יום ראשון, ט׳ תשרי תשפ״זSunday, September 20, 2026
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Why weren’t Moshe’s prayers effective, as they were when he prayed for the frogs to be removed from Pharaoh?
The smart player always trains himself to think what the other person on the other side of the board is thinking about.
Whether a person has self-esteem or is instead narcissistic will impact on his or her ability to embody intellectual humility.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
We honor Torah, suggest the commentaries, by learning Torah and by performing the commandments, as well as by showing proper respect for both holy books as well as sages.
On the one hand, we all believe that we are unique and special. On the other hand, we sometimes struggle to experience our individuality, feeling almost lost in the crowd.
By Thursday afternoon (a day earlier than expected) camp reached the 2,500 berachos mark. The entire camp enjoyed a special dessert on Shabbos in celebration.
If we’re talking about an all one-gender situation, then there is no problem. So, if the water park is rented out and it is all men or all women, there is certainly no issue; in fact, it’s a fine idea.
Herod may have been the greatest builder of all time (or one of the greatest), but he certainly was not the greatest savior, saving the life of Ben Buta but then arranging for the gouging out of Ben Buta’s eyes (indirectly) to disqualify him from ever serving on a future Sanhedrin which could rule against Herod’s royal aspirations as did the rabbis he murdered.
By Naama Klein
Needless to say, in true Murphy’s Law fashion, I somehow managed to tip over the half-prepared bottle, thereby spilling powdered baby formula and liquid semi-prepared formula all over the dining room table, and wasting most of the powder in the sectioned-off Materna compartment.
If you would explicitly arrange not to accept liability for the money, but rather to invest Shimon’s money in a CD and give him at the end of the year whatever you receive back from the bank, replied Rabbi Dayan, you would not need a heter iska.
Sanctity In The Margins ‘Its Length Shall Equal Its Circumference…’ (Bava Basra 14a)
The pastime of blaming faultless leaders is apparently not new.
It is time to say goodbye to Shai. Maayan wraps her arms around her family, his family, all ages and generations, join together as one. She stands strong, you can see it in her eyes.
Who are the sources of our information regarding the war? After five get-togethers and lectures in the United States that included difficult questions on the situation in Israel, I understood how important it is to check our information sources.
My son recently stopped wearing a necktie and lace-up shoes on the Sabbath. He explained that otherwise he fears transgressing the prohibition against tying knots on the Sabbath. I am concerned, as I do not wish that he appear slovenly, especially on the Sabbath, which might not reflect well on him regarding possible shidduchim. Is he correct in this matter? A Concerned Mother Via E-mail
When God gets angry at the people, all Moshe can do is fall on his face in grief at his own responsibility about what was happening-- But Moshe doesn’t stay on his face for long.
The greater the power, the more dangerous the abuse. -Edmund Burke
It bears mentioning, tragically, that when judgment is rampant in the world and the angel has been unleashed for the purpose of destruction, it tends to consume the innocent alongside the guilty.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Leadership is a role. It is not an identity. It is not who we are. Therefore, a leader should never take an attack on their leadership personally.
Outraged at Moshe and Aharon, they marched with Korach to stand up against Moshe, while Korach vigorously maintained that he was not doing this for himself; he merely wanted to save the people from being misled by Moshe and Aharon.
The pastime of chess, in a world where there are so many hobbies that can atrophy the brain – from vegetating in front of a screen to pounding feverishly the controls of addictive computer gaming – is a refreshing opportunity to activate the mind and train it in many beneficial abilities.
We do not just resemble G-d. We also have a personal relationship with Him.
This is the question that Turnus Rufus the wicked asked Rabbi Akiva: If your G-d loves the poor, for what reason does He not support them Himself?
Korach and his group were fighting with each other at the same time that they were fighting with Moshe and Aharon.
Perhaps it may be somewhat of a heretical question, but supposing G-d had a wallet, whose picture would be in it? Who could be deemed the Pride and Joy of the Master of the world, as it were?
When you see something, you experience it all at once; there’s no process, no surprises. When hearing, when taking a journey, there can be a long-winding path, twisting and turning in all directions, leading you on a seemingly endless quest.
To celebrate any day other than those mandated by the Torah or by Chazal is not proper. However, to commemorate days of importance is proper. Since July 4th commemorates the independence of the United States, it is proper to show one's gratitude to the United States for the freedom it avails to those that live there.
The next morning when I woke up at dawn, the wind sounded fierce outside. I could hear frightening noises of destruction, but it was still too dark to see outside, and anyway as soon as I turned my phone on, there were all kinds of warnings to stay away from windows.
I know that there is ona’ah regarding sales, replied Ari, but I never heard about ona’ah regarding rental. Anyway, I didn’t overcharge you; you offered $40 on your own! Besides, you should have asked around yesterday. You can’t come today and claim ona’ah.
A Fundraiser’s Reward ‘Those Who Persuade Others To Give Charity Are Greater’ (Bava Basra 9a)
Is remembering God's wrath the best way to commence every Shabbos?
Question: Recently we read the haftara of Parashat Naso. I am puzzled by the fact that the wife of Mano’ach was given to see things her husband did not see, yet only his name is mentioned. What was the name of Mano’ach’s wife? Yossy Guttman Via email
When faced with uncertainty, confusion, or disillusionment due to current challenges, turning our thoughts positively towards the past and the future can empower us with perspective and inner strength.
Everyone is aware of the Rebbe’s great leadership and his vast effort to revitalize and elevate the prestige of Judaism among Jews everywhere. However, not everyone is aware of the Rebbe’s greatness as a Torah scholar.
There is a strong message in this week’s Torah portion and it is the call to return home, to make Aliyah.
A symphony must be like the world. It must contain everything. -Gustav Mahler
Angels emanate from and inhabit pure spiritual worlds above. G-d’s presence and their mission are both clear to them.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
People with the growth mindset react differently. They don't just seek challenge; they thrive on it. The bigger the challenge, the more they stretch.
Being a real hero is not just about what we do, it is also about when we do it.
Even in the depths of our exile, we are never forsaken by Hashem, and the Gemara teaches that even the Shechina, the Divine Presence on earth, goes into exile to suffer with us until our ultimate redemption.
It is specifically when a person is in trouble or faces a serious challenge that he becomes vulnerable to the yetzer hara.
What is so exceptional about the blessing Magein Avraham that the Shulchan Aruch says that we have to say Shemoneh Esrei over again if we didn’t have kavanah? The answer is because the first blessing is the password to get into Hashem’s Palace, to have an audience with HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
As to why the Sages considered sin with the mouth as a precursor to sexual immorality, on a simple level we may say that lack of boundaries and respect will lead to also breaking barriers of dignity and body integrity.
Is it right? In my estimation it can be misconstrued and seen as a sign of arrogance and haughtiness which our Sages certainly look upon as being at best unacceptable behavior for Jewish people.
Prepare based on temperament and personality. Add healthy dose of tefillah. Mix together all ingredients while continually adding tefillos. Allow to rise generously.
The spiritual concept of seeing is the idea of observing something as it is, i.e., in a completely static state, lacking any movement. When you see a picture, you grasp the entire image instantaneously.
But why be taught Torah in the womb to begin with if we are only going to be caused to forget?
My mother insisted that I give this woman a hug. I refused. My mother continued to coax me to hug her and I resisted. Little by little my mother got me to go to her. I don’t exactly know how long it took but I eventually gave her a hug.
No Trespass ‘Two Gardens, One Above The Other…’ (Bava Metzia 118b)
The primary means of hashavas aveidah, returning lost items, is through simanim, identifying features, replied Rabbi Dayan.
The census, the camp, and travel scheme were all set, but then...
The noise was deafening! I had to find my way to the front of the shul to hear the reading of the Torah, and even then, it was still hard to hear every word. The Mussaf service was no better.
Question: Recently we read the haftara of Parashat Naso. I am puzzled by the fact that the wife of Manoach was given to see things her husband did not see, yet only his name is mentioned. What was the name of Manoach’s wife? Yossy Guttman Via Email
As we are approaching vacation time, this is a letter by the Rebbe to the children of the graduating class and their parents. It was sent to various Jewish educational institutions throughout the United States.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Adaptive leadership is called for when the world is changing, circumstances are no longer what they were, and what once worked works no more.
The Jews assumed that Hashem hated them because they saw themselves as unworthy of His love.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Presumably, even the lowly of spirit according to Maimonides is not purposefully self-denigrating and contains a healthy sense of self-worth (contingent on an awareness of G-d, not one’s own accomplishments).
The seven stems of the Menorah symbolize the seven wisdoms of the world. They all emanate from the central wisdom of the divine Torah and they have purpose only when they too contribute to the Torah.
Not eating meat is a decision, eating meat is an instinct. -Denis Leary
These entities differ profoundly from one another, but they join together when they face the Menorah, the single individual divine source of all wisdom.
One may then raise the question of why should Moshe have gotten married to begin with
How could Hashem imply that the essence of every Jew is good (made of pure gold like the menorah) if there were sinners among them?
Swimmers should be cautioned about the absolute need for proper supervision and the great danger of going solo to the pool. Also, remember that long exposures to the sun can be unhealthy. Use a sun blocker!
On practical level, we must ask ourselves: Aren’t there halachot that are more serious than others? No legal or moral system can operate by treating everything with equal priority (see Tosafos Yom Tov on Avos 2:1).
When it comes to parenting/teaching we don’t like to watch children make mistakes. We also don’t like having to take the time and energy to enforce the consequences of those mistakes.
When used properly, clothing mitigates the shame of our physical bodies and helps us express our higher, dignified selves in the world. When misused, clothing can hide our spiritual core, portraying ourselves as completely physical beings.
Let’s just say that I soon began covering the shortfall myself, and my group leader promptly stopped sending me the spreadsheets. And I countered by unearthing them anyway and continuing to fill the quota, most often without signing in.
Even if the property was initially intended for renting out, either partner can demand to dissolve the partnership through gode o agod – i.e., he offers the other partner the option to either buy (gode) or sell (agod) the respective half of the property (C.M. 171:8).
For Lack Of Funds ‘Merchants In Sura Are Not In [Biblical] Violation …’ (Bava Metzia 111a)
Why are the wagons referred to as a Korban?
Some research indicates that heroism during war or, maybe more specifically, the acknowledgement of a soldier’s heroism, might be beneficial to the soldier himself, as it is associated with lower levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms (Stein et al., 2020).
Question: Lately, various missionary groups have been very active in my neighborhood and other Jewish areas, anxious to convert our brethren to their way. Why don’t we, in turn, seek to convert them? This should be correct especially in light of the Yom Tov of Shavuot that we are celebrating when we read of the conversion of Ruth the Moabite, a woman of such exceeding piety that she proved to be the ancestress of King David and his dynasty, from which will sprout the ultimate king and redeemer, Melech HaMashiach. Moshe Jakobovitz Via email
Some demographers, including Pew and other federations, have created a new line of questioning designed to analyze Chabad involvement. Instead of asking them what type of Jew they think they are, the surveys encourage participants to express their Jewish identity in more depth.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Why does the Torah spend so much time describing an event that could have been stated far more briefly by naming the princes and then simply telling us generically that each brought a silver dish, a silver basin and so on?
The Kohen is the one who will accompany these three alienated individuals and, by so doing, become their connection to the rest of society.
Love is a portion of the soul itself, and it is of the same nature as the celestial breathing of the atmosphere of paradise. -Victor Hugo
Ari talks about the holidays of Shavuot and Yom Kippur, the Shofar that connects the two holidays, and the indigenous people of the Land of Israel.
The Reading of Megillat "Ruth" on Shavuot has its roots in Masechet Sofrim.
A Jewish student from MIT visiting Israel told me, after describing the hypocritical protests on behalf of Hamas that took place on her campus: What our world needs the most now is faith, vision, and a clear moral compass.
G-d had grand plans for the world. There would be nothing wasted. Even the wood itself would be a part of the fruit. That’s potentially true, but in reality there will be losses. Not every part of the process will yield fruit.
Baruch Hashem, we are witnessing a revolution in this area. Though no soldier can match the Vilna Gaon’s or P’nei Yehoshua’s piety, we have thousands of IDF soldiers who are both deeply committed to halacha and Jewish values and are genuine talmidei chachamim.
If we had our way, we might indeed have the yeshiva students write about how iconic heroes have an immensely deep influence on politics, ethics, outlook, and everything in between. But the names of the heroes would be worlds – nay, universes – apart!
Some may refer to the Torah as a history book; others may think of it as a book of law or a source of Jewish wisdom. While these are all true, they only scratch the surface of the Torah’s true nature.
When we think this Shavuot about the revelation at Sinai, let’s remember that the Torah was given surprisingly in the midst of billowing smoke and blackness.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Even someone who openly performs wicked deeds should not be disparaged in totality.
If staying up all night will cause one great discomfort or ruin one's Yom Tov and cause one not to be able to learn properly during Shavuot and its aftermath, then there are halachic grounds to be lenient and to go to sleep Shavous night.
I asked My people to bless Me when they are sated, and they responded by blessing Me even if they only eat a portion the size of an olive (or an egg). They do so because they recognize that everything comes from their Father in Heaven, and they seek to give Me great pleasure in all that they do.
In this day and age, when there is so much intermarriage and assimilation, even in Israel, should we not be thankful that this young man married a Jewish girl. Their children will be Jewish, even if their chuppah wasn’t so much. There’s still hope for their future generations.
Judging from the sources in the Talmud, there is more than a tinge of ambivalence about the non-Jews being left out of Matan Torah. Though the Talmud was written in the context of a nascent Christianity that preached a gospel to all men, it was likely more than this that prompted the rabbis to justify […]
Usually, a kinyan must be made for a transaction to be binding, whereas retracting from a verbal agreement carries only the stigma of mechusar amana – lacking trustworthiness, replied Rabbi Dayan. Nonetheless, stating ‘mazel u’bracha’ is considered a binding obligation in diamond commerce, according to many poskim.
Must Investments Be Invested? ‘The Parts of The Iska Are Interdependent’ (Bava Metzia 105a)
I felt that this would be a most memorable night that could not easily be duplicated. After all, how often in life do we get to hear the words of a survivor who transformed their life and discovered Hashem in the process of healing?
Question: My friends are getting married on Rosh Chodesh Sivan. I tried to convince them to do otherwise, as many people have a minhag (custom) not to attend weddings until three days before Shavuot. They told me they spoke to rabbis who allowed it. Is this right? May I attend? Name withheld by request
May you and all the wounded have a speedy and complete recovery, Michael. We can only imagine how many wonderful heroic acts like this are taking place each day in rehabilitation clinics throughout Israel.
September 18, 2026 
