יום שני, י״ח אלול תשפ״וMonday, August 31, 2026
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Halakhic man’s goal is to bring G-d down into this world by first understanding the blueprint He created for this world – the Torah, and its practical expression through halacha – and then striving to align this world with that ideal system.
This year, the camp faced another significant challenge: a dramatic increase in participants. Due to the October 7 events and subsequent Swords of Iron War, 200 newly bereaved children joined the camp, doubling the number of participants to 400.
Following his elder brother's murder, the Baba Sali was appointed head of the community, but fearing continuing antisemitism, his family and much of the community moved to the town of Boudenib, where the yeshiva he led was resettled.
Hashem taught Moshe and us this lesson through the construction of the Mishkan and the giving of the luchot. When Hashem told Moshe to assemble the Mishkan, Moshe protested that it was too heavy for him to lift. Hashem told Moshe to do what he could: Make it look like you are trying to erect it.
Perhaps though, decide to rely on Hashem and relinquish the power you are clinging to with shaky hands. Tell your parents that you would like to discuss the option of your sister dating as well and surrender your role as gatekeeper to a greater master plan.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Charity is always voluntary. Tzedakah is compulsory. Therefore, tzedakah does not mean charity. The nearest English equivalent is social justice.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Noted marriage therapist Dr. John Gottman also contends that each marriage has perpetual, unsolvable problems. The goal is not to resolve those conflicts but to know how to relate to those conflicts in healthy ways.
Sometimes the soldier and his family are most bothered by the worry that their difficulty adjusting is not normal and reflects severe psychological distress.
We learn that every effort that is expended for the collective Jewish people is a merit for the individual.
By Alan Zeitlin
November said while poetry will likely remain a marginalized genre compared to fiction, those who are passionate about poetry work hard to hone their craft and take great joy in the way poetry provides a vehicle for communicating poignant truths in a compressed space.
Hashem, I know that this person might even repeat such an offense against me in the future but I am still willing to forgive him for now. Please forgive me as well even though I might likewise slip up with aveiros, sins, sometime in the future.
Perhaps as a result of what he himself characterized as his mother’s “made-up Judaism, Hirschfeld rejected Orthodox Judaism. Nonetheless, he always believed that he belonged to a great heritage going back through centuries, and I’ve always felt that I am very close to Jewish life, customs, food, even though I never attend synagogue. But I’ve never thought of myself as anything but Jewish.
I have observed younger people who will not speak English in front of their elderly grandparents. Those gestures and degree of respect are lost on most of us. Kids today are brought up to feel that their teachers are like buddies and friends.
By Jason Maoz
After every davening, says Siller, people would crowd around and bombard him with questions and comments. And Moshe would patiently stand there, literally dripping with sweat, completely drained from his performance. But he wouldn’t leave until everyone had the chance to speak with him.
If your knowledge of cubing begins and ends with the classic 3-square x 3-square Rubik’s cube, you’d be amazed to discover the array of cube types on the market.
When I walked into the pizza shop not too long ago, I noticed two high school girls holding bentchers and reciting beracha acharona meticulously. It was a chizuk to me about the importance of reciting berachos carefully even in a public and somewhat harried setting.
Significant also is the lesson the Saudis and Abraham Accord states – that are in mortal fear of Iran and Hezbollah – should have come away with.
For Rav Hirsch, this is the true embodiment of the national spirit of Israel – feeling responsible for one another, meeting the needs of one another, and celebrating together in the joy of the community experienced as a community.
It seems like forshpayz specifically refers to cold appetizers. In contrast, smorgasbord can include hot, cold, and a broader array of eats.
By Maayan Zik
Of course, I was generally aware of appetizers, but had no idea it held such a special space in the hearts of Eastern European Jews.
Jewish culture is just like the melting pot of America. We come in all colors, stripes, and flavors, and we are all lovable. The initial taste might be foreign at first, but when you really sit down to enjoy the meal together, you will grow to love it, too.
Picture this: It’s Sunday morning, you’ve just grabbed bagels and lox from your favorite appetizing shop. That smoked salmon? Forshpayz. Cream cheese schmear? Forshpayz. Whitefish salad? Forshpayz. This isn’t just any starter; it’s a whole production number.
It’s not just my stomach that craves forshpayz all year long; it’s my neshama.
How many things are we holding ourselves back from achieving simply because we believe them to be impossible?
It’s hard to reconcile all of this with objective, unbiased reporting. In fact, it seems to us as pure editorializing in the guise of reporting.
The family should belong in the picture at home, not at the Temple. Why reverse it?
By dvora
When he quoted the source as being Rabbi Charney, I jumped up, and running over to him. I cried out: Do you know that Rabbi Charney is my Uncle Rebbe? I had absolutely no idea how he had gotten this sefer!
When I returned later in the evening, Hubby was in bed but wide awake. I asked him if he remembered his birthday party. He said no” I asked if he remembered the wonderful birthday cake with his picture on it. He said Yes! thus, a bit of the day was actually savored.
Many of us remember our parents telling us that if people called us names or hurt our feelings, we should simply tell ourselves, Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never harm me. Unfortunately, that logic does not hold true.
Hung Out To Dry ‘A Roof With A Parapet 10 Tefachim High Is Not Included’ (Bava Basra 63b-64a)
At the end of the day, believing in your plan can keep you committed to it when the going gets tough.
Question: The eruv at a facility was discovered to be breached on Shabbat and was repaired without everyone residing there being told anything at the time. Some people learned about it only after the repair. What is the halachically proper manner of dealing with such a situation? If an eruv is breached on a Shabbat, is its repair permitted? If permitted, how is this to be done ideally? Is there a need to announce the breach? Zvi K. Via E-mail
It is OK to mention my child to me. In fact, as I wrote above, it comforts me.
The Book of Devarim describes the great danger of living in a prosperous society that offers people everything they desire and in large amounts. It’s challenging to live in poverty – but it’s also challenging to live in wealth.
By Alan Zeitlin
Knowing he is in a sport seen by many and interacts with people of countries around the world, Elkin said he felt it was important to show pictures of those who were taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, with images on his helmet, jacket or signs he has held.
By Braha Bender
I have struggled with what feels like a new full-time job. Just like you, I am now a trauma management specialist. This job takes a real chunk out of my schedule. Psychological warfare is real.
Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachman said: When Hashem created the world, He desired to have a dirah b'tachtonim, a place for Him to reside below the way He had above.
On the most basic level, challenges inspire reflection and appreciation. The need to work hard to regain something lost or return to a previous position deepens our appreciation for what we had and where we were beforehand.
These satirical works were written in the style and language of the Talmud, duplicating the layout and fonts of the standard Talmudic page, with a main text in the center flanked by commentaries in Rashi text.
G-d didn’t have to admonish Avraham that the mitzvos are not a yoke around one’s neck, but rather vitamins for the soul.
Take a moment to catalogue the net you have cast in shidduchim. Have you only reached out to people in your community, your state, or your exact upbringing? Consider widening the net to include a broader scale of possibilities.
Part of the process of pursuing our goals certainly requires that we work as hard as we can to achieve them, and it is perfectly appropriate for someone to be proud of their hard work. But they must never forget either the source of their power or the ultimate purpose of their efforts: to uphold the covenant with Hashem.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
What Moses was saying to the new generation was this: You thought that the forty years of wandering in the wilderness were the real challenge, and that once you conquer and settle the land, your problems will be over.
The teacher who relayed this example to me told me that at the end of about a few months of this training, they could have turned any academic material that you can possibly imagine into an excuse to have these political conversations.
It wasn’t only the illusions of Jews in Israel that were shattered on Oct. 7. Many Jews around the world had built their Jewish identity on the mission of creating a more just and perfect society – the program of tikkun olam.
Although the individual who seems to be evil, may, in fact, enjoy great success in life, when he dies, he has already received all his reward in this world. This is in contrast to the tsaddikim who will receive the lion’s share of their reward in the world-to-come.
By Marc Gronich
I’ve always been interested in the afflictions of mental illness. My grandmother committed suicide. We’ve had a streak of mental illness in my family tragically. I myself am mentally ill. My career was destroyed by my bizarre criminal acts, Wachtler said.
Taking one’s time to have these thoughts in mind is well worth it. The Gemara informs us, Kol hamarich b’Echad, marichin lo yomov u’shnosov – Whoever prolongs the word Echad will have one’s life qualitatively and quantitatively prolonged.
Over the course of his life, his inventions and over 150 U.S. and international patents have contributed to the advancement of military defense, including tracking systems for submarines, and to television technology, video gaming, electronic toys, and other electronic consumer products.
These radical viewpoints suggest that a Harris Administration will express hostility towards the Jewish state and American Jews who support Israel.
It is notoriously difficult to fully prove or disprove the level of helplessness and depression the person has versus possible laziness and avoidance. Because of this, and the frustration, embarrassment, and confusion, it is difficult for loved ones to respond objectively.
Basic to the scheme is a compliant mainstream media that will not obsess over covering a presidential candidate who is, well, a virtual automaton – even though reporters and journalists would rather have the opportunity to verbally engage him (or her).
Every thought, word, action, and decision have infinite, cosmic reverberations and repercussions. This may be overwhelming to consider, and it may be unhealthy to continuously fixate upon the severity of each infinitesimal aspect of our lives, but the truth remains nonetheless.
I have a hard enough time balancing all of the responsibilities in my own life. Am I obligated to strive to fully internalize the pain of others? If I am, how can I ever be happy and dance at a wedding or appreciate a sunny day, when there is so much suffering and sadness in this world?
Boker tov is not merely a salutation to others wishing them a “good morning,” it is also a mandate for myself to set a proper mindset to start my day.
By Nachum Segal
Kudos to those who give better impressions of themselves and our people by regularly adhering to these practices.
Let us all pray to Hashem for many more boker tov's when all our enemies will be destroyed.
By Martin Bodek
Reminds me of a famous Nathan Birnbaum vort: “The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending, and having the two as close together as possible.”
Goldenberg has also been a leading proponent of deepening diplomatic relations with Iran and an ardent supporter of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal – which most Israelis believe presented an existential threat to their country by providing a pathway for Iran to develop nuclear weapons and achieve hegemony in the Persian Gulf.
Since October 7/Simchat Torah, there has been no good morning, there has been only waking to realize that we are still in this endless nightmare of grief, pain, and uncertainty.
This is a lesson we must pass on to all to learn from. As dark as it gets, do not despair since the light is right around the corner.
Finally, in May 1990, Bush couldn’t take it any longer. Ross’s promises about the moderate Arafat crumbled as a PLO member-organization was caught trying to carry out a massacre on the Tel Aviv beachfront.
By Eliana Klein
I thought of posting on our local email list to see whether anyone was driving to that neighborhood in the coming days, but the chances of anyone nearby to my location driving to that far off destination during the two remaining afternoons of the shiva were infinitesimal, especially since I required a seat up front.
To add insult to injury, Dr. N. was concerned that Hubby jolted his teeth badly when he fell, and wants Hubby to eat soft foods for a few days to let the gums get over the trauma. Hubby is a difficult eater at the best of times, but he will likely be willing to eat ice cream multiple times per day to get some calories for subsistence.
I’m hesitant, though, to move tzedakah money out of the bank account, said the gabbai. What if we suddenly had a great need for the funds around the Yamim Tovim, or if the market crashes…?
Temper tantrums or fits are common for terrible twos and children entering adolescence. Interestingly, the reasons behind the tantrums and the effective ways to deal with these tantrums are the same regardless of age.
A Matter Of Priority ‘Lands Shown By Hashem To Moses Are Subject To Tithes’ (Bava Basra 56a)
Whereas good-hearted Leah went the proverbial “extra mile,” her siblings couldn't be bothered giving her an extra inch.
By Gila Arnold
The hallmark of a Yid – our special koach – is that we believe in the future. Sometimes that future won’t happen for a long time, but we believe that ultimately, the good will come.
The modern Orthodox world (Yeshiva University, Touro, Skokie and other institutions) has long ago made its peace with secular learning. Even Ner Yisrael offers a program with Loyola University. But most of the yeshivish veldt is still wrestling with this issue.
By Irwin Cohen
The Duke hit the last home run in Ebbets Field history in 1957 and moved to Los Angeles with the Dodgers, getting a couple of television gigs in Hollywood.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
If left to our own merit, the rabbis presumed that divine justice would demand punishment.
The paradox of unwanted thoughts is that by trying not to think them, we are automatically reinforcing them. Thoughts are electrical impulses in the nervous system.
This year, Tisha B’Av was not just symbolic, but painfully real. It is not a coincidence that our enemies are threatening to attack us on that day, G-d forbid.
In this poster, the organization expresses the idea that the majority of German Jews identify more with their German identity than with their Judaism, and that Zionists, who are not willing to assimilate, should be ousted.
No one in this generation has any clue. This makes me so sad to tell you but it’s true. Either they don’t know or they don’t care. They are clueless.
Question: Our family enjoys reading and studying your weekly column as it gives us invaluable insight into our Torah practice. Our question is as follows: If the fast of Tisha B’Av (the 9th of Av) concludes the mourning period for the destruction of the Temple, why wait until the 15th of Av to rejoice? Is there a distinct significance to this date? Sara Gutman Via E-Mail
The first thing I would recommend is for you and your husband to make some extra time for your marriage. Going out together, without any children, does wonders for that dimming spark, as you and your husband will be able to just enjoy each other without all of the distractions of daily life.
By Alan Zeitlin
Instead of protecting the Israeli team, the police were on the other side, I believe, he said. If I was a player on an adult team, I would have gone to the field and risked getting arrested, but you can’t do that with kids, he said.
Instead of fixating on a ketz hageulah (end of redemption), which places the burden on G-d to act, we should embrace the approach of being metzapeh l’yeshua and mechakeh lo, never despairing and continuing our mission with hope and purpose.
Because the great sound that did not falter was simultaneously a great sound that would never be repeated, no navi sheker could ever produce evidence that could rival Sinai.
While each legal and business situation is unique, the importance of the evening in helping the Jewish public conduct their own due diligence in the real world cannot be underestimated.
Poe's best-known fiction works are Gothic horror, and his most recurring themes deal with questions of death and other macabre topics, such as its physical signs, the effects of decomposition, concerns about premature burial, and the reanimation of the dead.
If you love Hashem, if you are in awe of Him, then things will go well for you. As they should. But one mustn’t serve Hashem in expectation of a reward.
The fact that the rebbe knows that his students are looking up to him, and that he serves as an example for them, compels him to act the part, even if he would not otherwise do so.
I know that this will be uncomfortable for you to hear and will not offer you the satisfaction and peace of mind that you crave, but I need you to stay in your own lane. Unless you or your chosson are contributing financially to the wedding, this is not your business.
Suffering may be painful, but when we realize that Hashem is behind it, the month truly becomes Menachem Av.
It wasn’t the he said-she said exchanges that were most troubling, although we think Ms. Harris was more forthcoming on the embargo issue than she is now willing to let on.
When the Beis HaMikdash was destroyed, the world died. The soul of the world, i.e., Hashem, left its body, its vessel – the physical world – resulting in a cosmic spiritual chasm and a shattered reality.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
To this day American politics is based on the biblical idea of covenant. American presidents almost always invoke this idea in their Inaugural Addresses in language that owes its cadences and concepts to the book of Devarim.
I believe the nechama, the comfort, is that we have changed as a result of our efforts during the Three Weeks and the Nine Days, learning how to be more careful with sinas chinam, baseless hatred, and lashon hara, evil slander.
August 28, 2026 
