יום רביעי, כ׳ אלול תשפ״וWednesday, September 2, 2026
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By Jordana Baruchov Grreenfield
This can be a wonderful metaphor for an interesting life lesson. How at times life can sting and burn you, and before you know it, it begins to take shape.
The presence of absence provides that lingering connection. For example, wax from the havdalah candle, marks on the arm after you take off tefillin, wine stains just about everywhere on Pesach, and a crease in the backyard lawn from the Sukkah.
Whatever the medical explanation is, it affects most dementia patients. Even at its beginning stages it creates some difficulties in communicating.
Our kits were created during a time that parties were being cancelled and we wanted our soap projects to be accessible for everyone.
His chanukiyot are so unique and beautiful that when he got divorced, his wife asked that he leave one of them for her. Which he did, in the shape of a Magen David.
By Eve Glover
Kanye, if you were living in Germany during the time of the Nazi period, you would not be able to speak the vile language that you are saying today because you would be a pile of ashes, said child Holocaust survivor Inge Auerbacher.
It was as Webster’s emissary to Berlin that Solomons visited the Jewish ward in a Frankfort Hospital and determined to raise funds to help found Mt. Sinai Hospital.
The true power of a flickering flame is its ability to burst into an inferno. Because while wind is a risk to a fire, it also helps increase it.
By Rabbanit Dr. Adena Berkowitz
Even with the most disconnected Jew, even with just a flicker of the pintele Yid in so many of our fellow Jews, we all have the responsibility to reach out to even one person and reignite the sparks of Judaism.
We have a flicker inside of us. To quote Rav Kook: we have a divine spark burning inside, yearning to fight for what is right and just.
If I use my wisdom to teach, the student learns, and I come out wiser for it; if I share my love with another, I become more loving, not less. When you give a spiritual gift, the recipient gains, and you lose nothing.
Tonight, Violet was trying to help Hubby change his clothes. Whatever she did “wrong” in his estimation was cause for him to become furious and frighten her. This is not the first time she has seen him upset.
The Lodz Ghetto, the second largest after that of Warsaw was sealed off from the world on April 30, 1940, with the Jews and Roma locked within.
Wolf also made important contributions depicting the regional character of San Francisco at a time when it was becoming a sophisticated city and cultural center.
Nissim built his home through trial and error, fixing what needed to be fixed and recalibrating as he went. He praises G-d for everything He has given him. Everything here is love, he says. Love is the best building material.
Another thought that I see no point in exploring: The Jewish day begins at night, gets dark, and darker, then most dark, and less dark until darkness gives way to light.
By JJ Eleff
Whether you read plays by Shakespeare, books by Orwell, Hemingway, or watch a movie saga you will see a common theme: good vs. evil, light vs. dark.
Orthodox groups have registered their objection to the bill, on the grounds that a lengthier period of darkness in the morning would make it exceedingly difficult to daven shacharis and go to work for large parts of the year.
One would think that dark in cooking is a bad thing. Think about burned or rotten food, but there is so much goodness in dark.
He attributes his mega success to his blindness, but it didn’t seem so at first.
As concerning as it is for the patient, it is the spouse or caregiver whose life will be altered most profoundly. The luxury of having a mate who took on responsibilities in the past, which they may not be able to handle in the future life, slowly begin to dawn on us.
In Sansan Leyair published by the Hid"a first in 1794, a version of this prayer appears but from a man's perspective, of a man praying on his wife's behalf.
Every time Matatia and his wife come into Montreal, they go over the the Bauers’ Friday night – from Oneg Shabbat to Oneg Shabbat and, well, compare ties.
I have aggregated here a selection of such items, most relating to American and Israeli political leaders that I hope readers will enjoy.
He wished to return to Palestine but was unable to due to the outbreak of WWI. He decided instead to travel to the United States to raise money for the yishuv in Eretz Yisrael.
Just as there is not one ladder for every job, there isn't one way to connect with and pray to G-d.
When I graduated from college, I thought I was going to climb the corporate ladder.
When we climb a ladder, skipping a step is a near impossibility. That, of course, is a great analogy for our spiritual lives.
The profound message that Rambam extracts from the ladder dream may be instrumental in resolving the enigmatic ending to his Moreh Nevuchim.
All the years when I would leave Israel, I would stop at the top of the staircase going onto the El Al plane (remember those days) and I would say a tearful goodbye to the angels of Israel.
You are not in charge! You may think you are, but you are not! He accuses.
The book's theme is the Jewish star, the Magen David, and it features prominently on the cover and title page of the book.
When the Volozhin Yeshiva appointed the Netziv and Bais HaLevi as roshei yeshiva, Rav Dovid Luria (RADAL) was asked to be the first to sign the declaration of appointment.
Almost certainly because of Einstein’s reputation and prestige, McEwen took immediate action, the result of which was that Ehrmann was granted an exit visa to emigrate to the United States, where he arrived in New York via England on September 12, 1939, and was sworn in as an American citizen in 1945.
If Yitzchak perceived that Yaakov was in front of him, it is only because Yaakov’s voice expressed his unique personality.
Yaakov’s words were delivered softly, they were delivered with respect, humility and empathy. When Yaakov said something, he meant it. He genuinely cared; whereas Eisav’s words were superficial.
By Rachel Kohn
I know what it is like to have a distinctive voice, and it isn't because my voice is unique – it’s because I sound just like my mom.
By Nachum Segal
A voice can pierce a heart and be an effective means to uplift someone who is down. A few words in a sympathetic and loving voice can go a long way.
To me, to his family, he expressed his love constantly – teaching us that if you love someone, there’s no such thing as saying it too often.
These situations are really challenging during waking hours, but at 2:30 AM one must muster their faculties to handle it properly.
In the four years that I’ve had this column in The Jewish Press, my answer to your question will be, by far, the most helpful to readers of this column of any question I’ve ever been asked up until this point.
By Marc Gronich
When security arrived, they watched the peaceful protest instead of forcing an end to the disruption, possibly fearing litigation for intruding on First Amendment rights. The irony was not lost on the audience.
Despite being the highest paid chazzan in history at the time, Rosenblatt was forced to declare bankruptcy in 1925.
Wald asserted that Air Force data had ignored the thousands of bombers that had been unable to return to base because they’d been struck in other plane sections, including the engines, the cockpit, and the tail which, he maintained, are the very areas that must be more heavily armored.
By Marc Gronich
With the defeat of Reichlin-Melnick and Kaplan, there will be only five Jewish members in the upper house, including Brad Hoylman, Toby Ann Stavisky, Simcha Felder, Liz Krueger and Shelley Mayer.
Too often, our community's discourse about women's Torah learning treats it as suspect, a threat, a challenge: why does she want to learn?
By Chaim Saiman
Do publishing imprints and styles matter? Artscroll, Mesorah or Sha’ar? Koren, Maggid or Toby? Frum vs. academic publishers?
By Solly Hess
We may learn a new Rashi, hear a drasha that reveals a layer to a pasuk here and there, but overall we’ve seen this episode before. So why do we do it?
If a father teaches his children the laws of keeping Shabbos, it is the mother who teaches how to best experience and enjoy the Shabbos. It is our mothers and grandmothers who teach us how to feel, emote, and live Judaism.
Having exhausted myself, I turned off the lights to fall into a heavy sleep. A 2 a.m. lights-out was normal. An even later night meant that I would be dysfunctional in the morning. Essentially, I was in escape mode.
This document was written on behalf of a shada"r, (i.e. shelucha d’rabanan – rabbinical agent), an emissary sent by the Safed community to procure funds for the Jewish community.
By Marc Gronich
It took me 11 years to build the African American Museum of History and Culture. Now they want me to build another two. Well, they won't get me for another 11, Bunch said.
Rotta’s interventions not only resulted in saving Jewish lives on his own account, but he also facilitated and promoted the ability of others, including particularly Raoul Wallenberg and Carl Lutz, to perform their heroic work.
By Maayan Zik
Faith is trusting that whatever may come, in the long term or, better yet, the short, everything will work out for our personal and/or communal good.
But what does “good” even mean? Passable? Pleasant? Positive? According to our tradition, isn’t everything good if G-d wanted it?
By Eli Lebowicz
One man in the Gemara was so optimistic, he was literally called Nachum Ish Gamzu (after gam zu l’tovah).
Hashem is pure tov, and He created an entire world just to share His tov – Himself – with us.
By Avi Ganz
To quote Hypocrates: "First, do no harm." Avoid what pulls us down – personally and collectively. But then pursue good. Asei tov.
Major complication: Hubby was not following the context of the event, and decided to verbalize his contrary opinions to what he thought they were expressing.
Shatzkes would read the book to friends and it was very well received and became known in the circle of Jewish writers in Kiev.
Through his sharp wit, much of Offenbach’s work mocked the establishment, attacked political governance, and satirized societal norms, including parodies of traditional musical forms and specific works by other composers.
I am not unaware of my country's faults and weaknesses, but I continue to be proud and thankful that I live in America.
In high school, you do Model UN and everyone learns about the existence of Djibouti and Burkina Faso. But that’s not what country means for Jews. If we’re talking Jewish, there is the country and there is the old country.
Country represents the sprouting of our nation’s home in the Promised Land where we are immigrants but we are finally home. Where we begin to picture the redemption and work together to bring about kvod shamayim.
Israel. Where every tiyul is something new. Where G-d shows all the colors, the vibrancy of life, the stark contrast between vast sea, open desert, and lush forest.
The issue of identification with a country can go far deeper and far longer past a simple yom tov, too. Immigrants from all over the world come to America, yet still retain the culture and flavor along with them.
By Baruch Lytle
There’s no question there’s an international mashgiach shortage, not just in America but across the world, Dubin admitted.
The mission of Am Olam was to establish agricultural colonies in America and encourage Jews from Eastern Europe and Russia to move there and work the land.
One problem with Ologists (I will give them a capital “O” in this chapter as I have invented a proper-noun) is their tunnel-vision. Each has become a respected specialist in their field, but it is rare that they bother to consider the “whole” patient when assessing a course of action.
By Baruch Lytle
I’ve been viewed as someone who is less partisan and someone who doesn’t get involved in a lot of controversy. So, I certainly felt I could be the one to restore integrity in the office and hire the right people to get the job done.
By Baruch Lytle
Take a look at some of the most productive people in society - many are yeshiva graduates. They own real estate, hotels and nursing homes. If we are as uneducated as the New York Times is claiming, how did so many Jews become doctors and lawyers, or other highly educated professions?
Ruach is described in various contexts in Tanach as wind, spirit and breath. As the physical world had not yet been created, the first mention of ruach connotes a spiritual desire of Hashem.
Even the other Hebrew words for soul or spirit – like nefesh and neshamah – are related to the words for breathing.
It's crucial to remember that before Hashem created anything, before even light, the ruach Hashem was already everywhere, just waiting to be breathed into us...
Connecting our ruach to its source requires our avodas Hashem to not be confined to theological abstractions or routine religious observances.
Speech itself is referred to as ruach... This G-dly spirit gives us the power of intelligent speech that elevates and separates humans from other living creatures.
With the decline of memory and the increase of stress, the days in recent years were often difficult. There was little joy in a condition which was becoming more and more complex.
By Marc Gronich
Only eight of the ten Torah scrolls went to Ahavat Achim – Bavli. A ninth Torah scroll was presented to a hospital sanctuary in Islip, New York, and a tenth Torah scroll was presented to Beit Choron, which was established as a kibbutz on December 1, 1977.
Developing substantive analysis of Benjamin’s Judaism and the degree to which he used his influence and position to advocate for his coreligionists is seriously hampered by the fact that he was a very private man who remained intentionally opaque and rarely discussed his role.
Amid a time of utter chaos, Shmuel stood up to help bring order to the nation. He was the one to appoint a king, to bring order to the nation.
My husband has inherited some of his namesake's traits. He is steadfast in what he believes is truth and will pursue it, much like Shmuel HaNavi did.
Based on this small sample size you might say that the name Shmuel carries power but also is a big burden to bear. Of course, you can probably say that with every name!
By Keshet Starr
Interestingly, Shmuel’s name doesn’t say what we’d expect it to say: That G-d has answered. After all, Chana finally becomes pregnant with Shmuel after many years of waiting. So why only credit G-d for hearing? Why not more dramatic language?
By Hillel Fuld
Chana named Shmuel to commemorate her prayer to G-d for a child – Shmuel, Because I have asked him of the L-rd.
We were both upset to distraction. Yelling at one another accomplished absolutely nothing and it took us hours to calm down, each blaming the other.
Weegee’s notable photographs of Jewish New York that reflect his Jewish sensitivities include subjects such as bagel sellers, street peddlers and garment workers, and I include here four of my personal favorites of his “Jewish genre” work.
The Magen David is a testament to our mission and our existence.
This past spring, the yeshiva undertook a renovation of the beit midrash. One of the major projects, apparently, was the removal of the Magen David pattern and these light fixtures, painting the ceiling white and installing beautiful chandeliers instead.
August 28, 2026 
