יום שישי, כ״ה תמוז תשפ״וFriday, July 10, 2026
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We know that the measure of goodness is greater than that of punishment.
Surely there is always a reason to hate someone, but unless it is a reason warranted by the Torah, it is deemed baseless, and further worsens our chance of redemption.
There is a fundamental question that the commentators are bothered by. Where do we find Yosef rebuked his brothers? All he said was that he was Yosef.
To reward Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakai for the carrier of good tidings, Vespacian grants him one wish. Rabbi Yochanan asks for the Academy of Yavne and its Rabbis.
The original Asara B’Teves was a yom hadin (judgment day) on which it was decided whether there would be a churban that year.
Rav Shmuel explained that if we would understand that we are an elevated nation our task in this world would be so much easier.
What I believe we can take from this thought is the understanding that there is a dual universe, a spiritual-metaphysical universe that mirrors the physical one that we live in.
The media today tries to take advantage of this aspect of human nature by making stories sound sensational and as introducing it as breaking news.
When in the history of the world did all of the nations of the world ever claim that we stole Eretz Yisrael?
Another peculiar event that has covered the news recently is the players of the NFL who refuse to honor the flag and national anthem.
Suddenly it dawned on me that in 1967, during the Six-Day War, the armies of Israel recaptured the Temple Mount and the surrounding outer wall, which we refer to as the Kotel.
Rav Moshe Shmuel Shapiro, zt”l, explains that the teshuvah of Rosh Hashanah is different from that of Yom Kippur and that of the mitzvah of teshuvah in general.
The disaster has unfolded on an epic scale, with the nation’s fourth-largest city mostly paralyzed by the storm that parked itself over the Gulf Coast.
If we place our leaders on the highest pedestal, often we are discouraged to try to emulate them.
There has been very little media coverage of the actual events, and there are many unanswered questions.
Eternal wisdom from Rebbetzin Jungreis, a”h on achieving a more meaningful existence.
Of the travesties listed in the Gemara the one that is most obviously becoming more rampant is mishkav zachor.
Hashem created this world and placed man in it, so that he could take his physical part and elevate it using his spiritual part.
If you can't control your mouth, then you don't deserve to be a part of the community, and hence your abode is outside the camps of Israel.
Hashem wants us to realize that we are not in control of Har Habayis, and this should disturb us.
Anyway he gave it a try and got in the car and sure enough… the car started! He was surprised and asked the old man, how did you know what to do?
Perhaps the reason this conflict erupted was for the purpose of reminding us that the Kosel is a holy sanctified place, which must be treated as such.
There is an obvious question about this story. Why would Sichon and Og wage war with Klal Yisrael?
To say that this respect for all people is vitally lacking amongst many of our Jewish brothers and sisters is an understatement.
Hashem told Moshe that the miracle of the staffs would remove the complaint that Bnei Yisrael still had.
They saw extremely large fruit and interpreted that to mean that just as the fruit are extreme and strange so to are the inhabitants. This was a misconception and a misinterpretation of the facts.
Given the potential for kaparah, we must understand how to properly utilize this time of Bein Hametzarim, which begins in a month’s time.
Jews today are quick to judge others and to label them as frum or not frum, acceptable or unacceptable, kosher or treif. We merely observe their outer layer without understanding who they really are.
When the nations of the world will see Hashem saving his children, His nation, they will see that there is a Borei Olam who runs the world.
Jews witnessed the ten makkos defy every natural law and decimate their oppressors. How could they still be sinking lower in tumah after witnessing this?
We are in Eretz Yisrael before the building of the Beis Hamikdash. Why are we repeating the same mistake three thousand years later?
This week's parsha discusses the sudden and disturbing death of two of Aharon's sons, Nadav and Avihu
To be a Jew is to know how to pray but, alas, it seems most Jews turn to everyone and everything but our Heavenly Father. I would like to offer some practical suggestions to help us grow in prayer
Instead of commending this righteous individual for his proper ethical standards, he has been attacked by the left wing media!
Our sages write that one of the reasons the second Beit Hamikdash was destroyed was because of blind hatred.
How can we say that we are waiting for Mashiach in any month other than Nissan?
In recognition of the good that was performed in the past we reward this dog with the meat of the animal that he did not protect.
The UN condemns Israel on a constant basis for crimes it has not committed, and continually attempts to recognize the Palestinian claim to the land (with the exception to the Trump administration as we will shortly discuss).
Donald Trump’s election was a complete surprise to many. In fact every poll predicted that he would lose. How were they all so wrong?
By Allen Fagin
As Purim approaches, and as we open the megillah, I can’t help but think about how, sadly, we are too often united because of dangers facing our people.
The obvious question is why Hashem decided to give this mitzvah right at the time when we were leaving Mitzrayim?
I have fond memories of my trips to Israel with my eighth grade classes for over twenty-five years.
There are great accolades and rewards promised for one who judges honestly.
This amount, when placed into perspective in relation to the entire number of those that were in the desert, represented only one percent of the entire community.
Interestingly, eating fruits of Eretz Yisrael is mentioned twice in the berachah of Al Hamichyah.
The lack of routine condemnation from the United States of Israel’s announced 2,500 new settlement houses is certainly encouraging.
A phenomenon that allows this process to occur is the credence, admiration, and relevance that our culture affords to celebrities and athletes.
Often times when I pray and the chazzan chants a haunting melody, I close my eyes and it seems as if I am singing with the Shechina of Almighty G-d.
This problem of speech control not only affects adults but also children in Day Schools and Yeshivot.
As you enter the actual museum one becomes a little uneasy as you are explained that for the next one and a half hours you will be walking in total darkness.
Today there are many stumbling blocks that prevent people with disabilities from participating fully in services or even in Jewish education.
The mention of kol is referenced in dozens of places in the Torah, and each time it appears, one is filled with wonder and amazement in its powerful and profound implication and meaning.
We think we have the power to make choices and to effect change in this world – that we are in control of our own destiny.
For me the question that I was about to ask had value and I was always taught by my parents that one must ask questions to gain knowledge.
What has become clear from modern studies of the brain is that we can control our emotions and our thoughts.
The students were eventually expelled from the school that they were attending, but the reactions of the parents were quite divergent.
The difference between living in Israel verses outside of Israel is that in Israel, Judaism is the basis of the country’s daily operations.
“Isn’t there an obligation upon the Jewish community to accept a day school graduate because of the mere fact that he is a product of a Jewish Hebrew day school?”
Though I felt extreme empathy for the child, I attempted to explain to the parent that the responsibility would be too great and in addition it would greatly deprive from the experience of the other children in the class.
In American society we are all caught up with the idea that youth is very important. We are always trying to perceive ourselves as younger.
There we often find children who lack proper derech eretz in their daily exchanges with people, as if they feel that they are entitled to act this way and to behave disrespectfully around their teachers or adults.
With the advent of the Internet, however, our generation has entered into a period of time of instant communication.
One has only to look at the amount of discoveries in science and medicine, the arts and in education to appreciate the vital role that the Jews have played.
When he came to the hospital he saw his fiancée still in her wheelchair, but expected her to surprise him by jumping up and embracing him.
It’s ironic that when we hear about Arab extremists attacking and killing Jewish settlers, there is quiet from these same left wingers.
I take umbrage with the perspective that this is a "woman's holiday."
We studied his seforim together, we listened to famous cantorial masters and we spoke of his illustrious yichus, his pedigree, dating back to the famous commentator, Rashi.
We tend to justify and idealize this division with pride attributing these tendencies as demonstrating a higher level of kedushah.
How is it possible that some of our people cannot see what I see, the miracle of the existence of the state of Israel?
A leader that has lost faith in his people cannot lead his people and conquer the land of Israel.
There was no question that when Mrs. Cohen entered the room to meet the teacher she was hostile from the outset.
He always impressed me with his brilliance and erudition. But it was his warm remarks and his sincere concern that made me want to please him.
What fish-like characteristics does this month have that it should be exemplified in such a way?
In the midst of all this name calling by these so called leaders stands a man who is steadfast in his beliefs and is prepared to deal with any outside pressure to get his point across.
“Well, you are also part of this class! If someone drills a hole in the boat, the boat will ultimately sink, and even the innocent ones will perish as well. The whole class must be punished!”
Teachers, as well as administrators, must be actively involved in the daily prayers that transpire at a school and must set the bar as dugmaot ishiot, role models, on how one must daven.
I think that we have to follow the approach of the Tannaim and Amoraim. They followed the latest scientific developments of their time.
If the Maccabees found enough oil to last for one day, then why was the first day considered a miracle?
In their zeal to uphold the law, they became destroyers rather than builders.
Why is the tzitzis reminder on our clothing? How does it remind us that there are 613 mitzvos?
In our times, most of us when we pray, our minds are on something else-it is hard to focus all the time.
It would have been understandable for these great warriors to become dispirited.
The travail of Yosef was undoubtedly the greatest trauma of Yaakov’s life, which certainly knew its share of hardships.
Yosef, in interpreting the first set of dreams, performed in a manner that was clearly miraculous to all.
Chazal teach us that we need to be “sur may’rah v’asei tov,”avoid bad and do good.
When we celebrate the completion of learning a section of Torah, we recite the Hadran.
By Steven Plaut
Judah concedes he was wrong&feels regret; THAT is precisely what qualifies his house for leadership
Two of these attacks occurred close to Allon Shvut, and somehow I feel responsible.
If we do things right, this year might even be the year of the final redemption!
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
God wanted to establish the principle that children are not the property of their parents.
We recognize that we are only a speck in this great world and only a small impression in the unfolding of time. As an educator, I have always believed that teachers should realize this as well.
Schools should realize that a child’s life is composed of multifaceted experiences, and schoolwork and homework are only one small part of the equation.
Jonah objected to God accepting repentance based on ulterior motives and likely for short duration.
It is in the nature of the Nations of the World to be hostile towards the Jewish People.
By Joseph Cox
A bit of (non-Jewish) history can help us understand this week’s Torah portion: In the early 1500s, the Catholic church was being fundamentally challenged by movements which claimed it had monopolized religious power and used to enrich the church and its officials. The most radical of these movements were a particular sect of Anabaptists. Anabaptists […]
By Joseph Cox
Unlike the two and a half tribes, when we walk in front of G-d, we must be perfect in our motivation
Food can be eaten to fill your stomach. But food can also be eaten with the intent to recognize Creation and acknowledge the Creator. A bracha is not just a thank you.
For change to become permanent it has to become internalized through new behaviors. Mitzvot have to be observed regularly.
July 10, 2026 
