יום שלישי, י״ט אלול תשפ״וTuesday, September 1, 2026
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Pioneer of the Kew Gardens Hills Orthodox Community in Queens, on his 5th Yahrzeit, the 3rd night of Chanukah, 27 Kislev It is difficult to encapsulate one’s thoughts and feelings for Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld, zt”l, HaRav Mordechai Shraga Feivel ben Rav Shmuel Shabtai HaLevi, with whom I had a close relationship for over 65 […]
Legacy is powerful because it connects us to something larger than ourselves. It makes us feel proud, responsible, and committed.
What I love about this genre is when you realize that the decisions you make early on have significant consequences for sessions that take place weeks or months down the line.
By Adina Broder
The word legacy often carries a sense of weight, as though it belongs to those who have accomplished something historic or have reshaped the world in some monumental way.
Chazal say banav hem ma’asav – our children are our deeds. Maybe that’s the only balance sheet that matters.
I am proud of my family’s legacy which has prompted me to dedicate my time to serving my community.
Fear reinforces the belief that we don’t deserve love or connection, which in turn fuels anger—the ego’s counterfeit form of control, a desperate attempt to mask powerlessness.
I don’t know why Hashem put me in this position, but He surely has a reason, so my job is just to make the best of it. It could be a lot worse, you know.
What makes this particular edition especially captivating is the language in which it speaks. Judeo-Persian – the literary tradition of Persian-speaking Jews who wrote in Persian using Hebrew characters – is among the most remarkable cultural inheritances of the Jewish world.
By Max Yedid
One of the most meaningful parts of the congress was the elections for the Youth Zionist Congress Council (CC). I’m incredibly honored to have been elected as a representative from the U.S., and even more humbled to have been chosen as the Spokesperson of Hasbara.
When scholars consider whether the swastika was a Jewish symbol in the sense that the Star of David or the Menorah is a Jewish emblem, the answer from mainstream academic literature is that there is no evidence that Jewish religious authorities, rabbinic leadership, or organized Jewish communities adopted the swastika as a recognized symbol of Judaism.
Naturally, matters aren’t quite so simple. Questions arise, such as: What do we do about the 20% of Israel’s population that isn’t Jewish? What if the Muslims demand that they be judged under sharia law? And how do we deal with the multiplicity of criminal offenses that didn’t even exist in the Talmudic era?
The dreidel should be celebrated as the healthiest and financially friendly Chanukah item. The dreidel is not fattening – it is 100 percent fat-free, sugar-free and salt-free.
Regardless of our hard work, experience, and effort, we all still need a bit of mazal to be successful. You can make all the right decisions, but if your timing is off, nothing else matters.
Is the dreidel just a toy? To some, possibly. But to those who know it’s supposed history, it’s a device that allowed the safe study of Torah in a time of persecution.
By Avi Ganz
Chanukah tells us that sometimes, especially in the dark and cold of winter/Galus, we need to let go of our supposed control and let the Divine run the show.
Explanations for the dreidel's significance range from the practical to the mystical.
The deployment is being coordinated from Israel as the team departs Ben Gurion Airport en route to Sydney. Zaka officials said responders will provide both technical assistance and spiritual support to local communities grappling with the aftermath of the attack.
You have, without question, a rare Mizrach of significance and beauty made by your great-grandfather, who, until this very moment, was an unknown, unrecognized but highly skilled papercut artist living in Minneapolis.
In a city where kosher hotel options had long been scarce, Vayalen Boutique Hotel fills a real need. It’s not just about beds and breakfasts: for observant Jews visiting Vienna – whether for leisure, family visits, or community – the hotel offers a base that respects kashrut, Shabbat observance, and Jewish identity.
A person with theoretically perfect self-esteem and zero ego would feel no urge to control others or the world. They would see clearly that their true domain lies solely in their own choices – nothing more, nothing less.
Although truth be told, Velvel had mixed feelings about the idea of Zahava getting married. He wasn’t sure how he’d survive if Zahava left his home; he was way too used to her arranging their home and their lives.
Qatar funds American think tanks such as the Brookings Institution, invests in American businesses, and has many journalists around the world on its payroll, enabling them to influence reporting about events in the Middle East.
As we look back over the past 50 years, we feel enriched that the Almighty has given us this opportunity to provide something that has proven to be so successful and so influential.
Contrary to its name, the Tower has no direct connection to King David, yet its name and its stones tell a complex story of conquest, religion, empire, destruction, and preservation.
It’s an historic moment not just for our ADI family but the entire State of Israel. Despite the great need, Israel has never had any formal educational programming for Certified Prosthetists and Orthotists (CPOs).
By Eli Lebowicz
Whenever a company or non-Jewish institution must issue a statement of solidarity or seasonal greetings to the broader Jewish community, they always show a menorah for some reason, no matter what the message is about or no matter what holiday it is; it’s not a meaningful message from the goyish world without some candles.
Candles shouldn’t matter anymore. They belong to another age – like quills and clay stoves, things replaced by convenience. And yet, candles endure. They wait on shelves and windowsills, marking moments no lightbulb can reach. We light them to remember, celebrate, begin, end, and to sanctify.
Shortly after my daughter got married, both she and my mother came for the weekend. As we lit candles, I realized that this was the first time that three generations were simultaneously ushering in Shabbos.
One thing they all have in common is the unique character of the candle which shares its light without diminishing its own ability to shine.
By David Curwin
With the arrival of electricity, meanings evolved. Menorah came to mean any lamp or light fixture, while nurah, a modern coinage, was adopted for “light bulb.” That shift left ner to take on its modern meaning: candle.
When a person descends into absolute nature, his conduct brings no real value to his neshama or to Creation. Absent teshuvah, there is nothing he could do that would outrank the benefit of being used as a kli to openly demonstrate free will.
Lakewood has all the stores we have in Brooklyn, and more! Zahava gushed. And there’s parking everywhere you go—it’s awesome! I never once had to circle to find a spot!
Collectors and scholars alike will appreciate the additional significance of this edition. It marks the first publication of a comprehensive alphabetical subject index, prepared from the writings of the school of ha-Rav ha-Zaken, gadol be-doro, R. Baruch Uziel.
Our strength for this daily work actually comes from giving to others. Every child’s smile, every “thank you” from a family that has been through a difficult period reminds us why we started this journey.
There are stories – some plausible, albeit not well documented – that Elvis’s managers advised him, in the racially charged environment of mid-century America, not to emphasize a Jewish heritage because of concerns about the prejudices of Southern audiences.
You were a very special physician, the old-time doctor who made house calls and telephoned patients to see how they were doing. You were a man of truth and honor. There are very few doctors around these days who do, or even want to do, what you were willing to do.
For such a complex word, it has a real simple etymology – it comes from the word pack, which means… pack! Add a diminutive, pluralize it, and you get pekalach!
When a loved one passes, we don’t wish we could trade them for someone else, even if an illness took them from us in a horrible way or much too soon. Only because we cannot isolate pain from pleasure, love, and meaning is it true that we would not trade away our suffering.
The same word morphed from childish sweetness to an adult weight. And for a while, I thought that was the whole story: that growing up meant swapping candy bags for burdens.
Perhaps we should not sweat the small stuff – the pekalach – but be grateful and feel blessed that we do not have to deal with a life-draining pekel.
We must learn to be grateful for our pekelach in life – our personal lot – because, as the saying goes, if everyone were to place their own bundle of challenges in the middle of the room, each person would ultimately choose their own back again.
When we misuse our free will, we become a kli (a "vehicle" or a "vessel") whose role shifts to supporting those who are fulfilling their primary Divine purpose (Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler, Strive for Truth, Vol. II, 75-76).
It was also therapeutic for Rikki to confide in Zahava during their long hours lying on lounge chairs by the pool, justifying her divorce by laying out the full panoply of her ex’s indiscretions and faults.
By Irwin Cohen
Once, while chatting in the late '80s, he eyed my World Series ring. I took it off and he looked at it closely and said softly, I don't have one yet.
What is different today is that the expulsions will be not by government edicts, which could be appealed in court, but, with government and public cooperation, through violence, termination of employment, boycotts of Jewish-owned businesses, bans on attending public events, and so on – in other words, social pressure.
In Tanach, Achithophel was King David’s brilliant counselor, so sharp in judgment that Scripture says seeking his advice was like inquiring from the word of G-d.
Growing up, we loved watching the Food Network and its various cooking shows. I have two sisters and two brothers and we are all food-centered. My youngest brother whips up delicious food now too! I’m so proud!
The lack of previous entanglement with the Mandate or with Jewish–Arab issues was precisely why the British government selected him: it wanted someone perceived as impartial, with no record of favoring Zionist, Arab, or imperial political positions.
I took one bite, said, Blech! and washed it down with the only drink I had, extremely sweet Manischewitz.
I remember growing up, gefilte fish looked different. The traditional old school look of it was football shaped and the size of your hand, not logs.
At 17, I had previously encountered gefilte fish, but I didn't understand that it was a common first course for Shabbos lunch.
I like mine with chrayonaise – that’s a glorious mix of chrain (horseradish) and mayonnaise. Once you try it, you’ll understand. It’s the perfect blend of spice and smooth – like a good marriage.
Gefilte fish, dips, chopped liver, sweet and sour meatballs – no. Serve the meatballs and the liver as part of the main meal. You can even put out some dips. But skip that first course.
Fear doesn't just unsettle us; it can help bring about the very outcomes we dread. Worry is a misuse of the imagination that can lead to dire consequences.
They chit-chatted for a little while, speculating on Hennie’s shidduch while carefully avoiding the subject of Effi.
Pollard’s recruitment by Israeli handlers and the timeline of his espionage are matters on which documentation is clearer than his motives and consequences.
Children are not nachas machines. Children are human beings, messy combinations of nature and nurture, who are put on this earth to navigate their own journeys.
By Avi Ganz
According to AI, nachas is a Yiddish word that translates to deep pride and joy, especially the kind felt from the accomplishments or meaningful actions of a loved one, particularly one's children.
By Ariela Davis
It’s one thing to have nachat from kids because they get a good grade or follow the path we hope they will follow.
Often, parents view nachas as the payoff for cleaning up diapers and vomit, helping with countless hours of homework and hanging on during the roller coaster that is the teenage years. Even if that payment is not made immediately, it is still viewed as deserved when it comes to fruition in adulthood.
Over the centuries, women have taken on positive time bound mitzvot which bring them nachat such as listening to the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah, shaking the lulav and sitting in the sukkah.
All the good we help bring into existence benefits us in the Next World, to the extent that the soul grows from the experience.
Over salads and pasta in a sleek, dimly lit space, Shulamis shared that she’d received reports from Velvel about how happy they were in the new house in Toms River. But she told Chani confidentially that she didn’t think it was so wonderful that Rikki would be with them for the whole summer.
The announcement of Rivkah’s birth at the end of the previous parsha, preceding the Akeidah, doesn’t necessarily mean that the two events were simultaneous.
The showstopper of the sale was a truly rare silver piece: a hanging Sabbath lamp from England, dating to the year 1726, as indicated by the numerous British silver hallmarks found on the lamp.
By Irwin Cohen
The Series winning Dodgers were outscored by the Blue Jays over seven games 34 to 26, but the final score in each game, of course, is what matters.
At the center of the storm stood Rabbi Yosef Shalom Abdallah, a distinguished and forceful personality, and a cousin of the Ben Ish Chai.
Levy was both admired and criticized within the American Jewish community. Many Jews saw him as a symbol of Jewish pride and accomplishment, proof that Jews could serve with distinction in the highest ranks of American public life, while others were uncomfortable with his duels, his combative personality, and the controversies that surrounded him.
By Maayan Zik
By providing a discreet and respectful way to meet temporary needs, the gemach truly embodies the spirit of practical, ongoing community support. It is a powerful example of how shared resources can elevate the quality of life for all.
By Akiva Kra
Gemachs can beat any company. Amazon Prime promises two-day delivery. A gemach says, “Come now.” And if Mrs. Gemach is not home, her 12-year-old will meet you outside. No membership fee, just a thank-you and maybe a babka later.
When a person gives to a gemach and allows a fellow Jew to enjoy the material pleasures you once had, for free, it’s a form of tzedakah. Through simple physical objects, olam haba is attained.
By Martin Bodek
Do you know what the actual plural for gemach is? That’s right, gemachim. However, calling them gemachs is a minhag of Klal Yisrael, and we’re very makpid to keep to those.
By Anat Coleman
These everyday exchanges have not only made life more convenient, but also reminded me again and again of the quiet generosity that lives in a community when people are simply willing to help each other out.
And at the center of this revolution stood Daniel Bomberg, a Christian printer from Antwerp who opened a Hebrew press in Venice in 1516. Working with brilliant Jewish scholars, proofreaders, and editors, Bomberg became the single most influential printer of Hebrew classics in the early sixteenth century.
Bitachon is not an excuse for recklessness; it does not absolve a person of the responsibility to use the intelligence and discernment Hashem gave him. One who deliberately disregards danger is not relying on Hashem—he is acting negligently.
Hennie and a friend set up a round-the-clock Tehillim chat, and Mindy, never one to miss any action, insisted on driving back and forth to Monmouth Hospital the next day and throughout most of that week during the hours her children were in day camp.
I wanted the movie to be focused on Jewish joy, and I was careful not to include stereotypes as much as I could while still making it feel realistic, Peck said.
Elman participated in benefit concerts for Jewish relief organizations during and after the war, raising funds for survivors and displaced persons. In one case, he and his wife assisted in providing affidavits for the Hammberschlag family in Germany and sponsored them (the family arrived in the United States on July 13, 1939).
By Eve Glover
Since Oct. 7, many secular Jewish college students have started exploring their Jewish roots and observing Shabbat. They emulate and are inspired by the incredible stories of faith of these released hostages, many of whom are around their age.
By Rabbanit Dr. Adena Berkowitz
In 2022, Agudath Israel of America circulated on Capitol Hill a legislative memo that pointed out the unique and disruptive challenges permanent DST would present to the Orthodox Jewish community; for example having to pray in synagogues at much later times because of later sunrises and then the challenge of getting to their places of work on time.
As a student in high school, I remember looking forward to the initial “Fall back” where we roll back the clock by an hour and for one or two mornings you felt like you gained an hour of sleep!
By Jordana Baruchov Grreenfield
Hashem builds that spring into our lives; not to break us, but rather to launch us.
On a personal note, those of us with young children know that their bodies don’t respond to the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s manipulation of time.
Perhaps this year we can use daylight savings as an invitation to pay more attention to those we love, and to ensure that we are not overlooking the little ordinary moments that we take for granted.
Healing has taught me something softer. Good does not always arrive loud or dramatic. Sometimes it is subtle, barely noticeable. I just have to slow down enough to see it.
Pachter’s talk, Love Triangles without the Romance: Fixing the In-Law Dynamic, is about mother-in-law/daughter-in law drama and how to avoid it – a universal subject if ever there was one.
When we transgress, either willingly or unknowingly, our soul becomes tarnished, and Hashem allows us to cleanse ourselves of these spiritual blemishes.
A little voice seemed to chirp in his ear: You were upset with Chani for letting her family persuade her to break off your shidduch. Now you let Avraham persuade you to date a young, immature woman, and the result was disastrous. Why didn’t you follow your gut instincts?
By Irwin Cohen
Because of the timing of Yom Tov a couple of weeks ago, the local Orthodox community was shut out in catching football and baseball in person, but about 20 people I know took in the opening night game of the Detroit Red Wings hockey season.
According to a 2013 study cited by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the median cost of one IVF cycle in the United States is $19,234. Some more recent estimates put this figure even higher.
August 28, 2026 
