יום חמישי, כ״ה חשוון תשפ״זThursday, November 5, 2026
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Specially produced beautiful and deeply poignant official postcards were issued for all of the pre-Israel Zionist Congresses (all Congresses after 1948 were held in Jerusalem).
Our history is rewritten in distorted fashion; our statues are torn down; the centrality of Judeo-Christian ethics in our society is denied; victimizers are recast as victims and victims as oppressors.
When people or publications can't differentiate between evil and the fighting back against it, then there really is no point in engaging in conversation.
By Jordana Baruchov Grreenfield
In Jewish thought, the raven/crow represents transformation, change, and the hard-earned wisdom that comes from going through darkness.
Noah’s logic is solid. If something is good for neither material nor for spiritual reasons, does it have a purpose?
In an attempt to respond to this quirky Word Prompt word, I googled crows and I learned something fascinating. There is actual meaning behind those annoying shrills and shrieks.
Sometimes in life we are like the raven, tested by Hashem in areas that are precisely our very weakness.
As the ego grows and our perspective narrows, unhealthy aspects of our personality begin to surface, filtered through the prism of our insecurities.
Over the years, the Kibbutz movement has produced nearly 1,000 distinct iterations of the Haggadah. Each of these versions carries within it a unique vision of Jewish identity, shaped by the values of the time and the ongoing struggle for national sovereignty.
By Alan Zeitlin
Jeffrey Wiesenfeld, a former aide to Republican Governor George Pataki and former CUNY trustee, said people should be taking Mamdani’s candidacy more seriously.
Collins was a passionate critic of antisemitism, as to which he advised his troops: “I know that there exists, in some divisions, what your people call antisemitism. It will not be tolerated in my division. Should it crop up, I will hold you personally responsible if I am not made aware of it immediately.
The karpas initiates a curiosity about our redemption and mission in this world. This aligns with the Sefas Emes, which comments that karpas represents the first stage of avodas Hashem.
By the time we get to that portion of the seder, we are so famished, that even a plain potato or bitter parsley and celery taste delicious!
The salt water represents the tears Bnei Yisrael shed while in servitude and the green vegetable symbolizes spring and the renewal of spirit.
Karpas in my home was parsley, although celery was another option. (We did not use potatoes as karpas...)
In Judaism we always have the ability for a fresh new start. The story of Passover depicts us as slaves in Egypt, never giving up the hope of being freed and we persevere, and gain our freedom.
As I pull out different suits of his which were stored in our downstairs bedroom, I am quite shocked to discover how many of them were veritable feasts for the moths.
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.
If we’re asking questions solely for the purpose of receiving answers, we’ve missed the point.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
Three weddings for the same two people, really is two more than necessary.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Today, besides Hamas, Hezbollah, and Ayatollah Khamenei, we are hated by U.N. officials and innumerable college faculty, students, commentators, journalists, and government officials around the world.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In the introduction to Imrei Shefer, Rabbi Isaac addresses this imposter work, which had been printed a few years prior in Venice in 1593. Rabbi Isaac was quick to clarify that it was a forgery – one concocted by unscrupulous individuals who sought to profit from his father’s revered name.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The battle between these two Venetian presses became so intense that complaints reached the revered Rabbi Moshe Isserles (the Rema) in Krakow.
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).
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?
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.
By Maayan Zik
Judaism teaches, Ein mazel l’Yisrael, which means The Jewish people aren’t ruled by mazel. That’s another way of saying that while circumstances influence us, they don’t control us.
I believe, and tell my children and talmidim so, that we have the opportunity to be matzliach in ways the defy luck of the draw, nature and happenstance.
By Ariela Davis
How many of us who live relatively happy lives with families and full refrigerators and spend much of our time focusing on what we don’t have and complaining about the small things that don’t go our way?
Lucky people make successful decisions by using their intuition and gut feelings.
At the end of this experiment, she made the decision which would allow her to return to a reasonable quality of her own life, as Dad was declining further and further into his dementia and age-related issues. She has committed to keeping her husband at home, and with the best possible care that can be provided.
We were watching a documentary about people with Dysphagia, and realized that some people can’t swallow at all and need a feeding tube. So, we came up with a way to help kids with feeding tubes who might be feeling bad about how they look, explained Dunn and Sobelman.
By Irwin Cohen
I first got to hear him at the big beautiful Beth El shul in Boro Park when I visited my sister and brother-in-law, Shmuel Kunda. I also got to know him personally over the last few years, as he also had a place in Century Village in West Palm Beach.
The Munich Talmud or The Survivors Talmud boasts vibrant title pages, capturing the historic moment of printing in postwar Germany.
Bitachon means knowing that Hashem not only supervises all aspects of our lives—down to the tiniest detail—but that He actively optimizes the entirety of our lives and life experiences toward our greatest good and growth.
Although he would not become famous for his Jewish work until some thirty years later, Oppenheim painted one of his most famous works, Return of a Jewish Volunteer from the Wars of Liberation to His Family Still Living in Accordance with Old Customs, in 1833.
By Alan Zeitlin
Collier, who is Jewish and lived in Israel in the past has been a staunch critic of the BBC for a long time, accusing it of anti-Israel bias. But he said this documentary is more egregious.
The images of the Bibas family – two redheaded, cherub-cheeked babies and their mother – will forever be burned in our minds along with all of the others we refuse to forget.
One of the most curious mitzvot we have is to remember to blot out Amalek. The worst way to rid them from our psyche is to annually read about them. We must forever remember the importance of stamping out evil in the world.
By Eli Lebowicz
There’s stuff I remember that I’d be fine forgetting, like getting out first in the 4th grade spelling bee on the easiest word possible (wholesome, by the way).
The years ahead were filled with grandchildren who have given me wonderful memories, and now my life is filled with great-grandchildren and we are making memories together. With Hashem’s help we will go on making memories for many more years.
The Torah’s commandment to remember is about shaping the future. The Holocaust and October 7 teach us that the world can change in an instant – and that if we don’t take history seriously, it will repeat itself.
It is a matter of debate whether the re-establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 represents the beginning of the Final Redemption, the ingathering of the exiles.
A panicked Mom called her trusted daughter who arrived like an angel at 2 a.m. to be with Mom and Dad. The aide returned in the morning, ashamed of himself, having somehow blacked-out, and waking that next morning. It would be a fair analysis to say that all-hell-broke-loose.
October 30, 2026 
