יום רביעי, כ״ז אלול תשפ״וWednesday, September 9, 2026
Follow Us
The Jewish community stood up and showed we are not going to be intimidated, we are going to stand up for our rights, and we’re not going to let outsiders interfere with our programming, said Steve Fox, president of the Jewish Community Council of Greater Teaneck.
The fallen tree damaged the car’s roof and broke a window. My husband covered the window with plastic in the meantime. Accompanied by a car-knowledgeable friend, Menachem went to file his claim against the city a short time later.
The book is worth more with M.F.'s autograph, insisted David. I got it autographed, so I should be able to keep the autographed copy! If you insist on getting your book back, at least pay me the added value of the book!
On the one hand, I really do not mind if he is confused about these things. On the other, he is so anxious about the confusion that he tries to sort out the information by asking the same questions over and over again.
The Difficult Choice ‘His Father’s Lost Object and his Rebbi’s Lost Object…’ (Bava Metzia 33a)
While children who are extremely socially awkward will often be ostracized by their peers in elementary school, middle school is when a child’s social development becomes more apparent.
Esther wore royalty. When she acted with self-confidence, with true conviction and devotion to her people and to G-d – everything began to fall into place and to turn around for the good.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Jews did not abandon the past. We still refer constantly to the sacrifices in our prayers. But they did not cling to the past. Nor did they take refuge in irrationality.
These teeny tiny moments add up, and while he may not know what Havdalah means, there is a feeling associated with the mysterious colorful candle that magically appears once a week and bursts into flame, a feeling that will settle into the part of his heart that requires no words, a feeling so primal, that years later he won’t even understand why he loves Havdalah so much.
Question I would like to know why there are four special readings of the Torah during the period between Purim and Pesach. Also, why do we call each of those four Shabbatot by a special name, such as Shabbat Shekalim, Shabbat Zachor, etc., which we don't do otherwise? Celia Gluck Via E-mail
Suddenly in the minds of others you become somebody because you survived. You know everyone who died had stories up to the point of his death.
A policeman noticed the crowd gathered around the Rebbe and listening to him, so he came over and asked the Rebbe, Haben Sie eine erlobinish? (Do you have a permit?) When the Rebbe did not produce a permit, the officer arrested him.
Understanding the cause of why your mother-in-law behaved this way may help you come to terms with it more. Underneath this venom lies a negative person who probably had a very dysfunctional childhood.
In this column, I focus on one aspect of the war most commonly experienced by soldiers and other military service members, namely the perpetration of an act that, in the soldier’s perception, violates his moral code and inappropriately caused or contributed to the harm or death of an undeserving victim.
The resume is your introduction, a basic understanding of you so that potential daters (and their parents) can surmise if you might be at all compatible. Instead of fighting it, use it as a wonderful tool. This will help you to not go on dates that don’t make sense for you.
When man ate from the tree of knowledge of good and bad, he realized his full potential to pursue sin. This choice damaged both him and the world.
This week I’ve decided to compile some popular rules of thumb to share with readers and offer my own thoughts on the relevance of each rule. Keep in mind that it’s OK if your personal situation doesn’t alight exactly with every rule.
The Aish Kodesh says we read this parsha every year before the giving of the first mitzvah on Parshat HaChodesh because first we must give ourselves over entirely to obedience to Hashem.
The first thing to say about this book is that it is a fantastic, fun, interesting read. I cannot wait to share this with my preteen son.
Miracles that are revealed are intended to inspire a person to change his life for the better. However, when a person becomes accustomed to miracles as such they no longer affect him. A miracle that happens often and becomes nature may cause him to err in his thinking and stray.
History is both broad and deep at the same time. One with a broad knowledge of the subject probably prefers more depth on a topic, while one with less background probably prefers something broader in its scope.
The Gemara in Pesachim teaches us that leaven is a symbol for the evil inclination: Just as yeast agitates the dough, so too the yeitzer hara agitates the soul of man trying to get him to sin.
Although Brandeis has a student body which is now about only 35% Jewish – half of what it used to be in the 1970s, it still offers a rich religious and cultural Jewish life on campus.
The U.S. government offered to spare the lives of both Rosenbergs if Julius provided the names of other spies and if they admitted their guilt, but they refused, saying that they were innocent and would not bear false witness.
In her mind, all of her ancestors are swaying with her and she hears Baruch Levine singing harmony as she recites the timeless prayer for her children to be scholars and illuminators of the world. And in the middle of the spiritual euphoria (if she is lucky enough to get so far) she feels a tug on her leg. Mommy, can I have apple juice? Mommy, it’s not fair…
At times, I'm happy your marriage is over. You weren’t getting along, and you told me things would be better this way. You said, We’ll have a happy divorce. But it doesn't feel very happy.
We continue to be dismayed that the Biden Administration would countenance the blatant human trafficking implicit in a debate that treats human beings as bargaining chips.
By Marc Gronich
Most people who are coming are open to growing. That’s why they’re here. We haven’t had a situation yet where someone refused to wear a yarmulke, said Rebbetzin Rochie Kremer.
By Ziona Greenwald and Shlomo Greenwald
If anything ever happens to me, if I’m ever assassinated, people should assume that it was likely anti-Zionist activists.
By Eli Lebowicz
One perk is that on Simchas Torah, being a Kohen or Levi is like having TSA PreCheck. I know I just got here five minutes ago and I get an aliyah all the time, but I guess I’ll go straight to the front of the line.
The relatively small measure of honor paid to them is more of a historical reference to their ancestral heritage than a reflection of their personal celebrity.
Maybe it had to be that way. Maybe the lack of emphasis on wealth is baked into sharing Torah and sharing song.
It's an ancient Hebrew name, a tribal affiliation, that also confers social status and serves as a surname. This status is meticulously preserved through the generations – a non-Levi would not dare claim this status to obtain the second aliyah, and if one did, he would soon be discovered.
By Nachum Segal
Personally, I love the distinction of being a Levi. As a Levi you are encouraged to excel at tefillah and zemiros and there is an expectation that a Levi's voice will inspire and touch others.
Details of the UN inquiry and review have yet to be made public, but the extension of the ban would seem to indicate that Israel’s charges have been largely confirmed.
The carpenter was shocked! If only he had known he was building his own house, he would have invested so much more effort.
Only solidarity can direct us towards achieving our own redemption, and only unity can win over G-d’s favor and divine intervention.
By Jason Maoz
Larry would remain close with Rabbi Trenk for the rest of his beloved teacher’s life, and credits him with imparting the most important life lessons to his students, chief among them the beauty of living a life filled with empathy for others.
He could still be on the hook for the full amount if he abandons the appeal, or how he wins or loses it.
There is some fascinating research that seems to show that there is a social function for sarcasm, which actually can aid learning and creativity, notwithstanding the more frequent toxic effects of hostility and passive aggressiveness.
By Risa Rotman
My good friend knew all the above already, as a good friend does, but she listened anyway.
Last night, I asked Hubby if he remembered the film. He did not. Still, as the film progressed, he began to connect with bits and pieces. He always loved Streisand’s voice and it touched him once again.
Jews had freedom of religion and were able to avoid assimilation no matter where they lived in the empire. They had no legal restrictions to live Jewishly.
The camels all have names and most have been born and reared on the ranch. Ariel’s favorite is Golda, though he says he doesn’t like to play favorites.
If it is so hard to leave each time we come, why not stay, why not finally move? That question plagues me regularly and nobody asks it more forcefully than I do to myself.
Even though Leah was the most popular girl in class, the other girls didn’t really like her. In fact, they were a little bit scared of getting on her bad side.
The Majority Rule “If The Majority Are Israelites…” (Bava Metzia 24a-b)
By Irwin Cohen
The best Jewish hitter over the past few seasons has been Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman. The 29-year-old Bregman is in his last year before possibly leaving the Astros as a free agent.
They have developed a lifestyle that costs one third of a secular household...They share their childcare between aunts and grandmothers, and the men teach Torah to the boys.
Why does the Jewish leap year always consist of two Adars? Why specifically Adar? Menachem via email
For this column, I thought I would share some interesting items relating to Purim that are in a museum or are from my personal collection.
I saw in the eyes of the mourners how Jerusalem consoles. One of the grieving fathers left the Kotel tunnels in tears and said: I connected with all of our past and all of our future and to the historic task of our family within all of this.
When we first came to Stuttgart, at the very beginning, June, July, August, we really didn't know what is going to happen. And then also, we were all terribly upset right away because of the policy of the world. You see, we knew – like we were saying – nobody's going to say thank you to us for surviving.
In your situation, you sound like a person who wants to do chesed but you are stuck in a situation where you are dealing with a very complicated, needy person.
Even when he was already advanced in years, Reb Zalman himself, with his flowing beard and joyful, shining face, would rush around the fields like a young man, with scythe in hand. His simcha carried him.
Had Mr. Schumer told the truth, he would have said this: Israel’s being a pariah among the world’s nations tells us much more about the world’s nations than about Israel. Just as it did a mere two generations ago.
When you buy a raffle for another, even with your own money, you acquire it for him as his agent, replied Rabbi Dayan. All the more so if he asked you to lend him the money (C.M. 183:4; Divrei Chaim C.M. 2:21).
How many times do we stick to our guns because we are too proud to admit we are wrong, doubling down and doubling the damage?
Go back to the shadchan and ask if they ever use tinfoil pans versus real ones. Investigate their ongoing Shabbos purchases and detect if they have ever purchased take-out or used a plastic tablecloth.
Though there would always be antisemites, we were confident that the educated and tolerant mainstream had learned the lesson of the Holocaust. We assumed we would never again be hypocritically singled out. We were wrong.
It appears that while the original responsa presented here was the original response that was sent, in preparation for printing many changes were made and effort was made to make the text easier to understand.
The myriad Jews doing so much for Am Yisrael – such as going on missions, attending rallies, donating funds, advocating on social media, picking vegetables, returning to serve in the army, sending gear, making tzitzit, purchasing tefillin, and saying Tehillim – all serve as the glue that is bonding and unifying us in these challenging times.
If anyone is making Israel into a pariah, it is not Netanyahu, but Schumer.
The power of Amalek is not limited to the physical destruction they seek to bring upon Israel. Amalek’s chief ambition is to destroy Israel morally and spiritually.
A rollicking story with a happy ending, children aged 6-12 will understand that they have a choice when faced with any difficult situation.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Regardless of guilt and responsibility, if we commit a sin we have transgressed a boundary.
We sometimes cry such tears, not realizing that we have the choice to change our situation. Instead of bemoaning our bitter lot, we should get up and try to do something about it.
In tens of such cases, get refusers entering Israel as tourists were hauled in front of the Rabbinical Court. When comprehending the sanctions that may be levied against them while maintaining their position of get refusal, these men arranged the get through the good services of the Israeli Rabbinical Court.
Her book, or rather her slim booklet of around 20 pages, does not come to teach, prescribe or preach how Jewish prayer should look. Plenty of other books have been written for that purpose.
The great Rav Shamshon Rafael Hirsch, zt”l, zy”a, wrote in his ethical will that the only thing he asks from his righteous children is that if one of them is hurt by another sibling, they should forgive and make up, and that will bring the truest pleasure to their parents in the next world.
I wanted to create something that could help a lot of people by making listening and understanding easier in class and making learning more fun and enjoyable, said Chodos.
The scope and variety of Purim celebrations over the past few centuries are truly remarkable, and I present here some of my favorite such Purim announcements and invitations from my extensive collection of Purim materials.
Can one simultaneously discharge the mitzvot of mishlo'ach manot and matanot la'evyonim by giving a poor person a generous food package on Purim?
Amalek rejects Hashem’s connection to this world or any connection between the spiritual and the physical. Essentially, Amalek denies Hashem’s control of this world and the ability for man to uplift himself to the level of the spiritual.
In seeking to dictate to Israel, a fellow democracy, as to the leadership it had duly chosen, the Schumer speech and the Biden amen were much more than just unseemly and unwarranted insults to its sovereignty.
In honor of Purim, we open up the archives and bring to you some of the classic sheilos rabbanim have been asked this year…
B'chol dor va’dor. Haman is an archetype of antisemitism that appears again and again in time, from Hadrian to Hitler, from Amin Husseini to Arafat. And so too in every generation G-d protects the Jewish people and the eventual defeat of the bad guys is foretold.
By Avi Ganz
Haman and Amalek will always exist. Their goal is to bolster their own self-esteem by introducing us to our own inadequacies. And our answer to that attack is to vanquish them.
Had Haman done nothing, nothing would've happened, but the greater and greater he propped himself up, the further he could fall.
This is what Haman has become. His name heralds a raucous time of celebration for the Jews, gathered together on the cusp of a day we spend joyously.
What is this seemingly illogical hatred that our enemies appear to be possessed by, their anger akin to idol worship?
As an aside, especially in our day and age, I think some careful thinking about one’s drinking is warranted. We live in a time of such excess and such abundance that unfortunately there are very many situations where people find themselves with serious drinking problems.
The involvement of these three groups also puts to rest the erroneous claim that the State’s regulations of private schools are benign and acceptable to all but a small fringe group.
We are living in a generation when open miracles are not seen daily or at all. And yet our daily existence in this homeland is a natural miracle.
When you turn the Holocaust into a generic moral lesson you rob it of its particular evil and you rob the victims of their own narratives.
By Alan Zeitlin
You know, it seems they’re [the protesters] are upset that I played for the IDF soldiers, which is straight up antisemitic and racist, Matisyahu said. We’re not allowed to have our own army? That’s what their problem is. They don’t know anything about me, who I am, or my fans.
We lived through those COVID-19 years in a state of flux. Things were changing all the time... The only thing that didn’t change was the necessity to change many facets of our daily life.
A Jew may not borrow money from another Jew at interest in order to lend it to a non-Jew at interest, replied Rabbi Dayan. If Shimon (the middleman) bears responsibility to Reuven, there is a lender-borrower relationship between them, so that ribbis is prohibited.
You are a liar! was followed by more epithets and expletives that I would prefer not to put into print. This was coming from my beloved husband who treated me with respect and kid gloves for over forty years.
September 4, 2026 
