יום שני, כ״ד תשרי תשפ״זMonday, October 5, 2026
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I believe the explanation for the front-seat positioning of Techias HaMeisim, the resurrection, is that it is the single greatest asset that a person has. Everything else is only temporal-for 120 years.
Through a heightened awareness of Israel's true inner essence, we can see past the sharp ideological divisions and appreciate the intrinsic unity beneath and beyond our surface disputes.
In a superficial society so focused on externals this is true on many levels. But perhaps it is never truer than regarding the holiday of Purim.
It is possible to teach a child a Divine crash course in metalwork or stone masonry overnight, but you cannot give a crash course in childlike innocence.
Let’s be honest. Corn on the cob has always been consumed, along with many other fruits and vegetables that Rav Vaye’s rulings have forbidden (or considerably regulated).
As human beings, we have the remarkable ability to jump to conclusions, assuming that we know the truth of a situation when we, in fact, have completely misjudged it.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
We cannot see G-d’s face; we cannot understand G-d’s ways; but we can encounter G-d’s glory whenever we build a home for His presence here on earth.
The Torah is based on the spot-on premise that basic features of the human condition remain constant throughout history
Before I left, my father – who saw in which direction I was heading – told me: Yossel, you’re going to Eretz Yisrael, and we will be separated. It is possible that this will be the last time we will see each other. Please, I beg you, come with me to the Rebbe of Slonim to get his bracha.
When Maimonides (Laws of Klei HaMikdash 2:4) translates the ingredients for the ketoret into Arabic, he renders tzari as al-balasan (i.e., balsam), but the Biblical term for this ingredient is actually nataf (Exodus 30:34), literally meaning the thing that drips.
Even Queen Esther went to the king, which she was forbidden to do, in disguise. She dressed up. Yes, she was a queen and she dressed up as a queen. However she was Jewish and nobody knew that, so she was dressing up.
By dvora
Many Jewish communities have their own unique stories of salvation. When faced with calamity, either from a tyrant, war, or some other impending danger, these communities miraculously escaped. This is the story of a small-town in Galitzia
By Dror Eydar
As we celebrate Purim, perhaps we should look at the Talmudic interpretation of the holiday to better understand our contemporary era.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
“The joy of Purim, the merrymaking, the food, the drink, the whole carnival atmosphere, are there to allow us to live with the risks of being a Jew – in the past, and tragically in the present also – without being terrified, traumatised or intimidated.”
Wishing all a Freilichen Purim!
By Josh Hasten
The International Halacha Institute offers personalized online training in French, English, Hebrew and Spanish.
By dvora
From the very beginning, I felt that our kitten was a gilgul, a Jewish soul sent back to earth to rectify his past.
Shmuel the Amora rules that although most people buy oxen for work, not meat, we do not follow the majority likelihood in monetary issues.
Curling Peiyos “Hair of a Nazir” (Nazir 42a)
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
If we are deficient in one of these strengths, we cannot sidestep our moral obligation to cultivate them and decide instead to focus on building our sense of humor (no matter how valuable a sense of humor may be psychologically or morally).
After Esther hesitates due to the danger involved, Mordechai responds with sharp rebuke. He emphasizes the personal responsibility she has to use her position on behalf of her people and explains that it is, in actuality, Esther, not the Jews, whose fate hangs in the balance.
Question: I understand that in the time of Moshiach we will return to the offering of animal sacrifices. But on the other hand, if, as we are told, those will be times without sin, then what will we sacrifice? In this modern world, some also argue that animals have rights and thus animal sacrifice is wrong. How do we answer them as well? Menachem Via Email
It’s enough to look at the picture of Hallel Menachem and Yagel Ya’akov Yaniv in order to appreciate the immensity of this loss. You see the sweetness and goodness that radiates from their faces.
Though we live in times of incredible chaos, and there are layers of darkness obscuring Hashem’s light in this world, there are moments of great light where we see the power of hashgacha pratis, a hug from Above.
One of the chief ways to frustrate the Hamans of our time, bring about their downfall and bring light and joy to our people is to gather Jewish children and teach them Torah and Yiddishkeit!
Upon a surface reading of the text, Aharon appears to have lacked the readiness for ultimate sacrifice.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
These were all innovators, pioneers, ground-breakers, trail-blazers, who formulated new ideas, originated new forms of expression, did things no one had done before in quite that way. They broke the mold. They changed the landscape. They ventured into the unknown. Yet their daily lives were the opposite: ritualized and routine.
Although the Jewish People won, Amalek showed the other nations that the Jews were not as invincible as they seemed.
Nature that framed us of four elements, warring within our breasts for regiment, doth teach us all to have aspiring minds. -Christopher Marlowe
An individual may desire to do teshuva, but once he is in the “grip” of aveiros it’s more difficult; it’s as if he is handcuffed.
What’s a chesed tov, a good kindness? Is there such a thing as bad kindness?
What all of these expressions share in common is Hashem’s careful attention to the detail in every matter, concerning every individual and community of individuals.
The consideration the needs of the people of Israel are to be a focal point when the kohen gadol approaches G-d.
When the Beis HaMikdash stood we were keenly aware of our ‘marriage’ to Hashem... In exile however, we are isolated and surrounded by a culture that does not ascribe to Torah values.
Many of these commentaries stress that drinking is meant to enhance an appropriate Purim celebration.
Boaz and Fradel had already been blessed with two children, a girl Shayna 9, and a boy Shneur 3, but it had been a difficult journey fraught with the kinds of difficulty that infertile couples face.
Is it acceptable for the meshulach to take a percentage of the donation? Is this counted as part of my tzedakah?
Normal Consumption ‘Leave Aside Babylonian Kutach’ (Nazir 36b)
By Naama Klein
Long story short, another potential customer managed to jump the queue ahead of me, and she happily walked off with both wigs, after I had effectively negotiated them down to a fair price!
As we encounter Purim and our victory over Haman, let us delve deeper into the unique spiritual and existential battle that the Jewish People must continue to wage against the philosophy of Amalek.
Question: On occasion we have missed the Torah reading and Ashrei U’va Letziyyon, Aleinu, the Yom and the Kaddeshim, even though we started out with a quorum, as some members leave for work. What are we to do in such an instance? Are there any options? Name Withheld on Request
The notion of giving everything to HaShem illustrates the difference between the mentality of redemption and that of the exile.
Whatever the proposal would be to supply Jerusalem, it would have to circumvent the Latrun fortress equipped with Jordanian artillery that peered over the single artery into the city. The motherhood of necessity was deeply challenged by Jerusalem’s existential predicament.
Where are you right now? And, wherever that is, are you truly present with all your being? In the Torah portion we just read on Shabbat, there is a description of the ascent of Moshe to Mount Sinai as follows: "And the Lord said to Moshe: Come up to the mountain and be there." Why […]
Though Israel was his preferred Torah destination, Rav Aharon accepted the mission to travel to America. When he got there, he opened the Lakewood Yeshiva, which has played a central role in spreading Torah across America.
Everyone has a good word to say about Reb Shimon, good words that come from the truthfulness of their heart.
We cannot change our basic human nature, but we can refine it with gold, with the purity of the Torah.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
The assumption behind the theory was that current psychological problems can be alleviated when a patient talks about his or her past history, eventually gaining insight into the root causes of the issue.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
So long as Moses was in their midst, the people knew that he communicated with G-d, and G-d with him, and therefore G-d was accessible, close. But when he was absent for nearly six weeks, they panicked.
In some letters, the young man would want to discuss different points in the article; at other times he would ask me about Judaism in general. In each letter he would thank me and The Jewish Press for hooking him up with the outside world.
I’ve been asking myself how sophisticated is my prayer and, to be brutally honest, upon contemplation, I was very disappointed at my prayer accomplishments through the decades.
It’s interesting that the language used to describe the smaller stones, hewn (gazit), is identical to the prohibition against using metal implements to carve the stones for the mizbe’ach.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
The only way to understand leadership is to lead. The only way to understand marriage is to get married. The only way to understand whether a certain career path is right for you is to actually try it for an extended period.
Many commentators explain that achashtranim refer to mules that were born from the union of male donkeys and female horses (as opposed to hinnies, which are born to male horses and female donkeys and are typically weaker beasts).
Education is not just about compliance, but about instilling values into our children’s souls, so that it becomes part of them for life.
When Rabbi Feldman referred to her with the title rabbi, she registered surprise that an Orthodox rabbi would acknowledge that a woman was ordained. Rabbi Feldman responded, I accord you the same respect that I accord to your male colleagues.
The Shulchan symbolizes material wealth, and everything connected with it relates to the morality of wealth and livelihood.
Yaakov stood there, hoping and praying that someone more positive would stop to help him soon, but no one appeared.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
While we have seen the concept of appointing a teacher before (Avot 1:6), many commentaries differentiate between the two presentations.
On this day, as you become bar mitzvah, we wish you the privilege to see the rebuilding of the Beis HaMikdash. Your half-shekel will join with the half-shekel of another Jew – with the half-shekels of all the Jews around the world – to purchase the korbanos.
Like Father Like Son ‘A Man Is Obligated To Train His Son’ (Nazir 29a)
Whoever speaks Lashon Hara or accepts Lashon Hara, or bears false testimony is fit to be cast to the dogs...
Rebbi Yochanan is making a profound statement about poverty. It is not just a challenge to overcome. It should actually assist fulfillment; it is an opportunity to take advantage of.
Question: Even though we started out with a quorum, as some members leave for work. What are we to do in such an instance? Are there any options? Name Withheld on Request
Some things are hard to accept. The world is supposed to be a good place, mostly wholesome and happy. Yet there are evil acts that ruin everything.
In fact, the Hebrew slave must be allowed to continue in his chosen career, whether that be investment banking or phlebotomy.
Even when she relayed advice to those seeking his guidance through her, she would repeat his wording with precision, making sure that it was understood exactly as the Rebbe intended.
Israel being a 'kingdom of priests and a holy nation' necessitates the sanctification of individual, interpersonal and national life so as to give earthly expression to the Torah’s lofty spiritual values.
It is very inspiring and gratifying to know that one has successfully guided an individual or a family to radically change his way of life and become an observant Jew.
When Moshe descended from Har Sinai, his face glowed, to the extent that he had to cover it when interacting with the rest of Klal Yisrael.
When we take the time to thank Hashem for all that we have, or when we ask Hashem for continued health, this is living one’s life to the fullest.
The importance of the collection of the half shekel for the process of redemption derives on its surface from the acknowledgment of the importance of every Jewish person and our unification into a whole in the service of Hashem.
Each holiday brings with it unique spiritual blessing and specific components of Divine service that can be attained. When a weekly Shabbos Torah reading includes a discussion about a holiday, a taste of that holiday’s blessing is spiritually palpable.
The Torah here does not say anything about what Moshe ate or drank during those forty days and nights.
It might just be that the use of a rabbinic title should be evaluated differently nowadays when it is no longer used in the manner that it once was.
Rav Landau writes, hunting for sport is improper and anyone who does this follows in the footsteps of Nimrod and Esav, and not Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov.
We went into Shabbat in a state of not knowing, hoping and praying for the best. We went to shul, family came round to distract us, but I found myself surreptitiously glancing at my watch too many times, counting the hours...
Immediately the cogs in my brain started spinning. Shabbos afternoon? Why did her friend bring something? Was the kallah celebrating her Shabbos Kallah this week?
What happens when there is a difference in time zones? Mr. Samson asked his chavrusa. For example, I use call centers in India. When it's Friday in America, it's already Shabbos in India. Is that a violation of amira l'nochri?
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
To a large extent, Pirkei Avot and its commentaries serve as a type of educational psychology textbook. Many of the maxims encourage learning Torah and provide advice and guidance as to how to best accomplish this scholastic goal.
A Distressful Situation ‘No Lashes Are Administered’ (Nazir 23a)
Cognizant of her wisdom and strength, her father involved her in much of his work
The importance of going beyond the strict law cannot be over-emphasized.
Many people cite Yeshayahu’s description of the Jewish people as an or la’goyim – a light unto the nations, as a clarion call for us to enlighten others. But what way of life makes this possible?
At Sinai, Bnei Yisrael demonstrated that they understood what Hillel said: The essence of the Torah is love your neighbor as yourself.
Only by appreciating that our moral code comes from a divine authority can we maintain a moral and ethical way of life.
Vast amounts of information compete for our attention. Every day we are subjected to a glut of news, but how many of us are moved by any of it to do something?
I believe Moshe was not praying for Aaron to be forgiven, but rather he prayed that the example that Aaron portrayed in building the Golden Calf would not impact on Aaron’s children.
Those of us who sit closest to the windows have to suffer the windows being open because those sitting away from the windows, more to the center of the sanctuary, claim they are too hot from the heat of heating system. Do they have the right to impose their comfort at the expense of our health? Name withheld Via email
The Torah is not a 'religion' relegated to the houses of study or prayer. Nor is it a set of rules meant to coercively modify human behavior.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Envy, covetousness, desiring what someone else has, is an emotion, not a thought, a word, or a deed. And surely we can’t help our emotions.
Imagine a life beyond the one you currently experience – one with new senses and sensations, new colors added to your field of vision, and new sounds to your range of hearing. What if you had abilities that far surpassed anything you can imagine?
It is not fair to expect that our Rabbi should be a lamdon like Reb Chaim, a master of parables like the Dubno Maggid, a storyteller like Rabbi Krohn, and a posek like Reb Moshe – all in the same person.
The first two days I calculated the portion of my punishment that I had already fulfilled. It was painful.
This terror seems to accompany the fact that Yeshayahu senses that he is to be sent on an important mission and, in fact, waits hopefully to be asked.
October 2, 2026 
