יום חמישי, כ״א אלול תשפ״וThursday, September 3, 2026
Follow Us
People think that we’re privileged in some way to be doing this but this is a totally accessible experience for most people, says Bitya.
By dvora
The atmosphere surrounding the Chabad Ohel was charged with compassion and emotion as the crowd awaited the arrival of the hostages' families, bonding in shared concern.
In a 1964 correspondence to a Jewish friend, she wrote, I admire and respect the Jewish people and their traditions and feel a kinship with them.
Learning, questioning and critical thinking are values that Judaism has always naturally fostered, encouraged and celebrated.
Interestingly, it is not one of the fruits for which the Torah praises the Land of Israel. So, it is no surprise that the custom of eating apples on Rosh Hashana did not originate in Israel but in France or Germany.
Apples originated in Central Asia, though not necessarily in edible form. Over time, they were cultivated as an edible fruit, grafted, and brought to Europe.
The common apple (Malus pumila) doesn't quite fit the Eretz Yisrael native bill. Some even propose that these apples might've gone through a Cinderella-like transformation over time, evolving from their humble origins into biblical superstars. Talk about a fruit with a story!
So many people enjoy taking their family out for apple-picking. It's the perfect food for this time of year with Thanksgiving coming up.
This week communication has reached a crisis point. Whatever I say, regardless of how loud I speak, is met with confusion. He repeats words that I never said and everything spirals out of control.
Chief Rabbi Heller was tasked with collecting the fines from the local Jewish community, with the brunt of the cost being placed on the wealthier class of the community. This led to much friction and complaints from the rich merchants who felt they were being burdened disproportionately.
That’s the whole idea behind the campaign to help American teenagers feel like they are also making a difference.
The 30th of Cheshvan is the yahrzeit of Rabbi Oscar Z. Fasman (1908-2003).
Roosevelt visited Israel four times, the first in 1952, and the last eight months before her death in 1962... In many letters to her friends and in her newspaper columns, she frequently sang the praises of the extraordinary beauty of the Israeli landscape, and she often lauded Israel’s educational institutions and healthcare facilities.
By Maayan Zik
If you mess up, miss a note, in the middle of a song, keep playing. Don’t go back and try to replay it. The rest of the orchestra is already moving on and so must you.
By Sara Blau
Sometimes, we experience what we perceive as a failure... But each failure can be repurposed creatively, and channeled into a better future for ourselves and for others.
Eventually the towels weren’t needed anymore, and although the chairs are twenty years old, they mostly remained stain free and we were spared the sticky indignity of the old school plastic covers.
But the key to stickiness is in the sharing. If there is no sharing, nothing sticks. A word can’t become a name. A second question is never asked.
Some people are willing to ignore the bad and focus on the good, while for others, their focus is squarely on the bad, despite the overwhelming good.
By Jason Ciment
Davening in a minyan is the great social equalizer because each person is typically treated with the same dignity and respect. At the RJC, that feeling of common cause transcended each person’s economic status level and extended itself to the rest of the conference experience.
By Alan Zeitlin
Abrahams, who has twice visited Israel, said he asked if he could give his perspective on the situation and his take on the correct terminology to use for Hamas. Abrahams said, They basically said, ‘We have your number,’ as a way of refusing to let him give his take on the war.
Who could possibly believe the conversations that transpire with a person who has memory loss? Pretend that you are invisible in the room!
By Eve Glover
When you support evil, then you are held accountable for the evil that you support, and this president and his party, and this government, is supporting an evil savagery that has shocked the hearts of all decent human beings in the world.
This prayerbook, with an English translated by Isaac Pinto, is the very first prayerbook printed in the New World and the first translation into English.
By Eve Glover
Israeli Columbia Business School professor Shai Davidai said his parents, who are in bomb shelters in Israel, are ironically more concerned about his safety on campus than they are about their own.
You issue hollow statements, serving a policy of going through the motions. You are passive. You are ‘neutral.’ You choose not to ‘risk’ your ties with the Nazi-like terror organization, and other anti-Israel and anti-Semitic entities, for the sake of innocent Jews.
For more than a decade, Huberman had been a regular performer with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and, even when Jewish musicians were being dismissed from major orchestras and blacklisted, he was one of the few Jews not fired.
It's worth asking ourselves, in this situation, is there something going on for this person that I haven't experienced? Is there something here about which I could be more understanding?
By Ariela Davis
At a short lull, I tore upstairs to put on a new Yom Tov dress and yes, my sheitel. I told myself that even if I was spending my entire day in a bomb shelter, this was going to be my way of not letting Hamas take away our Shabbat and Yom Tov.
Sheitels are often necessary for work purposes outside of Israel where it would not be professional to wear a hat or a scarf. In Israel, there is no need to wear a sheitel for professional reasons.
I made the difficult decision to not wear my tichel this week as I often do, and instead opted to put on my sheitel. Fearing for my life – yes, even here in the very Jewish city of Los Angeles – I have not wanted to take any chances.
By David Curwin
The German word derives from the Indo-European root *skeyt, meaning to cut, part, separate. That ancient root also gave us the English verb to shed, meaning to cast off.
Only recently did I realize that Hubby’s aversion to broken cookies was deeper than even he could admit.
The very first Hebrew book printed in London for Jewish use, this publication was named Ma'aseh Rav, and was printed by a gentile printer.
By Baruch Lytle
There was a lot of momentum towards leaving (Israel). Fortunately, only 2 or 3 returned home from our yeshiva, but from other yeshivas it’s been much more. I felt there needed to be a student initiative to not leave and to encourage each other.
In a previous Jewish Press article, I displayed and discussed the cards issued for the first seven Congresses, and I present here the official cards from the Eighth Zionist Congress through the Thirteenth Congress along with a brief discussion of the highlights of each.
Sarah’s judgment – her careful balancing of competing demands – is ultimately correct. It is only by following her judgment that the future of the Jewish people will be assured.
In the wake of recent events, the message has taken a decidedly different tone. The story of Sarah resonates with me in new ways.
By Nachum Segal
Sometimes it is easy to allow our speculation about yesteryear to cloud the reality of an amazing national mother (and father) having really existed.
It is written that her tent always glowed with the glimmer of Shabbos candles and smelled from an intoxicating aroma of fresh challah dough. She taught us that these are special mitzvos for us Jewish women to uphold and cherish.
Hashem holds our deposits, ready for redemption at a later time. Hashem remembers our deeds even when we forget them.
Typically, when a museum discovers that they have a fake of any sort in their collection, it is handled quietly, with the object being removed from display, never to be seen again.
Hubby was a fashion designer in Europe for twenty years. His love of beautiful clothing will never leave him. When possible, I make an effort to find special clothing for him that helps him to feel good about his appearance.
By Eve Glover
Berman has recently made television appearances worldwide on channels such as Fox News, BBC, Russian TV, and Arutz Shtaim, Arutz Achat, and I24 in Israel to discuss his proposal.
A video shows Blinken meeting with terrorist supporter Mahmoud Abbas, in Jordan, with the enemy's flag in the background. What a shame, what an insult.
The impact of his work was great, to the extent that several Christian Hebraists translated the work, and several such manuscripts are still extant.
The Teaneck Police Department was prepared to keep everyone safe. At each stage I was videoing and sending updates to my synagogue WhatsApp chat. I documented the escalation.
A police search of Hilsner’s house yielded no incriminating evidence, and he maintained that he had left the city on the afternoon of the murder long before it could have been committed.
Semicha bridges the generations. It connects the chain of tradition that began with Moshe and Yehoshua and, while not officially so, each new class of budding rabbis who seek to serve the needs of the Jewish people in their generation.
By Jordana Baruchov Grreenfield
As soon as I hear the word semicha I think of support; as if you are someach on a person; you can rely on that person.
Once I asked him how many generations back his family were rabbis? He answered at least ten, but probably going all the way back to Moses. And you felt that you were learning Torah – and stories! – from rabbis going back to Sinai.
Faith is a hard concept to grasp. However, faith or emunah and relying on a supreme being to get us through the tough times is how we are different from other nations.
It was a day like many other Melabev days in the past. Hubby’s mantra has never varied. The recording in his head spews forth in spite of the fact that he actually enjoys the programming that Melabev offers.
Freud joined the Viennese branch of B'nai Brith in 1897 and became an active member during his first years, serving as the organization’s president and working actively to grow the chapter and to recruit Jewish friends to the organization.
By Keshet Starr
The figures in Genesis don’t just passively go about their lives; they yearn, they rage, they see the with jealousy, they love, they cry, they mourn.
This is what Genesis means to me. We start with the creation of the world. And we go through the Torah again. It is a brilliant time and a brilliant feeling.
Rosh Hashana helps us reset, recognizing that Hashem is the Creator of the world and is continuously involved in the world.
By Hillel Fuld
In both the Torah and life itself, establishing a robust foundation is imperative for unlocking our full potential. Genesis, in this context, is our why, and no other starting point would suffice.
Because the Torah is timeless. It’s for 1st graders. It’s for 12th graders. It’s for everyone in between and beyond.
Finding the signature of the Chida (or Chid”a, as it is an acronym), R. Haim Yosef David Azulai (1724 – 1806), is one of the pleasures in life that I am to repeat to infinity.
Taylor worked to save European Jews from the Holocaust and he interacted directly with the pope in this effort.
By Eli Lebowicz
It was a full-circle moment because I had recently opened my yearbook from 12th grade and saw that for the section that guessed what everyone will be doing in 10 years, mine apparently said, comedian.
By Avi Ganz
While a dictator may rule over or control many people, an absolute monarch possesses both unlimited power and a sense of being beholden to his kingdom.
My favorite part of school restarting is the sound of children davening filling the hallways. Each one different, their voices come together in unison.
Leaders should be reminded of their privilege and literally feel the weight of their responsibility, whether it entails actual power or (only) a mandate to exemplify grace and dedication to public service.
That moment was a personal Rosh Hashana for me. When I felt anxious or fearful, I was able to remember that crowning Hashem gives peace of mind.
Hubby is quite fed up with taking so many pills, and is beginning to refuse. We are grinding up some, hiding them in pudding or applesauce if necessary, and omitting the non-critical ones as per doctor’s advice.
Whether the platform diminishes your “what to wear” worries or alleviates your “help I have to make room in my closet!” dismay, the Gown Shadchan is sure to make the perfect match.
Today, we have a clear picture of the true function of Robinson’s Arch: it was part of a monumental staircase that connected a gate in the Temple Mount’s outer precincts with the Herodian Street far below.
By Akiva Kra
Seeking mechila enables us to confront our past mistakes, paving the way for fewer errors in the future. It's an acknowledgment of our imperfections and a genuine desire for self-improvement.
It’s a two-step dance: the injurer needs to be able to humble themselves by admitting they were in the wrong and to ask for forgiveness. The injured party needs to consider whether the pain they feel is too great to let go, or whether carrying it around is poisoning them.
The pre-Yom Kippur mechila rush does no one any favors – but everyone who comments on this speaks from the perspective of those who ask for it.
By dvora
As we travel the maze of life, sometimes gloomy and overwhelming, the inclusion of the yud, Hashem, brings faith and hope. It allows us to exit the darkness, as we are led to His light.
How do you forgive those who are chayav mita, deserving of death for murdering their victims’ future on so many levels, emotionally, physically, socially and financially?
The problem is of course that because Violet is sweet and caring, he misinterprets her kindness as a romantic gesture. Being a caregiver is full of unexpected challenges. I notice that she now sits on a different sofa when keeping him company. Smart girl.
By Baruch Lytle
Everybody had a great time. The benefit for our members has been learning how to work as a team, learning how to support each other, how to speak in public and how to advocate for themselves.
He also gave thousands of dollars each to existing 23 Jewish congregations in 14 states – especially the Newport, RI synagogue, where he endowed the cemetery in which he was laid to rest, the final surviving member of the Touro family line.
I present here from my collection several of my favorite artistic depictions of this most sacred Jewish site.
It's not the time for individual recognition but to shed our persona and unite in one unified voice of prayer and teshuva.
By Martin Bodek
Fun fact: I originally thought the word prompt said “kvittel,” and I wrote several versions of what the lifecycle of a kvittel is once it’s placed in the Kotel. I noticed my error and did teshuva really quick.
In Israel, on Yom Kippur, everyone – religious, traditional, secular – is wearing white. We all stand as equals.
When you remember the kittel has no pockets, as we can’t bring anything with us at death, the message is apparent: our most meaningful experiences in life have nothing to do with our possessions.
On all of the occasions that a kittel is worn it symbolizes beginning life again with a clean slate and with the commitment to continue pursuing a higher level of spirituality.
By Solly Hess
About two minutes into the lesson about the importance of mesorah, Josh realized that this rabbi was different. He talked the kids’ language. He talked Josh’s language.
A word of warning to all… Time Release medications cannot be chewed (or ground up for that matter!) Whilst it might never dawn on you or I to chew this yummy delicacy, there are times when Hubby cannot be deterred.
Antiquarian booksellers are often propelled by the excitement that occurs when you stumble across an important discovery that sheds light on otherwise unknown areas.
The first reference to the Jewish practice of written Rosh Hashana greetings may be found in the Book of Customs of Rabbi Yaakov ben Moshe Moelin (1365-1427), aka the Maharil, the religious leader of German Jewry in the fourteenth century.
September 4, 2026 
