יום חמישי, כ״ד תמוז תשפ״וThursday, July 9, 2026
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While someone who is born Jewish is undoubtedly according to Jewish law deemed as Jewish, there is still the underlying prerequisite that ones actions also and perhaps equally, define a person’s Judaism.
If children grow up saying whatever they want, it will be very hard for them to restrain themselves when they’re older even if they learn how egregious speaking lashon hara is.
The Seder is not just an educational and intellectual experience; it’s also a unique opportunity to say thank you together with our loved ones to Hashem for the fact that He chose us as His nation and gave us His wonderful mitzvos.
Torah study shouldn’t be saved for our retirement. We should run to learn.
The Chovos HaLevavos teaches us that prayer without thought is like a body without a soul and a peel without fruit.
In order to properly daven for the geula, one must first notice the magnitude of the situation.
We must therefore constantly remind ourselves that it’s the Jewish way to stand by the side of a mate through thick and thin.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Stiff-necked people are creatures of habit, and those habits become especially rigid during times of stress.
I have always said that when a Jewish day school closes down, there is no future for the local Jewish population, and within just a few years the Jewish community will be compromised.
While this story is quite remarkable, we must wonder: Why did Hashem allow Ezra’s holy Sefer Torah to be defaced in the first place?
Many argued that it would be downright dangerous not to attend as their absence might raise the monarch’s ire after all the trouble he went through to accommodate their needs.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Concepts such as marit ayin enjoin us to be “inauthentic” and to put on a show for the outside, even when we know there is nothing inherently wrong with our actions.
It is inconceivable to believe that when we exited Egypt everyone in Israel had the same views on every subject and did not have the distinctiveness and uniqueness that make our people, and each individual, so important.
The Hafla’ah writes that since we want our prayers to rise to the heavens, they must be infused with a ruach, a spirit that causes them to ascend to Hashem’s Throne of Glory.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Because verbal abuse is more prevalent and generally overlooked as being problematic, the Torah makes the consequences more severe.
As he was typing feverishly, he by chance looked up from his computer and glanced at the dance floor. It was then that he noticed something remarkable.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
One of the most important factors in delivering and receiving feedback is the relationship between the giver and the recipient.
How could Moshe rush to convert him so quickly? Because it was a matter of life and death.
Measure for measure, the Jews didn’t lift a finger against the millions of Egyptians who pursued them to the sea. Instead, the Egyptians drowned themselves by walking into the watery abyss.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
He could have stressed the evilness of slavery or underscored the responsibilities of freedom... Instead, though, Moshe spoke about children and education. At that moment, in Rabbi Jonathan Sacks’s words, “the Israelites were told that they had to become a nation of educators.”
Clearly, the plagues weren’t the result of chance; they pointed to the hand of Hashem.
When looking back into our history we often find examples of people being in the right time and place, and making history that gave meaning and purpose to their entire existence.
As a young man, raised with royal treatment in Pharaoh’s palace, Moshe Rabbeinu didn’t allow himself to relax in splendor. Rather, he went out to his suffering brethren and shared in their fate.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Pharaoh’s refusal to believe in the miraculous power of G-d is evident even before the plagues begin.
What can be greater than the crown of Torah? After all, we’re taught, “Talmud Torah kneged kulam – The study of Torah is equal to all else.”
Shabbos should be so full of warmth and inspiration that our children should feel they can’t do without it.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
While each relationship has its own dynamic that adds to the drama, the fact that the younger sibling takes the spotlight away from the older sibling is a theme that cuts through all of them.
We must realize how much we are lacking in our lives as a result of not having the Bais HaMikdash.
When we hear of school bus tragedies, we should pray for the safety of our children. When we hear of someone suffering from Covid-19 or another dreaded disease, we should pray for health. When we see flashing lights on the highway, we should pray for safe travels.
Another answer for why Yosef is considered so great is that while it's true that the vision of his father came from Heaven, it only came after he exhausted every effort at his disposal. When those weren’t enough, Hashem stepped in and gave him Divine assistance.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
While there are several permutations of the exercise, the crux of the concept is to immerse your head in cold water while holding your breath. By doing so, your heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature will decrease, “freezing” the emotion so that you can better handle the challenge.
How, might you ask, in the middle of Italian neighborhoods would Rav Mintz be able to ferret out Jewish families?
During the formative years, when the parents have the opportunity, and the obligation, to teach the child and help him develop, the child cannot be labeled a “rebellious child.” Only when it is already too late, when the child is nearly reaching bar mitzvah, can he be labeled rebellious.
Mesiras nefesh doesn’t only mean putting one’s life on the line for one’s spiritual beliefs. Rather, anytime a person pushes himself beyond his natural physical tendencies to fulfill the will of Hashem, he is following in the footsteps of the great Macabees, the heroes of Chanukah.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Time drags on when we are afraid and really does fly when we’re having fun.
The very first lesson is that we must be very careful not to hurt someone’s feelings. Sometimes, hurting someone deeply can have a long-lasting effect and impede us from success in our own lives.
Reb Yosef went over to him and gave him the 200 golden coins. The man looked at him incredulously and said, “I don’t even know you. Why are you doing this kindness?”
To their amazement and astonishment, they began to realize the bounty of blessings that they had and the appreciation that they should show Almighty G-d for these gifts.
Since we can’t see it, Covid-19 fatigue has caused us to want to believe that it’s not a problem anymore, notwithstanding the fact that all of us know people are still being hospitalized and even dying.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Avraham is a paradigm of alacrity and productivity. We are awed at how this pillar of kindness swiftly tends to the needs of his guests.
Over the years, I’ve convinced many people to try out Daf Yomi with my advertising. That’s why I carry such a heavy Gemara and that’s why I don’t go by way of the back roads.
As with any program, if you can involve the parents as active participants, then the chances of success increase exponentially.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
In some children, embellished praise can lead to narcissistic tendencies. Praise is essential, but it is essential for praise to be tempered, not extravagant.
In Yiddish, there’s a word “eidelkeit.” There’s no similar word in English. “Eidelkeit” is a synthesis of gentleness, refinement, and nobility of spirit. It’s a crowning virtue for man.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
The snake’s incitement and the aesthetic enticement of the fruit led to Chava’s and then to Adam’s self-control failure.
Life is a series of tests. Yet, every day we ask Hashem in the morning, “Al tivi’einu lo lidei nisayon – Do not lead us to a test.” What kind of a request is this? Isn’t that avoiding the purpose of life?
While this story carries a painful and penetrating message, you might ask, “Rabbi Weiss, what are you advocating? That we shouldn’t dance on Simchas Torah?” Of course not!
The Torah completely blows us away with the statement that the enemy will come “ka’asher yideh hanesher – like the eagle sweeps,” a perfect description of the sudden attack of the two huge airliners.
When one reads the commandments of Shabbat as they appear in the books of Shemot and Devarim, two divergent formulations appear: “Zachor” and “Shamor.” Which one appeared on the Ten Commandments?
Only once a year, during these 10 days, is Hashem is available to everyone no matter how sullied he or she is.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
We all sometimes think in warped and twisted ways. ... As an example, control fallacies can lead us to believe that we have absolutely no control over our lives.
Hashem won’t punish someone if the punishment will indirectly harm innocent people who depend on him.
Before we put on tefillin, we should keep in mind that we are putting it on our heads because the neshama is in our head with the rest of our senses and strengths.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
The curses that Moshe delineated in Parshat Ki Tavo were meant to deter those who would consider abandoning faith in G-d and turning to other gods.
The Chofetz Chaim writes that a person isn’t rewarded with reward unless he gives in proportion to his means.
To see a person as good despite his/her past actions; To give them a second chance knowing full well that they might ultimately fail again.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
One of the reasons we may have trouble noticing blessings is that there’s a human tendency to always want more. Yes, I have some money, but I could always have more.
Elul, as the last month of the year, is a time to show Hashem that we are ending the year with the same hopes and aspirations we had in the beginning of the year, putting our best foot forward before the Day of Judgment.
By Tzvi Fishman
According to the Rambam, it is forbidden to leave the Land of Israel, even temporarily, except for three reasons: to study Torah, to find a wife, and to do business.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
What are the parameters and guidelines for fulfilling this commandment? How should we remember and how do we ensure not to forget?
What if you find it difficult to forgive someone?... How can you sincerely forgive someone who hurt you in such a terrible way?
There is no question that the congregation of Israel at the time of the giving of the Torah was comprised of divergent views, and that the people who were transgressors and who later would be singled out as sinners were present as well.
Shimon HaTzaddik likely spent a lifetime educating the masses, yet Pirkei Avos contains just one mishnah that records his teachings.
When we hear that Teflon pots may cause cancer or that the surgeon general warned of the possible dangers of a product, we become very wary. So it goes without saying that when the Torah cautions us about something, we should be very concerned.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
The Talmud presents an enigmatic aggadic dialogue between G-d and the angels in which the angels ask G-d how He can show favor to the Jewish people (as is implied in the Priestly Blessing) when fairness and justice usually preclude showing favoritism.
This lashon hara led to Bnei Yisrael crying over nothing, which in turn resulted in the divine punishment of bechia l’doros, crying throughout the generations over the destruction of two Temples and many other Jewish calamities.
I have always believed that the guarantee that G-d presented to Abraham was never said to him directly.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
In Parshat Vaetchanan, we learn that someone who kills another by accident must flee to a city of refuge for protection. The Talmud contains a fascinating addition to this law: If a student is forced into exile, his teacher must go with him.
There is more to be learned from Hashem’s diagnosis. A blessing is critical in helping us properly focus when we do a mitzvah.
Any generation in which the Temple was not rebuilt is a generation in which it is considered to have been destroyed.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
As an example, consider a person who, after being insulted, takes a vow to avenge the slight. Over time, his anger subsides, and he no longer feels the same intense feelings toward the perpetrator.
Every infectious disease doctor – without exception – has stated that keeping apart from one another and wearing masks will significantly decrease the spread of this horrible disease.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Even a single negative word or phrase, when focused on for extended periods of time, can damage key brain structures that regulate memory and emotion.
Our shuls and yeshivos were closed for three months and, even now, we can only enter them with masks. Perhaps Hashem is telling us, “Things are not in order with your relationships.”
Despite the fact that Abraham had not been prepared to entertain guests, he approached the opportunity with zeal and love and quickly went about the task of making his guests feel comfortable.
Relationships are reciprocal. If we demonstrate to our children how to find something to respect in every person, they will reap the reward of being loved in turn by everyone around them.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Fights and disagreements often feel sweet and right in the moment but lead to bitterness and regrets in the long run.
We have to be very mindful of the lashon hara pitfalls and traps that the yeitzer hara cleverly sets for us during this pandemic.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
It’s not entirely clear within the narrative what the spies did wrong. They were asked to scout the land and report back, and that’s what they did.
Some people are returning to shul after enjoying casual porch minyanim and are bringing the cavalier attitude they had on their porches with them.
One can recognize a gadol, a leader of our people, in how that person respects and values all people. A gadol doesn’t judge or offer a disparaging word against people who are not religious, nor does he degrade a non-Jew.
We’re expected to take massive precautions when it comes to chillul Hashem. In our world of instant viral media, we cannot afford to make a misstep when it comes to misbehaving in the eyes of the non-Jews.
The meraglim were worried about losing their elevated stature upon entering Eretz Yisrael and thus said the chances of conquering the land were low.
Or the shul rabbanim who find their source of income dwindling but must still feed their families.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
The greatness of man manifests itself in his inner contradiction, in his dialectical nature, in his being single and unrelated to anyone, as well as in his being thou-related and belonging to a community structure.
Enthusiasm and delight are contagious. If we are excited to study Torah and do mitzvos, so will our children.
Introspection is good! Teshuva is good! But to blame anyone is downright sinful. Only G-d judges people. We don’t have that right.
It is in our DNA to valiantly risk everything to congregate together to talk to Hashem... But then came Covid-19 and we had to make a huge adjustment in our behavior.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
One important lesson that several positive psychologists make is that relentlessly pursuing happiness usually does not lead to happiness.
Remember, Moshe Rabbeinu, David HaMelech, Avraham Avinu, as well as Yaakov Avinu all opted to be shepherds so they could have time to be alone and contemplate. It’s a lost art.
I started keeping such a diary recently and found doing so truly fascinating.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Oneg is a spiritual pleasure, which doesn’t completely negate pain, but alleviates it by infusing meaning.
By Rabbi Ron Yitzchok Eisenman
Let us take encouragement from the way Hashem responds to Aharon in reminding us that our children have the right to make their own decisions, and we are not to be blamed for these decisions.
Haman assassinated Daniel, one of the great gedolei ha'dor, and it's very likely that his death atoned for the nation.
They were taught that a congregation can only pray for relief from one disaster. Which one should they pray for G-d to stop: the plague or the famine?
How do we defeat a yetzer hara that has the power to make us believe that aveiros are really missions of righteousness?
If it was beyond Moshe Rabbeinu’s comprehension, it is certainly beyond ours. We do know, though, that the passing of a tzadik, lo alenu, sometimes serves as atonement for many other people.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Rashi, quoting the midrash, takes the discussion in another direction by noting that “asher” doubles as an allusion to “ashrei,” meaning happy, praiseworthy, or fortunate.
Now is not the time to be talking disparagingly about Torah leaders, roshei yeshiva, and rabbanim.
We feel so fragile and minute, as the entire world is sent into literally a total state of panic and frenzy.
July 3, 2026 
