יום שלישי, כ״ו אלול תשפ״וTuesday, September 8, 2026
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May you and all the wounded have a speedy and complete recovery, Michael. We can only imagine how many wonderful heroic acts like this are taking place each day in rehabilitation clinics throughout Israel.
The question of why there were no questions about Chabad involvement in the UJA-Federation survey is even more perplexing when you consider Chabad’s growth.
Many countries expressed their disdain with Israel’s response to the attack of Oct. 7 from the outset. Even before we entered Rafah, the Biden administration claimed this incursion would do nothing but embolden Hamas.
The real theme of this book is how to live so that G-d will plant His presence among us, so that G-d will be with us and among us.
A reputation is something that someone builds over time, so we can trust that this is going to give us a better understanding of their true character and behavior.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
The wilderness was not just a place; it was a state of being, a moment of solidarity, midway between enslavement in Egypt and the social inequalities that would later emerge in Israel.
Many associate the freedom Rebbe Yehoshua mentions with the exemption Torah scholars enjoy from taxes and other communal responsibilities (Avot 3:5 and Bava Batra 8a). We exempt scholars from these responsibilities so they can be free to focus on their studies.
The reason a person without Torah can never be truly free is because human beings are slaves to their passions and desires.
Our ancestors, who suffered far worse hardships, would gladly trade places with us. It is specifically during dark and depressing periods that historical perspective is crucial.
What was published, though, was nearly all after his passing, and much of it is obscured in the murkiness of what was authentic, what less so, what was expounded from his teachings and what was a commentary by his disciples.
It is the supporters of Torah who provide the artillery to those involved in Torah study to win the war of holiness in this world.
This is vital information for parents and educators, to know how to direct their children to the right school and the correct teachers.
Let us all hope and pray that no more civilian lives will be lost, Israeli or Arab. But query whether it is realistic to expect this to happen if the leadership of the Israelis, the Arabs, and the Americans all have their way.
my favorite tale of a Jewish horse thief is Sholem Aleichem’s generally unknown Moshkeleh Ganev (Moshe the Thief), which he serialized in twenty episodes in a Warsaw Yiddish daily before it was published in book form in Warsaw (1913) and, after Aleichem’s death in 1914, in Kiev (1927).
It's become quite apparent that many college campuses today have morphed into a hotbed of Jew hatred. So it's nice to know that with Rabbi Eliyahu and Shaindy Raskin around, students attending Brooklyn Heights institutions can focus on their studies knowing they have the academic, professional, and religious support of such a dedicated couple.
Living entails aspiration for growth and great effort to get there. But sometimes we strive to accomplish too much in too little time, and thereby set ourselves up for frustration and failure.
Sounds to us like a plan for Hamas to survive as a negotiating, enduring presence in Gaza, instead of disappearing as a terrorist group.
We must ask ourselves: Is this the best way to handle an ordeal? When we face challenges, how do we act during these moments of pain and discomfort?
In Judaism there is also the concept of maris ayin or appearance to the eye which is the prohibition of even giving the impression that one is doing something wrong when it may influence others to sin.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
The reverse is true of sin, continues Rabbi Hirsch. It removes you from the pure and loving presence of your Father in heaven. It will awaken within you the torturing pangs of conscience...
By Rabbanit Dr. Adena Berkowitz
For us, as we count down the days to Shavuot and the plethora of dairy we will be indulging in, let’s use our milchig food as a symbol to reconnect ourselves to Torah – and of course to Eretz HaKodesh, a land filled with milk and honey.
Funny enough, the data shows that using the term milchig isn't just Ashkenormative but it's Litve-normative!
There are numerous explanations for why we eat a dairy meal on this holiday. One of the reasons that underscores this connection is that just as milk spoils in fancy vessels but is preserved well in cheaper ones, the Torah is best preserved in a humble and accepting individual.
By David Curwin
While the average Israeli won’t know the word milchig, they will know the English cognate milky. It’s the name of a very popular chocolate dairy pudding.
The Rema (Yoreh Deah 87:3) anticipated the popularity of these substitutes when he wrote that anyone cooking a meat product in almond milk should place almonds on the table, to indicate the origin of the liquid and to avoid mar'is ayin, or the appearance a halachic violation.
Without rehashing all of the legalities, almost everybody agrees that if his name were not Donald Trump, the former President would never have been prosecuted for the relatively trivial crime of inaccurate business record entries or much less having it ballooned to an astonishing 34 felonies!
It is interesting that the Gemara does not seem to have an issue with the borrower’s somewhat deceitful motives. This would seem to be a violation of geneivas da’as, misleading a person in order to achieve an inappropriate gain.
How is Jewish identity, safety, and self-esteem affected by this rising tide of wrath that we see today directed at our communities throughout the world?
Shaindy tried to think logically. There must be some way to signal for help. She pulled out her cellphone and dialed her husband. No reception and no service. She tried dialing 911. That should work. No service again. No way to call anyone in this underground station.
There is a mitzvah to pay wages that day, and a prohibition – bal talin – to withhold wages, even if requires effort, replied Mr. Klein. But you offered Mrs. Adler alternate forms of payment. I’m not sure whether that’s sufficient.
The New York Times explains that in order to be diagnosed with ADHD, children should have at least six attention symptoms or six activity and impulsivity symptoms – to a degree beyond what would be expected for children their age.
A Public Servant ‘You Our Master Are Loaned To Us…’ (Bava Metzia 97a)
The UN security council stood for a moment of silence in his memory. What exactly were they thinking about during that moment of silence, which was also observed by the U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the UN?
Question: My friends are getting married on Rosh Chodesh Sivan. I tried to convince them to do otherwise, as many people have a minhag (custom) not to attend weddings until three days before Shavuot. They told me they spoke to rabbis who allowed it. Is this right? May I attend? Name withheld by request
I applaud your attitude as you seem to appreciate all the brachos that Hashem gave you as well as treasure all the good years in your marriage. We can all learn from your positive attitude in life.
The Three Days of Preparation and the Festival of the Giving of our Torah indeed come once a year, but there is a small-scale version of this preparation and of Matan Torah every day.
By Ariela Davis
Sam laughs that she was on every WhatsApp group, watched every NBN video and asked questions to everyone she knew.
By Rabbi Shimshon HaKohen Nadel
The indelible images of those six dramatic days in June 1967, along with the echo of Motta Gur's battle cry, Har HaBayit b’yadeinu – the Temple Mount is in our hands, are forever seared into our collective consciousness.
It is possible that there is something you are missing when it comes to his family, and it is equally probable that whatever has caused their disconnect will assure you of his commitment to an emotional connection and his stability.
Avraham was a righteous individual in a mass of wicked depraved individuals and civilizations, and he was one single light in the face of a growing darkness.
As plans for this year’s Celebrate Israel Parade up Fifth Avenue moved full steam ahead despite the challenges – that is, the explosion of open Jew-hatred across New York City and the world – I’ve found myself thinking about this dilemma.
While there are sporadic quotes in the era of the Rishonim to the Jerusalem Talmud on the Seder Kodshim portion, no portion of it survives today.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
The people may be faithless to G-d but G-d will never be faithless to the people.
Many interpret the word tza’ar in the literal sense – pain or suffering. Our reward is proportional to the pain we endure.
By Alan Zeitlin
The roles the actors play are all inherently difficult, as it is impossible to recreate what one would feel like during a massacre.
Hashem gives us opportunities to do teshuva. He delivers minor punishments to put us on notice. However, if these signals are ignored, then the suffering becomes more and more difficult.
The question I constantly find myself asking is why does this intellectual dishonesty occur? The answer, at least partially, is due to confirmation bias.
Please, return us the real thing which is bringing our sacrifices in the Beis HaMikdash.
Those numbers matter not only regarding the ability of Israel to raise the money and troops to fight in its defense, but also because Israel’s enemies do not ever have to work hard to obtain a majority in the United Nations and to vote along religious-ethnic lines.
Noah’s plan for a temporary Jewish homeland in the United States – the restoration of the Jews to Eretz Yisrael and the reestablishment of Jerusalem as the eternal Jewish capital was always the ultimate goal – may have had its genesis in his removal from a high government position because he was Jewish.
As we only have a limited amount of space, we must decide what we want to fill our space with. This is not only true about data and stuff, but also about our relationships as well. It’s up to us to show those we care about that they have space in our lives.
The upcoming Democratic Primary Election for the U.S. Congress will take place in less than a month on June 25. We cannot overemphasize how important these races are.
I lived (as a stranger) with Lavan…and I acquired oxen and donkeys. Rashi there elaborates that Yaakov was trying to placate Esav by telling him that the blessings of the first born were not fulfilled, so he need not be angry with him for having stolen them.
By Marc Gronich
The leader of the House Democrats, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D – Crown Heights, Brooklyn), also addressed the crowd. This is a challenging and searing time for the Jewish community where we will be able to defeat antisemitism, bury it in the ground and ensure it can never rise up again, he said.
On the one hand, there is the mitzvah to celebrate with the chasan and kallah or the bar mitzvah, but there is also the mitzvah (Devarim 4:15) V’nishmartem me’od l'nafshoseichem - Take heed of yourself [guard your health].
It will likely be months before any developments – if any. Nor is the plain fact that the court has no real enforcement arm inspiring confidence in the process. Rather it has to rely on actions of individual nations who have joined the court.
If we valued, recognized, made more space for the wisdom of the hands, we'd allow more people to feel successful, accomplished, seen in our community.
As we fight an enemy on our border, it’s not walls that will save us and establish peace.
Just as Hashem opened Himself to be witnessed, we too have the sacred capacity to truly be there for each other. We can create space to hold another's story – their struggles and their greatness – even if we can never fully understand.
By Maayan Zik
For all the community love that was proposed, the few walls that were built surely declared the opposite. Once some of the walls were pointed out, the discussion went in a better direction.
We must remember that these walls are considered holy as they are frequented regularly by Jews from around the world who come to visit and pray.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
We tend to define our own levels of wisdom, power, wealth, and honor by likening how much of these commodities we have in relation to others. According to psychologist Leon Festinger, when we make downward social comparisons, we tend to inflate our sense of self by reflecting on how much more we have than others.
Merging with larger non-kosher and non-Glatt programs would not be an option, as the reliability of the Glatt Kosher claim would inevitably be compromised in the eyes of the clients.
While the Ramban suggests that a test is within one’s capacity, the very Hebrew word for a test suggests otherwise. The root of the word nisayon is neis, the Hebrew word for miracle.
Universities have been morally and intellectually damaging for more than 50 years. How many young people return home after four years at college (let alone additional years in graduate school) a finer, kinder, more moral or intellectually more developed person? Let’s just say it’s rare. I have never met one.
This is a true story that happened to me several years ago, but it is a story that I will never forget. Because of it, I now have a “thing” about locking front doors, though, truth to tell, I was always careful about making sure that they were locked before leaving my house.
It felt so right to be where I was. I was HOME with my family. Come what may, this is where I was supposed to be. And I fully embraced this belief.
Although the renter is not liable for oness, such as natural death, whereas the borrower is, Rabi Yosei rules that the borrower pays the value of cow to the owner, not to the renter/lender, since he should not profit from the other person’s cow (C.M. 307:5).
Research has indicated that children with learning disabilities often fail to pick up social skills and experience more difficulty making and keeping friends than young people without these problems. Yet, quite often children who academically are well within the mainstream, suffer from these disadvantages as well.
His Father Gave The Ring ‘What About A Worker Toasting The Produce And Eating?’ (Bava Metzia 89a)
Ironically, research suggests that most people, even most kids, don’t even like social media.
Question: Why do we only count the Omer after the first day of Passover, and why for 49 days only, when the Torah commands “Fifty days shall you count?” Additionally, what is the reason for the special celebrations of Lag Ba’Omer? Harvey Abramson Via Email
I do not know what kind of childhood your husband had, however, if you want to make this marriage work, you must try to focus on his positive qualities instead of his negative issues. I know this is easier said than done.
The service of teshuva, however, requires us to reach beyond our limited, worldly frame of reference and express the unbounded potential of the godly spark within us.
By Alan Zeitlin
Seinfeld gave an anti-cliché, speech, the antithesis of almost every other which tells people to follow their dreams or passions.
The question is asked: If the miracle of the blessing will already be obvious, as our pasuk indicates, in the sixth year – when the land produces a crop that is sufficient for three years – why would the people be worrying any further?
Since kabbalah is centered upon the unification of the entire cosmos, it is holistic and integrated. Events and aspects of our own reality which seem unrelated are jointly impacted by upper worlds and are therefore related.
You need to discuss what your individual financial expectations are. Not only about what you will each be contributing as a couple, but also about what you expect your spouse to offer you in terms of gifts, vacations, and the like.
Rebbe Yaakov’s teachings aim to help us develop the proper perspective on our world. We should realize that it and its pleasures are not the ultimate goal.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
The Torah commands us in only one place to love our neighbor, but thirty-six times to love the stranger.
Noting that the local paper mill in Vilna burned down and no paper was available locally, he apologizes for the delay in getting the process started as they were awaiting a batch of paper from Warsaw. Dismissing an option to print on low quality paper, the printer writes that in their vicinity such paper is not used.
A beautiful example of how heaven is exclusively a place of peace can be found in a Gemara in Maseches Sotah. We are informed of a fascinating fact: Daily, in the desert, together with the mon fell women’s beauty treatments because that which beautifies a woman fosters more love and harmony in the home, which promotes peace.
By Marc Gronich
New York should be a refuge. We should be a sanctuary for Jews who live here, who are New Yorkers, who pay taxes, who call this home. We are quickly not becoming that. That is a shameful thing and that is what this conference stands against, said Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt.
If one who wants to be wise begins to believe of himself that he is special, then he will no longer be prepared to learn from everybody.
Three wars are being fought right now; the war in Gaza, the war about the War in Gaza, and the war of antisemitism against civilian Jews unprotected by human shields.
The 1934 Fair represented the largest and most prestigious concentration of buildings executed in the International Style up to the time; it made a crucial contribution to a local evolution of modern form and details, and it formed the basis for the definition of the content of situated modernism and its promotion in Eretz Yisrael.
The truth is, as expensive and challenging as it is to construct a bridge across water, it is far more arduous and challenging to build bridges between people and nations.
By Our Readers
While the Saudis early on in the process – which began about two years ago – did not insist on Israeli acceptance of the notion of a Palestinian state as a necessary condition, President Biden did.
Time and again, with dozens of videos as evidence, these campus encampments have not merely been places to advocate for a cause but to limit the advocacy of anyone else’s cause.
By Marc Gronich
It has been 26 years since the New York State Senate honored its first group of women with the Women of Distinction award. This is a senate-only event and does not include any honorees from the New York State Assembly.
September 4, 2026 
