יום שני, כ״ב חשוון תשפ״זMonday, November 2, 2026
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By Eli Lebowicz
Deciding to be fleishig is a tough commitment to make. And it’s pretty similar to the same fear of commitment that many people have (and often more so guys) when it comes to dating.
The guest list will be carefully curated, since the korban can only be slaughtered on behalf of its specific group.
By Jordana Baruchov Grreenfield
No one will ever get to the bottom of why we are meant to not eat milk and meat together since it’s a chok. So why have commandments we don’t get?
When you think of home, is it not in your taste buds that the most elemental memories reside? Tell me what, how, where and with whom you eat, and I’ll tell you who and what you are.
One of my favorite foods is a juicy steak prepared medium rare. The reason why is because this type of dish is tender, retains moisture, and is most flavorful, especially if the outside is caramelized and seared.
David Ben Gurion famously remarked that In Israel, in order to be a realist you must believe in miracles.
Two more random thoughts about miracles: Everyone, religious or not, hopes for a miracle. And when times are trying, we even pray for one.
By Akiva Kra
While miracles are everywhere, the revival of the dead, a talking donkey, and an oil jug that pours endlessly certainly stand out.
By dvora
Through centuries, we survive, we thrive Though dispersed throughout the world
As I was crossing Yafo Street towards Sbarro, the driver, for no reason, ran across the street from where he was waiting for me, grabbed me by the shirt, and told me not to bother since he was in a rush and not in the mood for pizza.
According to the Kabbala, the ancient tomb also holds the first human couple – Adam and Eve.
It is not surprising therefore that the only word we have to associate with this concept, rishon, comes from the most basic human feature, the head, a connection made by the 12th-13th century figure, Rabbi David Kimhi.
Being first is usually considered a good thing – first come, first served and all that.
Lots of people who did things that ultimately led to our world being safer, better, and stronger had to put up with much mockery and criticism.
The confluence of being a first-born and a kohein (and also a rabbi) obligates me to live an elevated life as a role model to others.
Seven is typified by the sanctity of Shabbos. Each week is influenced by the Shabbos that preceded it and by the build up toward the following Shabbos. In other words, seven represents the yearning to infuse the mundane with the spiritual.
What she produced is a singular work describing the life of a Jewish woman, filled with faith, mussar, and stories that impart lessons to her descendants. At the outset of the project Glikl states that she plans to write seven little books. Why seven?
By Chaim Saiman
There is little consensus on how the Torah’s social vision should apply to our present condition, whether viewed in terms of tilling the soil or understanding what Shemittah means in an economy that runs on high tech rather than agriculture.
By Avi Ganz
As early civilization was arranging the calendar, they weren't looking at the Jewish Bible for direction, they were looking to the universe for their relative place within it.
The Ramban suggests the miraculous is hidden within the mundane. That teva itself is really all miracles. That we wake up, breath, survive and thrive is all miraculous. Nothing can ever be taken for granted.
By JJ Eleff
Morals are degrading, the stories keep getting crazier, and everything seems backwards. But then I remind myself that no matter the culture, background, religion, or nationality, when a baby is born there is a bliss that transcends it all.
To be honest, when I saw this as the word prompt, I felt a pit in my stomach. There is so much pain and struggle associated with this word.
By Hillel Fuld
Why did G-d even create this thing called pregnancy? Why not just make babies come to this world without the nine-month pregnancy period?
The reason we are put here on earth is not only to be a great person and correct our issues that will come up during our lives, but also to have children that will follow in the path of Torah and continue the branches of our tree.
By Keshet Starr
Many psychological studies demonstrate the pleasure we get from anticipation. Waiting for a vacation, for example, is statistically even more fun than the vacation itself.
By Rabbanit Dr. Adena Berkowitz
All of us have a daily opportunity to model lives filled with Yiddishkeit together with integrating secular wisdom and modernity.
Sometimes these points of chachma come in bursts, overwhelming me, too much at once. So much potential, so much to do. What do I do first?
Usually, the mind is viewed as the seat of the intellect, of chachma, and emotions are associated with the heart. A term like chacham lev sounds like a paradox, but of course, it isn't one.
On some occasions chachma-related teachings appear downright bizarre: say to wisdom – you are my sister. While chachma bagoyim ta’amin (you can accept that non-Jews have wisdom), wisdom of the Greeks remains strictly off-limits.
This Purim I won’t go overboard like the time I dressed as the Kotel, and invited strangers (female only) to kiss and pray before me.
Mordechai reminds Esther – and all of us – that engaging in advocacy in support of the Jewish people is important not because politics needs our intervention; it is important for our own personal futures.
Purim provides just enough time to engage with the fascinating ideas and narrative of Megillat Esther.
Things happen to us that seem haphazard and random; there seems to be no system in place, no direction to this cold and harsh universe. This is not true.
We, like Adam and Chava, must train ourselves to stop focusing on what we don’t have.
I have a wall of windows in my apartment, and every evening I try to watch the sunset. First it’s bright yellow and then it’s pink and orange and all of it is golden. Yes, my JERUSALEM OF GOLD, I will love you.
The funny thing about trends is our personal tastes and preferences seemingly go out the window.
Nestled in the brushed velvet was a chevron shaped gold necklace; a style that was very popular for a very hot second.
When someone questioned the show of wealth, R' Meir Shlomo explained, Why was gold created? For the Beis HaMikdash. With the Beis HaMikdash destroyed, gold exists exclusively for tzaddikim like him.
As it says in Tehilim 119:72: The Torah of your mouth is better for me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
By Rachel Kohn
I would translate bitcachon as security. It's true that faith can be blind, trust can be baseless, and it is even possible to have a false sense of security.
Having bitachon that Hashem is doing things for a purpose, even when my brain is screaming that it is painful and unfair, is a much bigger challenge for me.
It makes sense if you are struggling with bitachon right now. We know Hashem is running the world, but we also feel hurt and confused by some of the current events.
Knowing my coach believed in me during the timeout gave me the confidence to make the free throws. Similarly in our daily lives we must remember that everything we need is already within me because Hashem believes in me.
We have bitachon that our bid on a new home will get accepted. We have bitachon that our child gets accepted into the school that they are applying to. That isn’t bitachon.
By Solly Hess
How often do we sit and reminisce? Reaching far back as we long to recapture those defining moments of growth and joy and to see and feel the people we no longer can.
Scientists say that smell can immediately trigger an intense emotion or vivid memory. And the Kabbalah says that smell connects the spiritual and the physical.
By Jordana Baruchov Grreenfield
Now on the flip side you can also use scent to create an emotion and hopefully evoke a memory or lasting impression.
By Anat Coleman
There is a special category of berachot on things that give us enjoyment, including fragrant scents. Such berachot are made on the object which gives us enjoyment.
To me the scent produced by the kitoret is symbolic of Am Yisrael.
A good shmooze reveals ourselves to others and reveals others to us; it is a learning experience.
It’s been said that the Chofetz Chaim enjoyed a good schmooze, with the understanding that the halachos of lashon hara can and should be adhered to so that a schmooze can still serve the function of us maintaining a connection to Hashem.
By Nachum Segal
Some shmoozes result in important decisions being made, points of view being changed and relationships being solidified.
It’s the little light bulb moments, the pithy nuggets of wisdom, and the sharing of life perspective that came about during those teacher shmoozes.
The origin of the word confirms this negative association: Shmooze comes from the Yiddish shmuessen, which in turn derives from the Hebrew sh’muah, meaning tidings or rumor (read: juicy gossip).
The clerk in the registrar's office was having none of it. When she heard about the name I wanted to change, and why, she gave me a buck-up talk about having pride in my background (I had plenty, thank you), and not being worried about others' confusion.
By Maayan Zik
This venture seems like an introvert dipping her toes in extroverted waters, trying new things she’d never imagine doing before. This experience brings her tremendous blessings.
By The Honorable Rachel Freier
As Jewish mothers, we should learn from our matriarchs to use the unique inner strength we possess. Inner strength based on binah yeseirah – divinely inspired intuition.
One of the key lessons that Rivka teaches us about leadership is the importance of balancing confidence and a willingness to push boundaries with considerations of morals and character.
I see a lot of my grandmother in my daughter, who is also a preschool teacher, and it is shaping her persona, too.
True kavod habriyot is not about treating well those whom we know, or like, or feel comfortable with. It is about honoring the bit of the Divine inside every human being we encounter.
Kavod, honor, respect and esteem judged by societal standards, is in fact taught by chazal, a value and sense of self-esteem bestowed by us to other creations of Hashem.
Indeed, kavod is a two-way street. We often think of it as something we give though we receive much more from showing kavod.
Kavod means honor, but it means so much more. Related to the word kaved, or heavy, it refers to things that are weighty, that are deserving of our respect.
Kavod has two translations: honor and respect, which are similar but distinct. That’s why everyone who is honored is respected but not everyone who is respected is honored.
We need to take these awful suggestions and use them to create enough fire in our bellies in order for us to do the exact opposite.
If you ask me, it should be a wasteland for us.
I may have been too young to truly grasp the magnitude of the atrocities but I vividly see today, in my heart's mind, the pain and anguish that was.
It is no coincidence that as the number of Holocaust survivors declines, anti-Semitism surges.
By Akiva Kra
Well-known achronim, including Rav Chaim, the Netziv, Maharsham, and Tosfos Yom Tov are all buried there.
Created as a way to eat warm foods while still keeping Shabbat, it speaks of home, it speaks of tradition…it speaks of connection.
By Eli Lebowicz
I'm pretty sure the concept of chulent wouldn't exist if not for the Jews.
By Avi Ganz
Maybe therein lies the secret of the chulent: We Jews aren't one stereotype. Among the different backgrounds and traditions (and the many without a particular tradition) there are myriad characteristics, personalities, and (flavor) profiles.
There is nothing better than a steaming bowl of hearty, warm food when you enter your home from shul on a cold, wintry night.
Chulent shows that while our Torah is structured and dictates how and when we cook and how and when we eat, we still have enormous creative choices within its framework.
Have you taken the chance to appreciate the good moments which you have? Our experiences are so mixed and varied and happen so quickly.
By Keshet Starr
While recognizing the good seems like an easy task (And there are no thank-you notes involved!) recognition is actually more complicated than it seems.
By Hillel Fuld
The importance of gratitude in Judaism is paramount. The reason is that the Torah wants to teach us the importance of perspective.
You do not have to wait until you win an Academy Award to show hakaras hatov. You can thank people every single day.
It’s more than just thank you and covers much, much more than the act itself.
Shabbos is sacred to me, but in the scheme of things, with all the managing and juggling I do in a day, removing the wax from waxy candlesticks is not.
Waxy is a peculiar word which can also mean flexible and yielding; an elusive but desirable character trait whose development has allowed me to grudgingly accept that it’s okay that I don’t have the potato kugel gene.
It may be hard to believe, but there was a time when Jews had to place wax in their ears – it is said that this came from their wives' candles – in order to prevent them from hearing Christian sermons.
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.
October 30, 2026 
