יום רביעי, כ״ג תמוז תשפ״וWednesday, July 8, 2026
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The Red Sea’s Argument ‘Elai And Toviah: Relatives Of A Guarantor’ (Makkos 7a)
You are likely having anxious thoughts. These thoughts are probably swimming around your mind all day and are exacerbating your anxious feelings. Once you identify your anxious thoughts, you will need to reframe them and create more logical, non-anxious thoughts, which you will use to start getting your anxiety under control.
Rather than feeling threatened by Hillel’s wisdom, the Benei Beteira immediately recognized his superior knowledge and stepped aside, appointing him as the new Nasi.
Preparing grasshoppers for consumption is very easy. No shechitah is required. And while there is a dispute among the rabbis whether they must be killed before they are eaten, this debate can be easily circumvented by freezing and killing them, ensuring that they die painlessly.
By Irwin Cohen
Once a week or so an afternoon baseball game was televised. However, there were no captions showing the name of the player, or his batting average, and 75 years ago, the black and white games were covered by mostly one camera in the upper deck behind home plate showing the pitcher, batter, catcher and most of the umpire.
Even with the heavy wear to this piece, I had some competition in the live bidding, but I eventually prevailed and was the piece’s new owner. Now my task was to research the age and origin of this Passover soup tureen, and see how many other examples were known.
The bigger our ego, the greater our need to predict and control our world. The ego is thus inclined to dwell on the worst-case scenario in a futile attempt to protect itself.
Dear Dating Coach, I am not going home for Pesach. Nothing you say will convince me to change my mind. I am dating someone pretty new in the city that I am currently living in and I want to continue dating him over Pesach. My family lives quite a distance away. So, I have […]
On the Shabbat before Pesach, Israel risked everything to begin offering the Korban Pesach, and in doing so we made ourselves great, making G-d that much greater in proportion. This manifestation of the Divine light of redemption – in just the moment we most needed to see it – was the greatest thing Hashem could do for us.
Sometimes I felt like I wanted to just know the halacha. But this is a book about emerging technologies, and what it offers are points to consider.
By Ariela Davis
They made aliyah with their six children in 2021 to Efrat. But moving to Israel has come with incredible highs, and also some challenges.
Unlike the Olah which was entirely burned on the altar, only a handful of the flour, called the kometz, was burned on the altar (Vayikra 6:5).
Through its engaging conversational style, this book offers readers profound insights and practical steps to live a joyous Torah life, even amidst life's inevitable challenges.
One of the most fascinating chapters of Simkovich’s book is an exploration of the origins of word diaspora itself.
We are all believers. We believe in Hashem and all the Thirteen Principles of Faith. However, we are a work in progress, growing our emunah every moment of every day.
Norman seems to enjoy sharing the difficult moments in his life which often became the clearest examples of Hashem’s guidance.
It is no coincidence that the seder night was when Yitzchak gave the blessings both to Yaakov and to Eisav, thus demonstrating his love for Eisav too!
One way to empower your child to succeed is to work with their teacher for the child’s benefit. Communication between the parents and teacher is key.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
If you want to be a great leader in any field, from prime minister to parent, it is essential to think long-term. Never choose the easy option because it is simple or fast or yields immediate satisfaction. You will pay a high price in the end.
Trauma therapists speak about the difference between acute trauma, brought about as a result of one traumatic event, and complex trauma, brought about over a period of time, almost imperceptibly, due to a constellation of factors. If trauma can develop gradually, healing can too.
We are living through exceptionally challenging times, and we need Hashem’s mercy now more than ever. The best way to reach Hashem is by making sure that His children are cared for.
The trial court denied the shul’s application for a tax exemption, concluding, among other things, that the property was not intimately related to the [petitioner’s] religious objectives.
Even standing on their own without musical accompaniment, Shemer’s lyrics were achingly beautiful and highly emotional.
Nothing in the physical world is objectively good or evil, rather, everything has the potential to be used for either good or evil. The choice is solely up to you!
Speaking of war, the next major offense against free expression occurred early in the Civil War (which ironically happened because the American political system, unlike that of Britain and France, failed to end the enslavement of Black Americans, a deprival of liberty not fully corrected until the 1960s-era civil rights laws).
We see, then, that not all sacrifices are rejected, nor are they rejected from all people.
For generations, a Jewish state in Eretz Yisrael was the great hope – Hatikvah – of countless Jews. In 1948, that hope was realized. Yet, hope did not end there – Od lo avda tikvateinu – nor did the challenges.
Moreover, Hamas also continues to intentionally hold and use Israeli and American hostages as bargaining chips. Yet that ongoing outrageous human trafficking is not cited by Sanders as bearing on Hamas’s responsibility for the situation in Gaza. But Israel’s inadvertent causing of collateral harm to civilians is.
What do Pope Benedict XVI, Barack Obama, Naftali Bennett, and Hosni Mubarak all have in common? Yes, they were all political leaders in the early 21st century, but this column is about names, not politics. So, my answer is actually that all their names are related to each other. Let me explain.
By Marc Gronich
For many years this event was highlighted with remarks from Rabbi Shmuel Butman, z”l from the Assembly rostrum in Albany. However, Rabbi Butman passed away last July at the age of 81, due to a heart attack. This year, his son, Rabbi Velvl Butman, 57, took the reins and delivered remarks directed towards the life and legacy of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
Notice that we do not speak in the past tense. Omdim alainu – they stand against us attempting to wipe us off the face of this earth. As we sit down to our seder, we discover the eternal secret of the Jew.
In short, not only is it proper to incorporate current events into the Seder, but it is likely a fulfillment or at the very least an enhancement of the mitzvah to recount the Exodus from Egypt. However, this is true only if we subsume those current events into the broader retelling and view them as part of an ongoing fulfillment of Hashem's redemption.
Any presumption that YU had abandoned a commitment to upholding the eternal values of the Torah, in letter or in spirit, in this matter, ignores the reality of the history.
When G-d redeemed us from slavery he saved us from purposeless work and life without purpose.
Kids have not changed – parents have. And not all for the better.
If a person feels like change is impossible, we encourage hope. If they feel like they can't be fixed, we show them their value.
When we focus on this healing future that exists beyond time, we bring tomorrow's comfort into today's pain. Our suffering doesn't disappear, but it changes as the light of our destination brightens our difficult journey.
This Pesach will be the second year of a wartime Seder and so our Hope for Hashem’s protection will be even more pronounced.
Imber’s words testify to the enduring spirit of Am Yisrael. Even in the shadow of loss, our hope remains. Our deep connection to the land, to our people, and to the promise of renewal endures.
Indeed, as we see it, we Jews, as the intended beneficiaries of the leveraging of federal funding, are now seen as enemies of free speech, academic freedom, and medical research.
In 2011 the Maxwell House Haggadah translation underwent its first significant update since its original publishing. “Art, thou, and hast” were replaced with more conversant contemporary English.
Citing the machatzis ha’shekel, Rabbi Mermelstein stated that we all need each other. When we love our neighbor as if they were us, we see them as equally deserving of the same treatment we would want for ourselves.
We should also recognize that mechirat chametz as it is performed today was originally intended for sh’at hadchak – it was an emergency measure necessitated by Jews owning large quantities of chametz, which was a particular problem once Jews had entered the liquor business.
This bag has got to go. Please ask a clear shaila, explaining what efforts you’ve already done and what the requirement is now.
While Dani was washing the floor mats, a branch fell from a tree and hit the vacuum cleaner, cracking it!
Three weddings for the same two people, really is two more than necessary.
Without Warning ‘… But You Were With Us…’ (Makkos 2a)
By Mendi Glik
As Avigdor puts it, from his father, he and his siblings got the military part, and from his mother the music part.
If you need to take out credit card debt to pay for something, it means you are spending too much money.
Question: I would like to have a better understanding of a practice that I and many others are a party to every year before Passover. How does the sale of chametz to the gentile take effect if it returned to the original owner within a very short period after the festival’s conclusion? M .Goldblum Miami Beach, FL
It is crucial that the couple should not leave the session in a state of anger. Instead, it is best to focus on positive things in the marriage and work on the deeper, more problematic issues separately.
Sometimes, because of the low spiritual state of Israel going out of bondage, there are intermediate steps in order for growth to be achieved. The Rambam understands the sacrificial rite in this spirit. He sees the korbanot as serving a practical purpose in weaning Israel off of the idolatrous customs of primitive civilizations.
People with anxiety or depression gravitate towards feelings that match their internal emotional landscape. For example, someone with anxiety might repeatedly engage in activities that provoke worry or fear, while a person with depression might immerse themselves in environments that elicit sadness or hopelessness.
All the elements of Sefer Vayikra – from the Temple offerings to the prohibitions of incest, from holiday observance to loving our neighbor – contribute to the tapestry of sacred living the Torah demands of the Jewish people.
When we perform a mitzvat aseh, like davening, putting on tefillin, sitting in the sukkah, keeping Shabbat, with full concentration, while putting aside all other thoughts and preoccupations, it pleases G-d no end, because it justifies His experiment in creating mankind.
Your inability to see past a picture, a number (both height and weight!) your impudence over color preference, and your arrogance in creating a Ken doll just for you, will leave you not only without a date, or mate, but a future based on Torah values.
Originally, Menashe behaved so badly that he seemed to have forfeited his place in the World to Come. But then he did such teshuva that not only did he earn a place in the World to Come, but G-d himself interfered with the nature He had created and made a special opening or tunnel through which Menashe could come into the World to Come.
By Irwin Cohen
I wasn't bored as I cut out articles from The Jewish Press to read while waiting for appointments or at simchas. After all, my table neighbors spent a lot of time playing with their phones.
The servitude we experienced in Mitzrayim should sensitize us to human suffering. We know what being a foreigner feels like and should thus care for those in similar situations.
By Alan Zeitlin
He said based largely on this incident, when people ask him how to fight antisemitism, besides Holocaust education, people should illuminate others on the many Jewish contributions to the world.
By Baruch Lytle
Many of the locals still know the place as Sarah's Brick Oven Pizza, so first, let's explore what brick oven pizza means.
The Gemara teaches us that one who has three traits can consider himself a true talmid, a disciple, of Avraham Avinu. One of these traits is ayin tova, a good eye, which means the characteristic of seeing the good in everyone.
Materially speaking, kosher wine symbolizes our connection and commitment to G-d more than anything else. Unlike kosher food, kosher wine isn't solely defined by specific ingredients or appearance.
Hashem told Avraham Avinu: You are the root of the Jewish nation. If there is a black spot – a small lack of emunah – then the fruit that you bear will be bitter, that is to say, there will eventually be no emunah at all among the people.
Hebrew printing on Corfu was a late development, only taking root in the late 19th century. Before this, the community was forced to send their manuscripts to well-established centers like Venice for publication.
According to most authorities, the family's Judaism was neither religious nor political but, rather, cultural and casual.
As human beings, we are naturally resistant to external instruction or direction, preferring to do things only when we want to do them.
While no one ever knows for sure about these things, we are intrigued not only by the advent of the anti-Hamas outcry, but that it was allowed to continue for several days. Plainly, something is afoot in Gaza.
A person should never bring himself to undergo a test of faith, as David, king of Israel, brought himself to undergo a test of faith and failed.
But if "all Jews are Jews, except the Jews I really don't like" is your stance, then you don't actually believe in achdut.
By Solly Hess
There have been moments of national unity in the U.S., where Americans banded together after terrifying circumstances. Think of the kindness and care shown to one another after 9/11. Sadly, that grand-scale unity is more of a distant memory than the ubiquitous flags on everyone’s car window.
Let us also remember that the biggest obstacle to achdut is ego. As people strive to defend their image and self-importance, this can become its own type of avodah zarah that undermines the spiritual values that they think they are fighting for.
According to Ohr HaChaim: The kingdom of Israel will only endure if the heads of the people assemble together (keep the peace amongst themselves).
When we look at others, we should recognize that they carry a spark of Hashem Echad within them. When we think about ourselves, we must also remember that we, too, hold a part of Hashem Echad.
It was well known that Jack Benny celebrated his thirty-ninth birthday every year. When Benny died in 1974, he had turned thirty-nine a total of forty-one times.
Politicians and students merrily dance to a song celebrating their dereliction of duty, and which openly denigrates the country which is paying them to stay in yeshiva. Meanwhile, soldiers risk life and limb, forgoing comfort and exerting themselves physically to an extreme, to protect the lives of those who call them heretics.
As we sit at our seders this year, we are not only reliving the past; we are living in the present. We are living through a time when the Jewish people are once again fighting for freedom.
By Baruch Lytle
The stigma placed on divorcees can make it unclear where to turn for help. Studies show it's in a community's best interest to take care of its most vulnerable and to nurse them back to good spiritual, emotional and mental health.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
Physically, we are almost nothing; spiritually, we are brushed by the wings of eternity. We have a G-dly soul.
It stands to reason that a good deal of today’s Washington decision-making will now come to be sifted through differing notions of separation of powers. That is, constitutionally, it matters who decides as much as what is decided.
The alternative to joining the IDF is certainly an easier option. Instead of fighting to defend the Jewish nation from the ultimate evil, Hamas, one could go to a secular college.
Even if it was my idea, if Reuven’s ball broke the window, he’s liable – not me! Shimon argued. Who’s to say that I have to pay?
Many friends offered their condolences not only on the passing of my amazing Hubby, but also for the time which I would need to wait before the mourning period officially would begin.
Silence Golden? ‘Iyov, Who Was Silent…’ (Sanhedrin 106a)
By Irwin Cohen
Unlike Florida, no one wore a costume and all the men dress as they do year-round, black suit, white shirt, black hat and grayish to whitish beard. Until the grass gets greener, the flowers bloom and the trees grow leaves, living in Country Place is like living in a black and white movie.
The clearer our perception of reality, the more each moment reinforces our emunah. In contrast, those who deny the truth must continually adjust their experiences, filtering their lives through an ego-distorted lens.
By Mendi Glik
The reason that I liked so much to go to the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue is because of the special nusach that they still daven there, a nusach that goes back hundreds of years. They still pray in the original style that they prayed in when the shul began.
Question: I would like to have a better understanding of a practice that I and many others are a party to every year before Passover. How does the sale of chametz to the gentile take effect if it is returned to the original owner within a very short period after the festival’s conclusion? M. Goldblum Miami Beach, FL
It is very hard to help someone who hoards. People who hoard may not realize that their behavior is potentially unhealthy or dangerous or they may know but feel uncomfortable speaking about it with others.
The most significant of Farissol’s writings is Igereth Orchoth Olam, a comprehensive cosmographic and geographic work based on original research and the studies of Christian and Arab geographers.
More than one scholar has noted the absence of self-critique in ancient literature of all peoples except the Jews.
July 3, 2026 
