יום שישי, ט״ו אלול תשפ״וFriday, August 28, 2026
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The gematria of dodi is 24. The gematria of Hashem’s name is 26. To reach a level of G-dliness we must add two – oneself and Hashem, in a mutually caring and giving relationship.
Is the threat posed by pro-terrorist, anti-Israel “protestors” not clear enough at this point to warrant more considered response by law enforcement agencies?
When we come before Hashem, with only one page in our hands to offer, it might be a good page with a lot of good deeds, but it doesn't represent or reflect who we really are. On the contrary, the judge might look at that one page and say this doesn't show Him who we really are. There's not enough information here.
By Naama Klein
Basically I felt like HaKadosh Baruch Hu was calling me, albeit in my son’s voice, reminiscent of a youthful Shmuel HaNavi reporting to Eli HaCohen several times during the night, during the era that Mishkan Shilo stood, many thousands of years ago.
On occasion, Hubby decides to be an independent human being who resists my regimen and refuses to ingest even one more pill. I cannot really blame him as I look at my own selection of vitamins, prescribed meds and cure-alls and wonder how I will ever get them all down the hatch.
Expecting children in whom these skills are delayed to behave rationally when upset, and to penalize them for not doing so, is unrealistic, Greene argues. These children do not choose to behave badly any more than a child would choose to have a reading disability.
Rabbi Nechunia’s Prayer ‘… Even So, An Actual Incident Is Greater’ (Bava Basra 83a)
The importance of creating meaningful experiences is especially relevant as we approach the chagim.
Your request to us Rachel was that hope is mandatory. Those words remained with me this entire year.
Question: My husband and I are frequent Shabbos guests at our children’s homes nearby (we eat the meal with them and return to our home after the meal). Where should I light Shabbos candles – in my home or in theirs? Name Withheld
Originally the censors focused on religious works, particularly Kabbalastic and chasidic works. However, with time, they took on a political bent as well, promoting ideas favorable to the government and eliminating any words of opposition that were suspected in any of the printed works.
One can’t help but speculate about what happened in Israel on October 7, which led many people around the world to conclude that they were safe only as far as they could get away from Israel and Gaza...
I think the reason that the guys are not able to validate your argument however, is not because they can’t agree on your delineated list of chores. I believe instead, that your fifty-fifty attitude is probably holding them back.
Rav Kook speaks evocatively of a world full of harmony. Everything has been created with a purpose and situated in such a way that it stands in perfect balance with everything else.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
When love is conditional, it lasts as long as the condition lasts but no longer.
By Alan Zeitlin
The message is that politics come before the safety of the Jews, Sheinkopf said.
Kipnis was a leading pioneer of the Diaspora-negating Zionist narrative and one of its most active proponents, and much of his work was purposely designed to replace Diasporan poems, stories, narratives, culture and traditions.
Our sages tell us that one of the most effective ways for man to gain Heaven’s favorable judgment is to grant merit to the community, by helping, contributing, and empathizing with those who are in need.
By Marc Gronich
New York probably has one of the biggest Jewish populations in the country and [an Israel tent] would make a lot of sense, State Senator Rachel May (D - Syracuse) told The Jewish Press.
Rav Moshe Shternbuch, zt”l, zy”a, urges us to get moving with our Elul pursuits as early and as quickly as possible. He compares it to a wedding. If you go early, the baalei simcha, the celebrants are more likely to notice you and to interact with you personally.
By Jason Ciment
What becomes clearer after the constant refrain from politicians of their support for Jews in America is that their declarations and actions are not just about protecting Jewish communities – though that is certainly at the foundation.
Our life includes more than just fulfilling mitzvot. We also have goals we aim to achieve.
Kipnis was a leading pioneer of the Diaspora-negating Zionist narrative and one of its most active proponents, and much of his work was purposely designed to replace Diasporan poems, stories, narratives, culture and traditions.
It is vital that we never forget that our goal is growth, not perfection! As long as we can honestly state that we are doing the best we can with what the Aibishter has given us, we can feel confident that we are doing our part.
We do not presume to take a position on the underlying issue of the hostage tragedy. The dilemma presented is heartbreaking.
Genuine teshuva is not just about fixing our mistakes in Elul and Tishrei; it’s about self-expression, returning to our true and higher selves.
By Aryeh Werth
When your only religion is human rights, you’ll be alone; the moment you embrace your Jewish identity, you’ll never be alone.
Rashi’s experience is reminiscent of a number of great thinkers and scientists who described their breakthroughs as coming from imaginative visions.
She is not only my mother-in-law, but also, the first Jewish mother I've ever known, so I'm a convert. Yes, it's different from having a non-Jewish mother, but in a wonderful way.
By Eli Lebowicz
We actually had a baby earlier this year and my in-laws lived with us for a month afterwards, because I needed more comedy material. And boy did that work.
The Gemara is reminding us of the potency of this unique relationship and that it must be treated with care.
The stereotype of the meddling, overbearing shvigger can cause tension even before the relationship has a chance to develop. For many, the fear of not meeting expectations or navigating potential conflicts is significant.
As we saw in the recent Olympics relay races, the baton is passed forward and the passer steps away; so too when a man or woman marries, parents have to let go of their biological baton.
As I walked somberly through the bustling beit midrash, tears welled up as I passed the seats once occupied by those who have fallen in battle.
By Marc Gronich
We found that the number of hate crimes reported in New York State are at the highest level since hate crimes were mandated to be reported in 2000 with the hate crimes legislation, DiNapoli told The Jewish Press.
Having children of any sex is a gift of unimaginable kindness. I know of people who have been trying to have a child for such a long time who would give anything to have a child male or female.
Indeed, how could Iranian support have been arranged without Iran being a co-conspirator with the named defendants?
Each year Hashem grants us only one year ahead, which means every year our lease ends completely and we have to ask again for a new life.
New York City CANDLE LIGHTING TIME September 13, 2024 – 10 Elul 5784 6:49 p.m. NYC E.D.T. Sabbath Ends: 7:47 p.m. NYC E.D.T. Sabbath Ends: Rabbenu Tam 8:18 p.m. NYC E.D.T. Weekly Reading: Ki Tetze Weekly Haftara: Roni Akara (Isaiah 54:1-10) Daf Yomi: Bava Basra 80 Mishna Yomit: Bava Kama 10:4-5 Halacha Yomit: Kitzur […]
Hubby goes to his memory-day-care center, Melabev, and the staff there have mentioned his decline over the past six years. But somehow, the past year has been the worst. Of course, how foolish of me to have expected otherwise.
Enough is enough. I wasn’t going back to my earlier Millennial Silence.
You found the money this afternoon, but it was lying all day in the shul’s premises, replied Mr. Shatz. I locked the shul after the last Shacharis minyan, so – if there is no obligation of hashavas aveidah – the shul should acquire the $20 bill, since it was secure in the shul’s premises.
A certain amount of anxiety as we go about our daily lives is normal. Most adults can navigate their way through the nagging concerns that dog their thoughts without getting derailed by them. Children, however, have a much harder time handling anxiety.
An Implacable Foe ‘Therefore Those Who Speak In Parable Say …’ (Bava Basra 78b)
The no exact change excuse is typical of people who break laws – they don’t blame themselves; in fact, they regard themselves as perfectly innocent.
The star attraction of the auction was The David Moss Haggadah, which is a masterful work of modern manuscript-making by the artist David Moss.
Question: My husband and I are frequent Shabbos guests at our children’s homes nearby (we eat the meal with them and return to our home after the meal). Where should I light Shabbos candles – in my home or in theirs?
Rachel spoke: I want to thank G-d right now in front of all of you for giving me this magnificent present of my son Hersh. For 23 years I was privileged to have the most stunning honor to be Hersh’s mama. I’ll take this moment to say thank you.
I would never get to hear my bubby’s voice as she sang me a lullaby. My bubby would never hold me in her arms. I would never get to see her smile. I would never get to taste her delicious Hungarian cakes and delicacies. I would never feel her hand in mine. So many ‘nevers’.
Don’t say things to yourself that you would not say to a good friend. Be understanding, gentle, accepting, and loving to yourself as you would with someone else that you care about.
We are not only able to help ourselves, we are also responsible for doing so. Though many assist us throughout our lives, in the end, we are responsible for ourselves.
This week I acquired a copy of this now scarce title, titled Baruch Hagever, a memorial book for Baruch Goldstein, the perpetrator of the Hebron mass shooting.
In the opening chapters of Orot HaTeshuva, Rav Kook examines the categories and characteristics of teshuva. He posits that teshuva is an aspect of natural law which triggers an awareness of Divine Mercy that in turn precipitates the exercise of Divine Mercy.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Why do crowds riot? The short answer is, because they can.
You family has done you a disservice in not being more transparent about the money that they earn to afford the lifestyle that they have raised you in and the effort that it takes for them to get there. Life in expensive.
Our ethical code is deeply woven into our identity as the people of G-d and is central to our Jewish mission. The fierce accusations of immorality leveled against us only underscore our historical mission of calling humanity to higher moral ground.
The Zera Shimshon asks: Why does the Torah need to state that the people will be judged. Who else is presenting before the judges?
By Alan Zeitlin
I experienced the love of G-d amid the terror, which is such a dichotomy and a mind trip, he said. It’s like, what’s going on here? If you start to think about it, it’s too much to handle, but when you are active in the moment, you just look at it and that your mission is to play music every day...
If you don’t rinse out your mouth in the morning before davening, grab the opportunity to do so. You can fix in your mind that you are doing it so that the many names of Hashem that you will articulate during davening will come from a clean and pleasant source.
To assure that its graduating students would not experience financial problems, the school paid each of them 1,000 francs, but that largesse proved unnecessary because virtually all of them quickly gained meaningful employment, in most cases very well paid jobs, because the skills that they had gained in Mikveh Israel were in high demand.
Law helps society, even if certain individuals do not benefit, or even suffer.
There have always been men who exploited their power over women (or children, or other men). But this is not characteristic of all men, and saying so is a terrible slur.
We are still stuck in the war, in our inability to bring home the hostages, or return the evacuees to normal life, or to secure our borders. And then we have demonstrations and strikes.
I had always dreaded color war. What had suddenly changed? The obvious answer was that for the first time I had been involved in color war.
When her agreement to meet was touted by the group as indicating that she was open to the idea of an embargo the Harris camp said no, she was merely reiterating her general intention to engage with all communities.
By Jordana Baruchov Grreenfield
In essence, shira connects to the soul by expressing, reflecting, and amplifying the deepest aspects of our human experience, making it a powerful medium for both personal and spiritual connection.
I’d been singing Birkat HaMazon since childhood. I never had stopped to consider how it sounded to others. Which is the best way to sing of all. Now I sing all the time. On or off tune, I don’t know or care.
By Akiva Kra
Song clearly can reflect deep emotions and also can represent unbound joy. However, not every time is meant to have singing.
My name is Shira. But it’s not Shira. It’s actually Tzivya Chaya Liba. I didn’t like that name very much, and I have a feeling my parents didn’t either.
A song is the pen of the heart. It expresses the deepest parts of our hearts and souls, that which cannot be expressed through the medium of finite syllables.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
By honoring our teachers, we learn through the interpersonal social dynamics how to revere G-d as well.
Hesder yeshivot go a long way toward debunking the secularization concern, but hesder yeshivot have also made various religious compromises. And philosophically, religious Zionist soldiers embrace certain nationalistic elements foreign to the charedi belief system.
Sometimes, Hashem will send us a wake-up call, begging us to wake up from our slumber. When we hear it, we must remind ourselves what time it is.
Regardless, the Ayatollah had ample reason to change course and try to engage with the U.S. and avoid possible punitive U.S. actions, military and or economic. But it may be too late.
We had a year of sorrow, and bloodshed and it's time for our salvation. It feels almost unfair what we are going through.
As he was trying to work out the mystery of who had cleaned the shul, he mentioned it to one of the cooks in the school’s kitchens. And she admitted to having cleaned the shul herself.
It is my contention that the exasperation which so many caregivers experience is a combination of exhaustion because of the physical necessities involved while being a caregiver, and the emotional gutting which is experienced from those we loved all our lives… who barely know us now, and are treating us poorly.
Nechama is one of countless singles whose shidduch prospects are being limited by a lack of social skills. Such skills run the gamut from communication skills and grooming to anger management and stress control. And while social skills issues plague people of all ages, they are particularly damaging to singles on the shidduch scene.
Must A Typical Sale Be Generous? ‘A Seller Sells Generously’ (Bava Basra 71a)
The Talmud notes that when the Beit HaMikdash was destroyed for the second time, there was an increase in the number of ascetics within the Jewish community, who decided to limit themselves by not eating meat or drinking wine. Rabbi Yehoshua asked them why they restricted themselves in this way.
Question: What if an eruv was breached on a Shabbat – is it permitted to be repaired and if it is how is this to be done? Zvi Kirschner Via E-mail
A caveat on my perspectives. My kids are not yet of marriageable age. My only wedding planning experience comes from my own nuptials. Although beyond showing up with a suit and kittel, and selecting a stellar mesader kedushin, my involvement was modest, and that’s being generous. My opinions, therefore, don’t stem from the details of planning.
In spite of all they had suffered and endured, they held on to their hope and resilience. In spite of all they had lost, they were determined to rebuild. And in spite of the unknown and myriad hurdles that lay ahead, they continued to yearn for the Land that Hashem had promised to their forefathers.
As this period of Kaddish comes to a close, one bereaved family asked me to thank the general public on their behalf.
There is no question in my mind that we as a nation have improved in becoming more sensitized to the plight of our Jewish impoverished and in general to providing chesed, kindness, to people in need... But there is something more that is wholly missing!
Meira in Hebrew means giving light and our beautiful Meira was a light so bright, who during her young life, managed to chase away the darkness of her challenges to inspire her family, friends and community.
More than ever this past school year, our community-centric Shabbat was a much-needed respite for us students as we were often preoccupied with dealing with the encampments and protests on our various campuses.
How can we reconcile the fact that the pasuk says that the mitzvos are both tov and yashar are in Hashem’s eyes while Rashi says that yashar refers to the way man views the mitzvos?
August 28, 2026 
