יום חמישי, כ״ד תמוז תשפ״וThursday, July 9, 2026
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Etching the Torah in our hearts and minds takes an enormous investment of effort and time. We may fear that the long hours we spend on it displaces the time we need to meet our surrounding responsibilities, our commitment to work, to family etc. Miraculously, however, nothing gets displaced.
By Robert Isler
Fay shares that not a day goes by without group members voicing how helpless they had felt watching the avalanche of ugliness following October 7 until they discovered this empowering vehicle to fight back.
The innermost aspects of being are revealed in the interior of the Tent of Meeting in the Mishkan, or in the Hechal (or sanctuary) of the Beit HaMikdash.
By Alan Zeitlin
In the debate with Beinart, Lax said the charge of apartheid is wrong and that the status of those who live in what is called the West Bank is not based on race but on citizenship vs. non-citizenship.
With the mitzvah of tzedakah, there is the possibility of saving oneself even as the ship is beginning to sink. The mitzvah of tzedakah is especially unique in that it can protect the individual even if a Heavenly decree has already been issued to the contrary.
By Ben Rothke
With each passing year, more and more Haggadahs are being printed – and that trend continues in 2025. Here are a few that can enhance your Seder.
I will learn the art of saying I’m sorry, showing that I empathize with the damage I’ve done and demonstrating that I’m making concrete corrections so that it won’t happen again. This is very different than the But, I said I’m sorry already approach!
You like him. You really do. You have had a great time together. You connected. Your parents did extensive research. They know he has qualities that they felt made him worthy of you. You have spent time together. Now, trust yourself. Trust the process.
It is fascinating to note that, notwithstanding his antisemitism, Sherman was a great admirer of Rose Eytinge (1835-1911), a Jewish-American actress and author who rose to become one of the most popular female stars of the 1860s and 1870s and the first American actress to earn a three-figure salary.
If one believes in a Divine plan and the natural ups and downs of life, they will feel less anxious and hypersensitive.
What rankles the most in this episode is not the sheer counter-intuitiveness of it all. It is that the law flies directly in the face of explicit governing provisions of the New York State Constitution.
We all yearn for connection: to ourselves, to other people, and, of course, to Hashem. But connection is difficult; it requires time, patience, and constant effort. Genuine communication takes a lifetime to achieve.
The first generations of men made such sinful choices. Eventually, their sins corrupted the entire world. When man lost his way, other creatures followed suit. This man-induced reality caused Hashem to wash away all living beings.
By Marc Gronich
The strong showing of advocates in Albany as well as the clear message Agudah presented was met with praise from dozens of state legislators.
We each have our own characteristics and prefer our own path of worship. Our paths are unique to ourselves, but here is where we differ from angels: angels cannot veer from their characters, we can.
By Keshet Starr
In many ways, the twelve tribes are a beautiful symbol of Jewish unity; twelve different groups within a larger nation, each contributing in their own way.
Each of my children has different strengths, weaknesses, and learning styles. With Hashem’s help, they will all find their own individual paths.
The picture will become clearer when Moshiach comes. In the meantime, let’s daven and pray for an easier time and a redemption of mercy for the people of Israel!
By Hillel Fuld
Interestingly, the word shevet is spelled the same way in Hebrew as other words including the month of Shevat, and the Hebrew word for cloning.
But beyond his public platform, Rabbi Fink was someone who offered a listening ear and genuine friendship, particularly to those who felt overlooked.
Indeed, many of those interviewed reported maintaining select Jewish practices such as davening or Shabbat dinner, even if not necessarily within a halachic framework, and staying connected with Orthodox family members and friends and with their Jewish identity generally.
Shlomo HaMelech is teaching that chinuch is not just about compliance, but more about instilling values into our children’s souls, so that it becomes part of them for life.
At this point, without any such impeachment issue yet before the high court, there should be no doubt that it was ill-advised for U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts to have intervened, as he did last week, with a public statement declaring that an impeachment would be improper...
Hashem will show me the way, though I don't know how it will happen. But I know in my heart, that I am meant to return.
It is not enough for a person to act with integrity; they must also ensure that their actions are above suspicion, that their intentions are transparent, and that their purity of conduct is unmistakable.
By Eve Glover
We don’t have people blocking the streets in Florida because I helped pass a bill that says you can run them over.
Hubby was looking for sympathy. I felt that being sympathetic was not helpful. I wanted him to feel alive and not indulge himself that his end was near.
Rare items, such as a Parah Adumah, do not have a definable ‘fair market value,’ replied Rabbi Dayan. Therefore, according to many authorities, there is no ona’ah (unfair pricing) claim (Hilchos Mishpat 227:29[28]).
Over the years, people have shared horrific stories of financial and verbal and emotional abuse from family members and friends, and I ask myself, how could these so called frum people sleep at night.
As We Come Closer And Closer ‘… Like The Face Of A Dog’ (Sanhedrin 97a)
What is separation anxiety? Most people think that separation anxiety is something our six-month-old infants develop and our toddlers grow out of. Separation anxiety before a child is two years old is completely normal and helps children learn how to master their environment.
By Mendi Glik
Many Jewish songs have been written and composed based on Rabbi Elimelech’s writings and tefillot that he composed. Rabbi Elimelech was also a composer and composed a few niggunim.
By Irwin Cohen
I really admired the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Ohr Someach. As one of the founders of the baal teshuva movement in the 1960s, he affected many future generations.
It behooves all families, but especially folks with a lot of assets, to speak with an estate planning attorney and tax accountant who specialize in these cross-border issues. Failure to do so can wreak havoc within your finances, especially for your loved ones after you pass away.
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 a gentile take effect if it is returned to the original owner within a very short period after the festival’s conclusion? M. Goldblum Via Email
Of course organization and being prepared will lower your anxiety, but what is just as important is teaching your brain that Pesach cleaning does not have to be anxiety provoking.
As recently as March 7, Congressman Jerrold Nadler and Congressman Adriano Espaillat issued the following statement: Revoking federal grants to Columbia University isn’t about combating anti-Semitism; it’s about the Trump administration’s war on education and science. Suuuure it is Jerry. Try telling that to the Jewish students who faced violence and threats there since the Hamas mini-Holocaust.
When the ego is engaged, it instructs us about what is important. However, in this space, we can’t access it and have little or no connection to the reality into which we have been thrust.
We have seen this before. In every generation, there are those who rise against us, determined to erase us from existence. The faces change, the slogans shift, but the relentless hatred remains the same.
Of all the 39 acts of work which are prohibited on Shabbat, why does The Torah single out the act of lighting fire? As we know, in the Jewish calendar, the night belongs to the next day. By burning the light at night, we extend the working day into Shabbat.
By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l
The Egyptians sought not merely to enslave, but also to put an end to, the people of Israel. One way of doing so was to kill all male children. Another was simply to interrupt normal family life.
Ramchal teaches that although the Kohen officiates in the offering of korbanot, the three groupings of Israel are all essential to the effective completion of the service in the Beit HaMikdash.
In the last hundred years, we hear Western intellectuals speaking more and more about a fragmented world. They feel that one can no longer hold on to some grand cultural narrative of truth.
By Ariela Davis
Despite having to procure documents from several provinces and states to get aliyah approval, their arrival was a lot smoother than anticipated although there is always the adjustment to a new culture.
The righteous women not only saved Moshe; they also inspired him. And they inspired many others as well – including their own husbands.
There is an art to communication, where you truly listen, absorb and then discuss what you have heard. You cannot leave or walk out when you don’t like the discussion.
One of the Ten Commandments outlaws kidnapping, though, unfortunately, the death penalty imposed by the Bible did not and is not likely to deter the forces of Hamas – even though they are subject to the Noahide laws which include setting up court systems which should theoretically mete out justice...
By Alan Zeitlin
Having visited before the latest round of violence, Lopatin said it is his hope that the new regime would be peaceful and not ally itself with Iran.
Mesiras nefesh does not only refer to extreme instances. It also includes acts that may require a degree of selflessness for others.
The title is apt. Again and again, Rabbi Steinmetz reminds his readers that life continues to go on, and, though changed forever, will eventually find a new equilibrium.
In the spirit of Passover spiritual cleansing which we are commencing, here is a list of fifty-two areas of life which perhaps could use some ongoing scrubbing and scouring.
Marceau’s talent with body language and mime movement may have saved his life while fighting with the French resistance. He claimed that he was caught entirely by surprise when he accidentally ran into a unit of German soldiers; quickly improvising, he mimicked an advance guard of a large French force and successfully persuaded the German soldiers to retreat.
What happens when you don’t eat? You become faint. What happens if you continue without food? You will pass out. And if you still don’t eat, your soul will leave your body and you will die. Eating maintains the connection between your soul and your body; it is what keeps you alive.
One major criticism of the Stanford Marshmallow Experiment is that it presupposes that the child trusts the adult conducting the experiment to actually deliver the promised reward.
But we seem to have been wrong about Trump and there is reason to believe that at long last an American president is really serious about doing something about the problem of antisemitism.
Throughout sefer Mishlei, Shlomo HaMelech contrasts the fool with the wise man. According to the wisest of men, the fool doesn’t refer to one with limited intellectual capacities, but rather one who doesn’t think through the consequences of his actions.
I am anticipating a deluge of angry letters from people listing off important persons named Elimelech that I’ve ignored, but the truth remains that despite the continued use of that personal name since Biblical times, Elimelech was always a fairly rare name until the times of the Noam Elimelech.
One of the key concepts in Judaism is the idea of impartiality in judgment. In the context of leadership, the Torah calls for the appointment of leaders who are wise, understanding, and respected, without reference to familial ties.
By Baruch Lytle
I wish I was on my father’s level of kindness, but that is what I’m trying to accomplish, and the people in my office are there to help, and it’s an honor to be working with a group of people who [are about kindness and going above and beyond].
Spring is also allergy season. Time to stock up on the Zyrtec. For some reason, this always surprises me and feels terribly unjust. Why, oh why, just as things are getting so beautiful do I also have to feel goopy and miserable?
Each year, when the snow starts to melt for the last time of the season and I hear the sounds of children dragging their bikes out of the shed, or the rhythmic bounce of a basketball on the court next door, I feel grateful for the change in seasons.
Spring reminds me that each and every day is truly a blessing.
Passover in the spring is all about remembering that freedom. But it's not just ancient history; it's about us, now, shaking off whatever is holding us back.
While Schumer’s thrust has a certain facial logic to it, it does seem hard to believe that Republicans would really enjoy unfettered power to run the government during a shutdown, unrestricted by what half of the nation may think.
We shift from costumes and joy to cleaning and preparing. But if we only focus on scrubbing floors and kashering kitchens, we’re missing the bigger picture.
By Eliana Klein
What most people would have done is to leave all those items behind, to become the next guy’s problem. But my incredible in-laws are definitely not most people.
Of course, the family had wanted what was best for their father. They believed that their father was at risk under the care of the aid who had clearly acted irresponsibly on his day off. Still, Mom knew what was best for both her and Dad in these final weeks.
If I donate an average of $1,000 a month by credit card, that’s $12,000 a year; a 2% fee comes to $240, explained Mr. Freilich. Is this included in my maaser kesafim, or do I need to deduct this amount from my calculation?”
The Greatest Reward Of Public Service ‘…[He] Who Leads The Public Gently …’ (Sanhedrin 92a)
Psychologists and educators agree on one point; the single most important criterion in raising truthful children is to expose them consistently to a home and school environment where integrity is not only preached but scrupulously practiced. Even when it involves sacrifice.
The auto tag will soon be on the streets of Florida spreading support and awareness of this important issue throughout the state.
While the Rinat Yisrael siddur’s original editions relied on the support of the Religion and Education Ministries, the edition meant for Diaspora Jews was funded by the World Zionist Organization’s department for Torah education and culture in the Diaspora.
By Irwin Cohen
My shidduch advice to you is be open as the second time around can work out well no matter how old you are. Even if you're 83, wrinkled and somewhat saggy like we are.
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 a gentile take effect if it is returned to the original owner within a very short period after the Festival’s conclusion? M. Goldblum Via Email
In everyday life we frequently meet people who seem to be walking around in disguise. One is disguised as someone arrogant, another as someone vulgar, and a third as someone apathetic – but what we see is not a true reflection of who these people really are.
I am not sure what your financial situation is, but it may be a good idea to get some professional help to aid your wife in her situation.
By Mendi Glik
This is one of the greatest holidays in the year for musicians, perhaps the busiest, and so there are many songs and performances of Purim songs.
In the aftermath of this ordeal, Moshe seems to struggle with his understanding of the omnipotence of Hashem and the instantiation of His will in the affairs of men.
The battle between these two Venetian presses became so intense that complaints reached the revered Rabbi Moshe Isserles (the Rema) in Krakow.
In other words, we are normally not allowed to kill one person to save another; however, because the rodef is engaging in an act of attempted murder, there is a special din of chiyuv missah on the rodef that allows for the hatzalas ha'nirdaf with the life of the rodef.
Take the time to self-reflect on your growth and sense of responsibility. Are you capable, emotionally stable, and grounded? Assess your ability to navigate the world around you, to stay the course during challenges, and to take care of yourself. If you feel like you have those in the bag, you are probably ready to date.
By Zvi Gluck
Many people believe there is a certain look an abuser has – that somehow, evil is visible on the outside. But there is no universal dress code for those who prey on the innocent.
By accepting the Torah, the Jews themselves became a Kingdom of Priests and a Holy Nation (Shemos 19:6). However, Chazal tell us (Shabbat 88a) that their acceptance of the Torah was under duress.
Bitachon means knowing in our hearts and minds that there is no such thing as chance and that all of our life experiences are under complete and total Divine supervision (Emunah U’Bitachon 2:1).
Our battles aren’t just for our national survival. Our enemies pose moral challenges to humanity, and our struggle is to protect the moral fiber of humanity. This was true in Persia, and it is true today.
Hashem does not forgive anyone who ever shed a drop of Jewish blood. There is no question that justice will be served by Hashem Himself, as the Yalkut Shimoni states, upon anyone who participated in any way in this massacre.
One of the beauties of this book is its superb organization. Topics are split up into logical sections with clear titles and footnotes, allowing the reader to quickly locate the answers to everyday questions.
The holy rebbe, Rav Yisroel of Ruzhin, adds that Purim is even more, for while on Yom Kippur Hashem forgives only with teshuva, repentance, on Purim He forgives as soon as we ask Him, as it says, Kol haposhet yad nosnin lo.
So how did the Jews completely transform the change Quadas Kabir story and for what purpose? Who was the nefarious Jew who decided to appropriate glorious Palestinian history?
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.
Sounds plain to us that Hamas is trying to figure out how to get back into the game at some point, not leave it.
By Avi Ciment
When politics are utilized to protect everyone, yet allows Jews to be ridiculed and attacked on college campuses and throughout the world, or when woke legislation is passed funding hormone blockers and sex change surgeries for minors, well, Dorothy, it’s obvious we’re not in Kansas anymore.
As amazing as all these connections were, they pale in comparison with my father’s actual participation (at a distance) in an event of truly global significance.
The father may indeed be a poor father, and his neglectful behavior may lead the child to reject him, but those reactions should stem solely from the dynamic between father and child, without anyone else inciting the alienation.
July 3, 2026 
