יום שבת, ב׳ אלול תשפ״וSaturday, August 15, 2026
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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.
Imagine Amram and Yocheved, the parents of Moshe Rabbeinu and Aharon Hakohen. We know who they were, but what do we know of their child-raising techniques? What was the central pillar of their home that helped foster these two spiritual giants?
In our story a couple of kids discover Chanukah within the walls of a gym.
Kindness and hospitality came easily to Lot. As a nephew to Avraham, these qualities were part of his DNA; as a ben-bayis who was raised in Avraham's household bringing in guests was what came naturally.
The world was created soooo long ago that we can feel like it’s “old news.” But by just opening our eyes and seeing the amazing design of the natural world around us, we can feel like we have front-rows seats to creation. Hashem made the world and everything in it -- including us -- with a master plan. By tuning in to the awesome design in everything around us, we can feel connected to that plan and to Him.
“The generalities of the commandments necessarily have a cause and have been given because of a certain utility."
What does it mean to be close to somebody else? One way is to be physically near them, but another, more spiritual way is to try to learn from them and emulate their good qualities. When the Torah instructs us to make ourselves close to, or cleave to Hashem, it doesn’t mean by trying to get to heaven in a rocket ship! Rather it means to think about Hashem and emulate His qualities of kindness, patience, fairness, etc. That is the real measure of how close a person is to G-d.
The three weeks period between the 17 of Tammuz and Tisha b’Av, besides being a time to remember and mourn the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash in Yerushalayim, is a very special time to focus on love. The spiritual root cause of the churban and all the other tragedies of Jewish history that resulted from it was sinas chinam, disliking and hating each other for no good reason. So it only makes sense that the way to remedy this is to go out of our way, especially during these three weeks, to try to like and love each other -- even for no good reason.
No one lives in a vacuum. No, that doesn’t mean we didn’t get sucked up through a vacuum cleaner hose in the pre-Pesach cleaning frenzy, it means that whether we like it or not, our environment—the people and things around us—makes a big impact on who we are.
I watch my children use blocks to build a large structure, observing the trepidation with which they add each block. As the structure becomes larger there is a greater risk of it collapsing, thus bringing an end to an hour of playful labor. I anticipate what will happen when one child adds a block to the top floor, compromising the integrity of the building and resulting in the collapse of the entire structure. The argument that ensues is predictable, as each child blames the other for “ruining” the fun. As an adult, I wonder about the need to attribute blame. Will assigning blame be instrumental in rebuilding the structure?
How can a person make sure that things will work out right? By doing what is right. When Hashem told the Jewish people to rest their fields and not plant any crops every seventh year, shmitta, it was a huge test of faith, as no crops meant no food! But Hashem also told them that if they did what’s right and listen to Him, they wouldn’t lose out because He’d miraculously give them enough crops in other years to more than make up for the year of rest. And that’s what happened.
By dvora
The servant was ecstatic. He was racing to the King’s treasure house to retrieve two precious goblets to place on the King’s very table. Why had he been chosen to be the one to bring these royal treasures? Well, he was the one who had suggested the idea.
Even if nobody sees us, everything we do is being watched and recorded on video…by Hashem. Our conscience, that part of us that makes us feel guilty if we do something we shouldn’t have, is Hashem’s loving way of reminding us that He knows what we did, and knows that we’ll feel better, and become better by coming clean and putting it right.
Kids today... that’s not the way we behaved when we were younger!! That is the mantra I hear repeated as parents bemoan the spoiled nature and lack of responsibility of today's children. The problem is - it is not a fair comparison.
Modim is the only bracha in Chazaras HaShatz that the tzibbur says is because one cannot give thanks to Hashem through the Sheliach Tzibbur, through a messenger. You have to thank Hashem yourself. It is a personal requirement that does not lend itself to be accomplished through an agent.
My family and I had recently enjoyed an outing to the bowling alley, courtesy of our friend, the owner. Children of all ages enjoy this weatherproof sport, and even preschoolers can easily score strike after strike as bumpers support the heavy ball as it creeps its way towards the pins at the end of the lane.
Let me say at the onset that I do not consider myself to be a sufficient role model when it comes to kibbud av v’eim – the 5th commandment; I humbly acknowledge my abysmal failures and inadequate performance of this critical mitzvah. However, I do detect a perilous and alarming trend, whereby performance of this mitzvah is spiraling to its lowest levels, threatening the very essence of the foundation that has sustained us over the past five millennium.
The following letter was sent in response to Pidyon Shevuyim: Redeeming The Agunah, a column by Cheryl Kupfer (12-21 On Our Own):
We all yearn to feel that we are part of something special. We all seek respect and acceptance for simply being who we are.
By Rachel Weiss
This coming Shabbos we bentch Rosh Chodesh Shevat, which falls on Shabbos Kodesh (January 12). The highlight of this month is of course Tu B’Shevat, the New Year of the trees. As the mind conjures up images of spring, I can spot nary a sign of spring from my vantage point here in the northeastern part of the U.S.
By Rachel Weiss
Our Jewish calendar is based on the lunar year, and Rosh Chodesh, literally the head of the month, occurs when the moon renews itself. It is a holiday — in that we daven mussaf, just like on Shabbos and Yomim Tovim, we do not conduct fasts, and the pious among our people eat a special seudah. Traditionally, women do not sew on Rosh Chodesh and refrain from performing heavy-duty tasks.
August 14, 2026 
