יום ראשון, כ״ג תשרי תשפ״זSunday, October 4, 2026
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What is the major theme of this book? Why does it not conclude with the major event that changed all of history, the revelation at Sinai?
There's always something that we want from G-d. And Hashem wants something from us.
This fact seems to indicate that we did not build the pyramids, as it is unlikely the Egyptians would have fed enormous amounts of meat to their slaves.
The pandemic might mean these celebrations will be shared on Zoom, and hugs will be virtual, but we will pretend we are together for milestones. And, maybe, sometime during 2023, the pandemic will be history.
The borrower carries the greatest liability, even if the borrowed item died or broke due to uncontrollable circumstances, oness.
The Most Favorable Of …Times “Annulling Vows For The Sake Of Shabbos” (Nedarim 77a)
Question: Why, if on Rosh Hashana the shofar is blown during Musaf, is Hallel on the festivals and Rosh Chodesh read during Shacharit? L. Freund Via Email
Only as a “kingdom of priests and holy nation” that reveals HaShem’s Oneness over all spheres of life can Israel fully express His Ideal and lead mankind to experience a world of total blessing.
How does a person who accepts the yoke of Torah have other responsibilities removed from him?
To be a Maccabi today means that you stand with pride for your people and your land. You live inspired. You refuse to allow the world to crush your spirit.
Although their ancestor earned the throne because of a certain good deed, the inheritors cannot use similar merit to remain.
How do we want to live our lives? Now that Hanukkah is over, the routine of work, study, and winter begins.
It is only now that they are no longer alive that I value them more and realize the great personal loss of not having them around to talk to or confide in.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Shemaiah’s advice in Pirkei Avot bears out this wisdom as he encourages us to love work.
It is less well known that the Zohar there goes on to explain that these 70 years obtained from Adam gave life to David, but didn’t make him exceptional so that he would be able to complete the tasks given to him as the Mashiach,
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
We make the future by our choices. The script has not yet been written. The future is radically open.
What if we thought that we were on death’s door and then miraculously received a donation from a loving hero? Wouldn’t we live differently and experience life in a whole new way?
Our sages point out that at times a person may claim that he has forgiven the other party, but in truth, deep down, he still nurses a grudge. The Ohr HaChaim asserts that Yosef bore no ill will towards his brothers and wholeheartedly forgave them.
There is something behind the throne greater than the King himself. -William Pitt The Elder Chatham
Yaakov Avinu answers him honestly. In truth, there is no positive secret to his old age. He is not as old as he looks, and his life has not been a pleasant one.
It is further interesting to note that the one parsha of the Torah which is has the word ‘death’ refers to the tragic passing of two of the righteous sons of Aharon; Nadav and Avihu. One might wonder why, over here, the chapter is called ‘Achrei Mos – After Their Passing.’
Rebbe Nachman teaches that reciting Kiddush Levana is a segula for curing weak eyesight.
Instinctively, one would think the Torah is more important because it is the reason for the existence of the entire world.
Various permutations of this word appear around 130 times throughout the Bible.
From a purely halachic perspective there doesn’t seem to be a requirement to sit a specific way during any other part of davening. That being said, it seems to me that it is proper to have a more respectful posture during the other parts of davening as well.
Sometimes our children themselves don't even realize how much they need their parents.
A Tribute in 5 Parts to 8 Days and 1 Great Victorian Novelist
By Risa Rotman
Suddenly I saw a woman arise from her chair just over to the side of me. I was about to sit when a woman approximately my age ran ahead and grabbed the chair and the one beside it for her teenage daughter. I made a small face but then let go.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Empathy, care, kindness, which are all generally cherished interpersonal values, need to be curbed for the sake of justice.
The Day He Heard ‘One May Seek Revocation Of A Confirmation’ (Nedarim 69a)
Question: Is there any significance to the fact that the fast of the Tenth of Tevet (Asara B’Tevet) almost immediately follows Chanukah and that it is the shortest of all the fast days? Does this allow us to be more lenient in its observance? I hope you will address this in your column, which I eagerly read every week. M. Goldman Miami Beach, Fla.
People will come to them and say, Here is food and water. Eat! Drink! But those outside will answer, No! No! We cannot use such food. What we need is the food of Torah and G-dly service (mitzvot).
On the first anniversary of the victorious verdict, the Rebbe said in a sichah, a public talk, that to know the appropriate way to celebrate this auspicious day we must consult the seforim themselves.
Nearly every foreign land that Jews have settled in throughout history was initially a safe refuge or land of opportunity. And in almost every instance, our false sense of security was shattered.
As we leave Chanukah, we should reflect upon how much we have extra.
It also might just be that the custom of inviting one’s departed relatives to the wedding is a manner in which one can “force” them to attend.
When a man's knowledge is not in order, the more of it he has, the greater will be his confusion. -Herbert Spencer
True happiness is what you experience when you are actualizing your potential, working toward becoming the person you are meant to become.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
If we change the way we think, we will change the way we feel.
We cannot achieve true unity in the physical world which is built upon division and fragmentation.
We know that one of the reasons that the brothers fanned out through ten gates was to look for Yosef (Rashi 42:13). So why were they terrified when they found him?
There’s no doubt about it. There’s something missing in the hearts and souls of so many today and they can’t seem to satiate it.
We live in a time when to declare ourselves rooted in the past is countercultural, even difficult for people to understand.
In the current environment, it is prudent and politically correct to stay away from shul when one is ill.
When each holiday ends and the routine and mundane days come about, we must take the magic moments and energies from the holiday onwards.
I don’t know what happened, but at some point a number of the people started walking away from the lobby. No one said anything to us. What did they know that we didn’t?
I may have to sell them as 'used in new condition.' I'll accept the books back, but expect you to cover the depreciation due to the stickers.
Ari Fuld uncovers and explores the real miracle and lessons of Chanukah.
“Older” By A Month ‘… I Shall Not Taste Wine...Until The Beginning Of Adar’ (Nedarim 63a, Mishna)
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
The overall message of this mishna seems to be one of social caution. If we want to learn and maintain good behavior, we need to stay away from any people that can inhibit that growth.
When we believe that we can always change for the better, the light of Hashem can shine upon us, no matter how old we are.
Luring another to sin is worse than killing them because killing only removes the victim from this world, while sin removes one from the next world as well.
On every Tisha B’Av, when it is forbidden to learn Torah, Reb Shlomo Zalman would read Dignity to Survive in its original Hebrew.
The city of Kiel is full of pictures of the menorah and everyone here is excited about its return We have been interviewed by the New York Times, the Guardian, and other media outlets, and now feel that this story is much bigger than us.
It is these Chanukah candles that we light all over the world that will usher in the light of Moshiach and the great Hakhel of all “Jewish candles” – all Jewish men, women and children throughout the world in the great geulah coming speedily in our very own days.
Question: Non-Jews distribute gifts at Christmas to their friends and family. What is the halacha about and reasoning for Jews to distribute gifts at Chanukah to friends and family? Growing up, we used to get Chanukah gelt rather than gifts from my parents. Larry Marks Via E-Mail
Israel's collective soul can only fully manifest itself through an earthly nation that reveals the Divine Ideal in all spheres of national existence.
As I sat there thinking, I finally realized the lesson I was supposed to learn. Beauty is not about the physical; it’s about how we live our lives, how we choose to see the world.
Rav Moshe Feinstein argues that the fact that a couple chose to forgo a Jewish ceremony demonstrates that they have no desire to be married according to Jewish law.
It is often difficult and painful for us to admit fault, to take responsibility for our failures, to see ourselves or our prior behaviors as guilty.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
To understand the power of this anti-climax, we must remember that only since the invention of printing and the availability of books have we been able to tell what happens next merely by turning a page.
It could be understood that in the earlier years it was not necessary to tout the miracle of Chanukah within the home. Steeped in Jewish law and tradition, the members of the household were imbued with Torah and Yiras Shamayim.
Love is the affinity that links and draws together the elements of the world... Love, in fact, is the agent of universal synthesis. -Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
When encountering difficult texts in Scripture, it is usually productive to consult Rashi, and Rashi doesn’t disappoint in the present case.
By Chana Ford
The idea is to slowly create an operating standard: approved batei din are ones which are transparent, which don’t allow for shady deals, and which recognize abusive behaviors when they present themselves.
The obvious question is why didn’t the Sages immediately declare the festival the very same year that the miracles occurred?
It is clear that Yaakov knew that Yosef was alive and in Egypt. The only question that remains is – did he know that the brothers had sold Yosef into slavery?
Angels They dance before him As he sways gently, Serenely Then his voice reverberates Gratitude for sanctification
Obviously, the question is not only in regard to owning a gun, but having it in one’s possession and if necessary, using it.
The small light we light on Chanukah it's very symbolic of the Jewish soul. As small as the fire is or as small as a person might think his or her soul is, it’s an everlasting fire and is something that cannot be extinguished.
Wishing you a joyous Chanukah
Two sets of neighbors, joined by a wall and a hedge, but worlds apart.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Many commentaries differentiate between three different categories of people: wicked, intermediate, and righteous. These commentaries contend that the message to judge favorably just relates to the middle group.
Here, the pennies were not lent as monetary value, but rather as objects to be used and returned themselves – hashalah, so that there is no violation of ribbis.
The Plucked Apple ‘…Which Cannot Become Permitted’ (Nedarim 58a)
Concerning the difficult questions raised about G-d, Rebbe Nachman often said: On the contrary, that is precisely how it should be.
Question: We see numerous instances in Scripture where a person’s name was changed. Some people are then always referred to by their new name, while others are not. A case in point is the way we refer to our Patriarchs in the daily Shemoneh Esreh. Why is that so? Abraham Goldman Jerusalem
Remarkably – and frankly, rather shockingly – Yehuda shows the exact same type of favoritism to one of his sons that his father had shown to Yosef!
It was not Yaakov in his individual capacity who did these things. It was Yisroel, in his national capacity that did them.
As opposed to the standard issur hana'ah, which prohibits any and all types of benefit, the issur hishtamshut prohibits specifically redirecting the Chanukah lights towards one’s personal use.
Yaakov could not be comforted because he was distressed by the thought that Yosef had been harmed because of him. It was only when it was revealed to Yaakov that Yosef was still alive that Yaakov was reassured that he was righteous.
The light of redemption often shines in a distorted fashion in order to lull the Sitra Aḥra into passivity.
Is Hashem within time and space, limited to this world alone, as Pantheists believe? Or is Hashem completely transcendent, beyond time, space, and this physical world, as many of the ancient philosophers believed?
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
We can make a difference, and it is potentially immense. That should be our mindset, always.
While most authorities agree that the shehecheyanu blessing should only be recited when lighting the menorah, there are some who rule that one who has not lit a Chanuka menorah by the eighth night of Chanuka is permitted to recite shehecheyanu simply in honor of the holiday.
It has been said that that which Hitler, yemach shmo v’zichro, was not able to accomplish with the stick, American culture has been successful with honey.
All of these historical events occur, strange and terrifying for those who experience them, and very few can understand their significance at the time.
To be honest there were many Shabbos mornings when I fell back to sleep without saying kerias shema, but it made a deep impression on me. Now I try to be particular to say shema before the earlier time.
It would seem that gift-giving on Chanukah, which is presumably an imitation of gift-giving on Christmas, is based on a custom that stems from a foreign religion.
Meir Panim notes the principle that the sin of Adam and Chava was comprised of multiple stages, corresponding to the three opinions in the Gemara.
By Ben Shapiro
The fate of our children’s children rests with us – with whether we surrender the legacy of our forefathers for a little temporary convenience, or whether we stand proud and strong in the face of the storms to come.
Some of the inmates were observant upon entering the prison, or came from religious backgrounds.
In English, the words 'borrow' and 'lend' apply to both money and items, but there is a significant halachic difference between them, replied Rabbi Dayan.
Going Public ‘...From A Wealthy Roman Lady’ (Nedarim 50a)
It is, therefore, safe to say that the one who opened the “First Chabad House” is Avraham Avinu, as Chabad Houses today are modeled after Avraham Avinu’s work and his activities.
October 2, 2026 
