner ‘The Only Poor In Israel [Are] The Subtly Wicked...’ (Sanhedrin 76a)
Phillip Feldheim died in New York City in 1990. Ten years later the first edition of the siddur bearing his name – Tefilat Shai – appeared in Jerusalem.
The Jews that didn't make Aliyah relinquished their rights!
These anti-British forces formed a pro-German government, winning the support of the Iraqi Army and administration. They had hoped that an Axis victory in the war would facilitate independence for Iraq.
How the Mishkan preserves inspiration.
Question: If someone heard Megillat Esther in shul, and he then has to read the Megillah at home for his wife and other members of his household, does he recite the blessings again? Menachem Via E-mail
The air up there in the clouds is very pure and fine, bracing and delicious. And why shouldn't it be?--it is the same the angels breathe. -Mark Twain
Doge, the Department of Government Efficiency is in the process of cutting government programs, and openly doing so with a chain saw rather than with a scalpel, and it is clear that what is good and ideal to many of us is bad and wasteful to many others of us.
Mishkenei Elyon is a small but profound text that explains the spiritual significance of the detailed structure of the third Beit HaMikdash that was witnessed and reported on by the navi Yechezkel.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
The famous Butterfly Effect – the beating of a butterfly’s wing somewhere may cause a tsunami elsewhere, thousands of miles away – tells us that small actions can have large consequences. That is the message the Tabernacle was intended to convey.
As we have previously mentioned, Rav Moshe Feinstein holds that a fetus is a full nefesh, and even though one is not chayiv missah for aborting a fetus, it still violates the issur of retzicha.
Adar has become a very beloved month to the Jews. I say become, because I don't think it was necessarily always that way.
When G-d created the world, He did it with words. Every action of creation was accomplished using words. And G-d said, Let there be light. And G-d said, Let us create man. Creation is realized by G-d using words.
It is a known fact that the yetzer hara, the evil inclination, is selective about which areas he strives to get us to stray. For example, the relationship he tries the hardest to wreck is the one we have with our spouse.
When the Kohen would light the menorah in the lower word, the menorah in the heavens was lit simultaneously, lighting up the lives of the Jewish people.
When you wake up each morning, the day holds infinite potential. You have the time to do anything, go anywhere, meet anyone, etc. But that’s only potential, for in reality, you haven’t done anything yet, and in reality, you can’t do everything, only something.
Clearly, the Torah anticipates that the gentiles will be impressed with the Torah’s laws, and they would not be impressed if those laws didn’t reflect common-sense morality and justice.
Over the past century, the desert has become an oasis, and the desolation a blessing. Israel has developed innovative agricultural expertise and water conservation technologies and has planted over 250 million trees. Eretz Yisrael is the only country that entered the twenty-first century with more trees than the century before.
In life, we are constantly seeking out the proper path to follow. But this world is somewhat fluid and unstable, with new challenges and vicissitudes arising constantly.
Jewish tradition does not shy away from acknowledging the importance of justice, and that includes expressing righteous indignation against acts of evil.
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.
If you analyze the overall structure of the Mishkan (and Beit HaMikdash) you see that it is layered according to the level of holiness.
Several minutes after entering the hospital room, my father gave a tremor that sent them running for help from the nurse's station. The nurse called the doctor. The doctor told them that my father's systems were closing down, hinting that perhaps the respirator plug should already be pulled.
While the proliferation of technology and the distraction that comes with it is fairly recent, the struggle with being fully present is not a new phenomenon. Ask HaShem
What difference does that make? asked Mr. Isaacs. You’re not a relevant party to the case. Mr. Weintraub is not related to any of the relevant parties: lender, borrower, or guarantor!
Withholding The Rod ‘A Rebellious Son Never Occurred And Never Will’ (Sanhedrin 71a)
Loaning money is a greater Mitzvah than giving Tzedakah...
Question: As I came into the synagogue, they were about to recite Keri’at Shema. I had as yet not put on my tefillin. What should one do in that situation? A Reader Via E-mail
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
So slavery is to be abolished, but it is a fundamental principle of God’s relationship with us that he does not force us to change faster than is possible of our own freewill.
When Israel enslaves their own brothers, they are also enslaving G-d’s very image and likeness on earth.
Perhaps it is the nature of debate that blinds many from the wisdom of the opposing position, but our sages clearly advocated both approaches simultaneously.
This message of hope – that all is not lost and that one can always climb back from a spiritual morass without needing years to do so – is a vital lesson that is important to remember every day of our lives. This is one of the reminders of the tefillin.
One is not promised that he will live longer than the number of years that he was destined to live. Rather, one who worships Hashem will live out his days.
When we consider whether or not someone is an observant Jew, we usually ask whether he or she is shomer Shabbos. Why is this the defining feature of religious observance? What makes Shabbos a root mitzvah, why is its punishment so severe, and why do we see it as the measuring stick for all of Torah observance? What is the secret of Shabbos?
Clothing serves as a metaphor for how a human is cloaked. Just as clothes cover the body, the body itself is a kind of cloak for the soul.
Just as acronyms serve modern convenience, they also hold a unique place in Jewish history and culture, where many family names actually derive from meaningful acronyms. These surnames serve as more than mere identifiers.
If you think that wealth is limited to your investment portfolio, you are very much mistaken (although money is one form of wealth). There are other forms of wealth, which many tend to regard as mundane, but which are often more valuable than all the money in the world.
The problem was that after years of being neglected by his father because of football, Mike didn’t have any love for the game. Still, despite his resentment towards football, he loved his father, and so after Joe’s passing, Mike began to attend every game.
Whether or not it is proper to go by one’s English name is not a question that can be answered in a vacuum. Whatever the case, I would strongly recommend choosing names that express high and traditionally Jewish aspirations for children and for ourselves. Ultimately, G-d desires our hearts more than our names.
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.
When walking down a sunny Jerusalem street with my father, he would attach clip-on sunglasses to his bifocals. When we would walk into an office or store, he would just flip them up so that he could let in the light. Perfectly practical and reasonable.
On the way to the store, though, Mr. Davis was accosted by two thugs, who beat him and forced him to hand over his wallet, which contained over $500. The thugs fled and were not caught. Mr. Davis required medical attention for his cuts but fortunately had no lasting injury.
Start Of The Yeshiva Semester “Today Is Propitious…” (Sanhedrin 65b-66a)
What can we learn from a seeming grammatical anomaly?
Shrem’s unique musical talents quickly earned him the right to serve as the chief chazzan at some of the most central and well-known Syrian shuls in the city: at Magen David and then Bnei Yosef.
I believe that Agam and her mother were bequeathed with the moral courage needed in these times from the days that our mothers stood tall in Mitzrayim.
QUESTION: Since on Tu B'Shevat we do not celebrate with a festive meal. Then how do we mark this date on our calendar? Additionally is one allowed to fast on this day?M. Goldblum(Via E-Mail)
The quintessence of the story is that Abraham wanted to make it well-known to people that they should recognize G-d as the Creator and be grateful to Him. In order to get the audience for this message, he planted an eshel tree to make his place known and easily found.
One should take the opportunity afforded by Tu B'Shvat to reflect and thank G-d for the fruits that He has created for our enjoyment.
Question: As I came into the synagogue, they were about to recite Keri’at Shema. I had as yet not put on my tefillin. What should one do in that situation? A Reader Via E-mail
This discrepancy between human and angelic perspectives plays a central role in Chazal’s account of the giving of the Torah, albeit in an entirely different vein. While no angels appear in the Torah’s version of the story, our Sages recount that at Sinai too, Moshe encounters conflict between himself and the angels.
We have spent most of our history as oppressed people. For almost two thousand years, we were scattered across the world; in over one hundred countries. Despite all this, we survived and continue to identify with our people and heritage.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
The failure to observe the agricultural laws such as tithes, challah, and the Sabbatical year reflects an unbridled acquisitive drive and a failure to care for the poor and needy. G-d provides the antidote to this disease of greed through the laws of charity.
Why should the fact that the rodef is liable to be killed during his act of attempted murder affect whether or not he is chayiv to pay back the monetary damage he caused?
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
The custom of including the Ten Commandments as part of the Shema was once widespread, but from a certain point in time it was systematically opposed by the Sages. Why did they object to it?
Man will be disappointed when he realizes that Hashem is no longer in such close proximity as He was in this world.
There is one great payback to mentoring. It brings one a certain type of immortality even in this world.
Tefillin is a daily reminder to avoid sin which would result in punishment and to do mitzvos which earn us great reward.
There cannot possibly be a substitute for the experience of encountering the knowledge of Hashem once it has directly impacted upon one’s consciousness.
When fear and panic spiral out of control, even well-intentioned caution can lead to the unjust suppression of legitimate questions and concerns.
Midyan therefore embody a double-edged sword. On the one hand, being descendants of Avraham with the attribute of controlled chesed, they are attracted to Am Yisrael, out of love. On the other hand, they are not Am Yisrael and do not have our Torah values – so they potentially pose a threat.
Most of humanity lies somewhere along the middle of the spectrum. Our point of free will is located in the decision sphere of whether or not to gossip, to hit snooze, to give charity, to smile, to eat right, etc. These are the battles of inches; sometimes we win, and sometimes we lose.
Were it not for [King] David, who was engaged in Torah learning, Yoav would not have been successful in battle, and were it not for Yoav’s skills as a warrior, [King] David would not have been able to study the Torah.
The greatest challenge is to recognize one’s inner greatness and get past all the impediments that get in the way of that growth.
I’d like to believe the trendiness of these minhagim is coming from the same good place – a yearning for more spirituality, and these practices are one way to express it.
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.
By Risa Rotman
I was fed up. I had this useless machine taking up space for no reason. I had an ultimatum in my mind that if by chodesh Elul there was no solution, I would bring the machine to my daughter’s house and it could take up space in their home.
The Torah disqualifies relatives of a litigant from testifying, replied Rabbi Dayan. This applies whether they want to testify to their relative’s benefit or detriment, and even if they are righteous like Moshe and Aharon, who are not suspect to lie (C.M. 33:10).
Global Shabbos – Everywhere Simultaneously? Departing After Shabbos, Arriving On Shabbos (Sanhedrin 58b)
One big lesson we can learn, is stop complaining, see the טוב.
The different target audiences led to the siddurim being printed in two versions: while the siddurim for olim from the Soviet Union contained the Israeli national prayers, those sent through various clandestine paths to Soviet Jews themselves contained no elements which might anger the Soviet authorities.
November 13, 2026 
