יום שישי, ה׳ חשוון תשפ״זFriday, October 16, 2026
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Question: I am aware that there are five pleasurable activities from which we have to abstain on Yom Kippur. Can you explain them? Are they of equal importance? Martin Wainman Via Email
A person, to his chagrin, realizes that he doesn’t say Modeh Ani in the morning. Regular teshuva is to regret this and to strengthen himself to be more careful in the future. A perfect teshuva is when he realizes that the reason why he forgets it in the first place is because he’s not thinking enough about Hashem.
The only obstacle that could impede the efficacy of this prayer is when it is not said from the heart, but rather in a perfunctory manner. It will not be beneficial then.
For soldiers and other personnel returning from combat zones, exposure to the scenes of war can also lead to post-traumatic stress symptoms, even if these personnel were never in a life-threatening situation themselves.
On Rosh Hashana, we cry out with a resounding kol, expressing how deeply we yearn to return to our source, to Hashem.
While it is true that most typically Jewish names are simply taken from Tanach or Chazal (especially male names), not all do.
In the physical world, we are often warned that smoke kills before fire. In the spiritual world too, the spiritual smoke generated by our sins is more noxious and damaging than even the sins themselves.
If we compare the words in the blessing of Hagafen (He who creates the fruit of the vine) to Hamotzi (He who takes bread out of the ground), we will notice something odd. He who takes bread out of the ground – really?
There seems to be nothing wrong with creating new simanim; the real questions is, what is the significance of the simanim.
By Naama Klein
By the time we all made our way to their prospective new neighborhood, they had pretty much decided on a house to buy, but still wanted our confirmation before signing on the dotted line. So it was more or less a done deal, pending our approval.
Law Of Averages ‘Catacombs Are Four Cubits Long’ (Bava Basra 100b)
I understand that there is a problem – I’m not belittling it, said the landlord. But the problem is not with the house itself; it’s something external.
How do we decide when confronted with a conflict?
We are taught in Judaism to temper each of these areas and to walk the middle road. To create a balance between these two seemingly opposing forces. Too much materialism is no good. Too much spiritualism also misses the mark.
Question: When Shema Koleinu is recited during the High Holidays season, the cantor skips several lines during the responsive repetition. What is the reason? A Reader Wilkes Barre, PA
Israel will be the source of light, Jews from around the world will return to the Land, and the humiliation and hatred Israel once suffered will be replaced with universal admiration.
Historically, some would fast on Rosh Hashana, intensifying the solemnity of standing in judgment before the Divine. Though this minhag has largely faded, this day remains one of muted joy, filled with reverence and gravity.
We're going to talk about something that is probably one of the most practical pieces of advice for today. We're talking about handing over leadership.
Mitzvot call upon us to recognize our dependency upon Hashem and subjugate our will to His.
There is no more meaningful relationship than the relationship of someone who teaches Torah with their students. And yet, no student is the same as their teacher.
Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results. -Willie Nelson
It means that although the individual may not have successfully completed his teshuva process, every thought of regret that he has experienced helps to lighten his punishment and gives him additional merits.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Moses advises his successor to lead by consultation and consensus. G-d tells Joshua to lead firmly and with authority. Even if people do not agree with you, He counsels him, you must lead from the front. Be clear. Be decisive. Be forceful. Be strong.
Rav Kook sees the impulse to do teshuva and the initiative taken in pursuit of it to be the exemplar of human nature as a spiritual being.
This highly popular machzor was so widely accepted that it was even quoted in the writings of major poskim, including the Chasam Sofer.
Historically, it has been considered a blessing to live in the United States of America, though all too many people have been feeling cursed lately – some literally – for a variety of different reasons, an intolerable situation which will hopefully be resolved soon.
All of us petition Hashem for another year of life, for ourselves and our loved ones. But we don’t simply ask for another year of life. We ask for a better year with better health, with better shalom bais, with better parnassa. Better, better, better.
If the Jews undertook to be responsible for each other and sincerely repented for their previous sins, why were they afraid that they would not survive in the future.
We dream about what this upcoming year holds in store; how we can make the rest of our life the best of our life. We all have ideas, ambitions, and aspirations that we yearn to bring to fruition, and the new year gives us permission to revisit these goals and breathe new life into them.
There are many people who feel similarly about selichos and the many special tefillos recited during this time of year. It’s not easy reciting added prayers, many of which contain unfamiliar words.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
If we want to learn effectively, we need to relocate ourselves to a better learning environment. Knowing how to choose the right environment to learn and avoiding distraction is known in educational psychology as self-regulated learning.
When it comes to practical matters, reality is often about consensus.
What complicated matters is that there was no eiruv in our town. For me that meant that even if I had a bad cold (Is there a good cold?), I could not place tissues in my pocket.
Consequential Limitations ‘Seeds That Did Not Sprout’ (Bava Basra 92a)
I’m willing to consider paying, but calm down, replied Yossi. I’m not convinced that I am liable for the phone. I never accepted responsibility for it, and I held it in the regular manner. On what basis am I liable?
Living in Israel and following the Torah will enable happiness.
Question: When Shema Koleinu is recited during the High Holiday season, the cantor skips several lines during the interactive repetition. What is the reason? A Reader Wilkes Barre, PA
The mitzvot enable us to take the most basic things of all: our bodies, our possessions, our most physical parts, and to sanctify them.
How many great miracles have we experienced over the past months? Soldiers have shared so many stories of salvation. We have also experienced much larger miracles. The unprecedented defense against hundreds of missiles and drones fired simultaneously by Iran and her proxies in April and the successful neutralization of thousands of Hezbollah missiles in August are just two of the many.
As mentioned, the siddur also included a complete Sefer Tehillim, divided according to the days of the week and month, something which was also considered part of the classical world of Jewish women’s prayer at the time.
Like our forefather Avraham, our national and communal origins are also rooted in our mitzvah observance. We transitioned from a family to a people in Mitzrayim, which we entered as a family of seventy and exited as millions.
Heaven means to be one with God -Confucius
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Covenant societies exist not because they have been there a long time, nor because of some act of conquest, nor for the sake of some economic or military advantage. They exist to honor a pledge, a moral bond, an ethical undertaking.
While Moshe saw all the Jews as one whole, it was the ones in front of him who served as the representatives for all those who had lived and would live in the future.
The act of engaging in teshuva, which is so essential to our achievement of our moral and spiritual goals as humans and as members of the community of Israel, is also very challenging for us in practice.
The Rambam writes in the laws of teshuva that it is customary for the Jewish people to give extra tzedakah during these days. The Mishnah Berurah writes that doing as many mitzvot as we can will tip the scales in our favor on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.
A large percentage of us regrettably neglect the fifth commandment; honoring our parents. Due to the frenetic pace of modern life, this obligation is often woefully shunted to the side.
Beis Hillel's argument seems to be that it is a given that it would be under the category of hurtful speech to denigrate something that another person purchased.
One of the simplest yet most profound pieces of advice I ever heard is you don’t drown by falling into the water; you drown by staying there.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Managing a good reputation is an essential value, particularly for a spiritual leader. Maintaining a good name enables the values he or she embodies to be respected and internalized.
What is a Jew? A person in a covenant of love with G-d. We should therefore enjoy and pursue our covenant of love, just as we enjoy and pursue the person we love the most in the 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.
The concept of the Twelve Tribes and mutual responsibility is a “collective” concept, in which the individual appears to be secondary, however the opposite is the case.
By Naama Klein
Basically I felt like HaKadosh Baruch Hu was calling me, albeit in my son’s voice, reminiscent of a youthful Shmuel HaNavi reporting to Eli HaCohen several times during the night, during the era that Mishkan Shilo stood, many thousands of years ago.
Rabbi Nechunia’s Prayer ‘… Even So, An Actual Incident Is Greater’ (Bava Basra 83a)
Question: My husband and I are frequent Shabbos guests at our children’s homes nearby (we eat the meal with them and return to our home after the meal). Where should I light Shabbos candles – in my home or in theirs? Name Withheld
One can’t help but speculate about what happened in Israel on October 7, which led many people around the world to conclude that they were safe only as far as they could get away from Israel and Gaza...
It is no little wisdom for a man to keep himself in silence and in good peace when evil words are spoken to him, and to turn his heart to God and not to be troubled with man's judgment. -Thomas Kempis
Rav Kook speaks evocatively of a world full of harmony. Everything has been created with a purpose and situated in such a way that it stands in perfect balance with everything else.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
When love is conditional, it lasts as long as the condition lasts but no longer.
Many commentators wonder why not proffering bread and water is considered such a great crime
Our sages tell us that one of the most effective ways for man to gain Heaven’s favorable judgment is to grant merit to the community, by helping, contributing, and empathizing with those who are in need.
Rav Moshe Shternbuch, zt”l, zy”a, urges us to get moving with our Elul pursuits as early and as quickly as possible. He compares it to a wedding. If you go early, the baalei simcha, the celebrants are more likely to notice you and to interact with you personally.
Our life includes more than just fulfilling mitzvot. We also have goals we aim to achieve.
It is vital that we never forget that our goal is growth, not perfection! As long as we can honestly state that we are doing the best we can with what the Aibishter has given us, we can feel confident that we are doing our part.
Genuine teshuva is not just about fixing our mistakes in Elul and Tishrei; it’s about self-expression, returning to our true and higher selves.
Rashi’s experience is reminiscent of a number of great thinkers and scientists who described their breakthroughs as coming from imaginative visions.
Having children of any sex is a gift of unimaginable kindness. I know of people who have been trying to have a child for such a long time who would give anything to have a child male or female.
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.
New York City CANDLE LIGHTING TIME September 13, 2024 – 10 Elul 5784 6:49 p.m. NYC E.D.T. Sabbath Ends: 7:47 p.m. NYC E.D.T. Sabbath Ends: Rabbenu Tam 8:18 p.m. NYC E.D.T. Weekly Reading: Ki Tetze Weekly Haftara: Roni Akara (Isaiah 54:1-10) Daf Yomi: Bava Basra 80 Mishna Yomit: Bava Kama 10:4-5 Halacha Yomit: Kitzur […]
You found the money this afternoon, but it was lying all day in the shul’s premises, replied Mr. Shatz. I locked the shul after the last Shacharis minyan, so – if there is no obligation of hashavas aveidah – the shul should acquire the $20 bill, since it was secure in the shul’s premises.
An Implacable Foe ‘Therefore Those Who Speak In Parable Say …’ (Bava Basra 78b)
The Kohanim and Leviim did not have a share in the Land, it was therefore up to the other tribes to provide for them. In Parshat Shoftim we read about a few of these gifts that are given to the Kohen for support: from a non-korban that is slaughtered, the Kohen receives the zero'a, lechayayim, […]
Question: My husband and I are frequent Shabbos guests at our children’s homes nearby (we eat the meal with them and return to our home after the meal). Where should I light Shabbos candles – in my home or in theirs?
Rachel spoke: I want to thank G-d right now in front of all of you for giving me this magnificent present of my son Hersh. For 23 years I was privileged to have the most stunning honor to be Hersh’s mama. I’ll take this moment to say thank you.
I would never get to hear my bubby’s voice as she sang me a lullaby. My bubby would never hold me in her arms. I would never get to see her smile. I would never get to taste her delicious Hungarian cakes and delicacies. I would never feel her hand in mine. So many ‘nevers’.
We are not only able to help ourselves, we are also responsible for doing so. Though many assist us throughout our lives, in the end, we are responsible for ourselves.
As favor and riches forsake a man, we discover in him the foolishness they concealed, and which no one perceived before. -Jean De La Bruyere
In the opening chapters of Orot HaTeshuva, Rav Kook examines the categories and characteristics of teshuva. He posits that teshuva is an aspect of natural law which triggers an awareness of Divine Mercy that in turn precipitates the exercise of Divine Mercy.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Why do crowds riot? The short answer is, because they can.
On the eve of battle, 4 groups can leave. Who are the 4 & what does it mean "allowed to go home"?
And what greater matter for self-sacrifice can there be than to help bring about the full Redemption of all Israel?
The Zera Shimshon asks: Why does the Torah need to state that the people will be judged. Who else is presenting before the judges?
If we succeed in developing a strong sense of justice in our homes and communities, perhaps our prayer for God to restore justice will be justly heard and accepted.
If you don’t rinse out your mouth in the morning before davening, grab the opportunity to do so. You can fix in your mind that you are doing it so that the many names of Hashem that you will articulate during davening will come from a clean and pleasant source.
Law helps society, even if certain individuals do not benefit, or even suffer.
I had always dreaded color war. What had suddenly changed? The obvious answer was that for the first time I had been involved in color war.
The Torah standard for the conviction of criminals is set much higher than in most contemporary systems of law
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
By honoring our teachers, we learn through the interpersonal social dynamics how to revere G-d as well.
Sometimes, Hashem will send us a wake-up call, begging us to wake up from our slumber. When we hear it, we must remind ourselves what time it is.
We had a year of sorrow, and bloodshed and it's time for our salvation. It feels almost unfair what we are going through.
As he was trying to work out the mystery of who had cleaned the shul, he mentioned it to one of the cooks in the school’s kitchens. And she admitted to having cleaned the shul herself.
When Moshe uses this phrase to rebuke Am Yisrael in parshat Ha'azinu, he states this as a fact, not as a conditional statement...Moshe is saying – it is for sure going to happen!
The last month of the Jewish calendar is actually the most important – serving as preparation for the High Holidays.
Must A Typical Sale Be Generous? ‘A Seller Sells Generously’ (Bava Basra 71a)
October 16, 2026 
