Articles You Must Read...
The Northern Exposure of the Yetzer Hara
Why should tzara’as that spreads over the entire body result in purity? One would think it would indicate the opposite – corruption beyond repair.
Soul Identification
Every Shabbos, we put aside all technology. We are perhaps the only community in the world who are active members of society all week and yet won’t check emails, social media, or the news for twenty-five hours.
From The Shtetl to Shylock
Jewish actor Saul Rubinek talks about his role as a rabbi in the 2022 film Shttl and starring in the new Off-Broadway play in Brooklyn called Playing Shylock.
Bring Them Home
Conservative and Pro-Israel Commentator Charlie Kirk Assassinated in Utah
Charlie was extremely smart, knowledgeable, well read and an authoritative yet genuine voice who could speak on virtually every subject, capable of responding to those debating and critiquing him.
Jerusalem Terrorist Attack Is a New Intifada
Israel understands that its survival is at stake. But the West does not.
Six Murdered in Terror Shooting in Jerusalem
Two terrorists were neutralized at the scene by an Israel Defense Forces soldier and an armed civilian.
When Should Americans Stay Silent About Israel?
A Guideline for Speaking Up About Israel
I just returned from Israel, where I spent a...
Lebanon Working to Wrest Control from Hezbollah
A political decision is required for Lebanon to impose control over the area north of the Litani River, where medium and heavy weapons are still in the hands of Hezbollah.
New Deal with Hamas to Free 10 of 20 Living Hostages Over 2-Month Period
"The way to defeat Hamas and bring the hostages home is to reoccupy the Gaza Strip, halt humanitarian aid, go all the way through the evaluation phase—and win.”
The Very Big Deal of Kazakhstan Signing on to the Abraham Accords
Kazakhstan’s joining the Accords has real benefits for Israel. And it is the same for the U.S. which reportedly anticipates that current bilateral trade and other cooperation amongst the three nations will be substantially enhanced.
I Can’t Eat That – But It’s Not My Fault: A Letter to My Non-Jewish Co-worker
The idea that religion is a personal choice that can be separated from every other identity marker in your life is a fundamentally non-Jewish way of seeing the world.
New York Mayor-Elect Must Worry About the City and Not Play at Being Secretary of State
Requiring an end to all city contracts with companies doing business with Israel and to institute other BDS (Boycott, Divestment Sanction) policies would likely make the city’s investment climate highly uncertain.
Why Some Jews Voted for Mamdani
They were sure Trump’s political career was done after 2020, and his improbable return to the White House felt like an impossible betrayal by voters. With Mamdani positioning himself as an anti-Trump candidate, they felt that a vote for Mamdani was a vote against Trump and this could be a beginning of a reversal.
From Vienna to Queens: Karl Lueger, Zohran Mamdani, and the Politics of Polite Antisemitism
No, Mamdani isn’t directly inciting genocide. But Lueger didn’t either. History tells us you don’t need to pull the trigger to light the fuse.
NY Times and Jewish Democratic Leaders Reverse On Mamdani
It’s a terrifying reality of today’s world where party loyalty is paramount over anything else.
Israel Needs Our Chizuk and Support, Now More Than Ever
We must always remember that it is only B’yad HaShem and with the Etzpah of HaShem that we will succeed in eradicating those who threaten us.
Pres. Trump Fulfilled 30 Years of Broken Promises
For 30 years, Democrats and some Republicans lied about stopping Iran. Trump did it.
Goldstein on Gelt: Don’t Buy a Home in Israel Until You Listen to This
If you're making Aliya, eyeing an investment, or just trying to figure out where to hang your hat long-term, this conversation will help you steer clear of stress and financial setbacks.
Trump’s Downside – Phantom Nation [audio]
Arrogance, Ignorance, Vulgarity
How To Hold Joy and Sadness in Times of Great Miracles and Pain – Soul Talk [audio]
Do you ever have mixed feelings about G-d?
Filling the Void: The Spiritual Joy of Wasting Words (Part II)
What happens when you remove an organ from the body? You are left with empty space. If you remove a kidney or liver, what remains is the empty space that this organ used to occupy. The same applies to spiritual organs as well.
Spiritual Plateaus and New Horizons
The ashes represent Yitzchak’s (and Avraham’s) willingness to completely eliminate their egos in service and recognition of G-d. When that level of self-obliteration is accomplished, no physical sacrifice is necessary.
When Less Is More
This is not the time for lengthy speeches. Now is the time to proceed.
Why Go Back?
Some classical commentaries suggest that Avraham specifically wanted a wife to be chosen for Yitzchak from his own extended family in Aram Naharaim. A careful review of the text, however, reveals that Avraham never clearly makes that request of his servant. He simply tells Eliezer to return to Avraham’s land and birthplace and to search for a wife there.
The End of Yishmael
When the Torah relates at the end of the parsha (after already describing the death of Yishmael) that he fell before all his brethren on the approach to Ashur, Rabbi David Abuchatzera interprets this as a reference to the Purim story.
The Real Drama Of the Sedom Story
Even in mercy, we so often suffer. As much as we may always count on divine mercy, the divine calculus remains beyond our ken and we have been visited by destruction all too often.
Who Was Hagar?
Yishmael did not turn into the righteous son he had the potential to become. He mocked Yitzchak and this resulted in Avraham, on Sarah’s behest, banishing Hagar and Yishmael from his house.