יום חמישי, כ״ה חשוון תשפ״זThursday, November 5, 2026
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What begins as a disheartening struggle through fertility treatments gradually evolves into something far more transformative.
Although it has become one of the most familiar and participatory rituals of the High Holiday season that is embedded in contemporary Jewish practice, the extralegal origins of Tashlich and the controversies it once generated have largely been forgotten.
We notice what screams for attention: a fractured relationship, a career setback, a health scare. But what about what seems fine? A marriage that’s good enough. A spiritual life that’s lukewarm. A job that’s steady but uninspired. These don’t collapse from catastrophe. They wither from neglect.
By Zev Newman
What makes the book resonate is its sharp balance of the personal and historical.
Let’s get this year started with great wines, sweet and dry, ones that bring smiles to all those partaking in the Yom Tov meals. And may those smiles stay on for the whole year and beyond! L’chaim!
It insists that sweetness and substance go together. That what delights you also roots you. The juice is only there because the seed is there. The beauty of the moment is carrying something hard, lasting, alive.
By Ariela Davis
Of all the Rosh Hashana simanim, the pomegranate is the one that stands out most aligned with Rosh Hashana – be it from the fabled 613 seeds it holds (has anyone actually ever checked that?) or its majestic crown, reminding us that Hashem is the ultimate king.
How unusual it is to have a fruit with its own royal crown, and timed to ripen just as the holiday of G-d’s kingship arrives.
By Sara Blau
We ask Hashem: don’t judge us by our “peel” – the outer mistakes and shortcomings – but by the fruit inside, the pure intention and the desire to be close to You.
By Anat Coleman
I loved the idea that every pomegranate contains 613 seeds – one for each of the mitzvot – tucking sacred meaning into something as everyday as a piece of fruit.
The thematic motif of the book is the life lesson that Tamir wishes to impart: Just like in sports, often we will miss our goal. There is no need to dwell on it; instead, rebound and pivot in order to continue scoring in life.
On one side, you have something like a letter he wrote to a little girl in his congregation who had lost her pet bird – he turned it into a gentle lesson about memory and care. On the other, you see a leader constantly pressing forward, urging Senator Javits to speak on behalf of a day school.
While at different points there is negative press surrounding the use of time outs, many psychologists and educators believe that when used correctly, a time out can be effective and valuable.
Our shidduch crisis is challenging. This column is my effort to make a dent in the crisis.
Surrounded by caring staff, doting close friends, and beaming loved ones, it was a festive party that few assisted living facilities have the honor and opportunity to experience.
If we have wronged someone, it is essential to seek their forgiveness before turning to Hashem.
By Mendi Glik
The navi Yishayahu compares the return of Am Yisrael to Eretz Yisrael as doves who return to their home. The navi continues and describes how the gates of Israel will be open day and night for Jews to return home.
Gratitude does not just lead to joy. Gratitude produces joy. By tracing our blessings back through time, we cultivate the emotional soil in which joy grows.
Just the sight of her face brought a wrenching stab of pain, a reminder of his loss. How was he supposed to act around her now? There hadn’t been time to think about it, so all he’d managed to do was nod at her. Idiot! She must think he hated her.
In his preface, Yaakov ben Chaim offers a sober caution to readers: only those capable of comprehending these mystical teachings should engage with them, and the secrets within must not be disclosed to the unworthy.
Art historians and commentators, who are fascinated by the question of why Picasso singled out a specifically Jewish figure for The Old Jew, have presented many theories on the subject.
We don’t have to establish that you love your sister and you want to see her happy. We take this as fact. Regardless, the sadness, shame, and anger for feeling this way are eating at you.
In an unrelated case which was settled with the New Jersey Education Department in August, parents of special education students secured the right to “stay put” in private school settings while they fight their claims that public schools are not providing them with a free and appropriate education (FAPE) under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA).
The word shehakol conjures happy memories of the first bracha under the chuppah, ‘shehakol bara l’chvodo’ – everything Hashem created is for His glory and honor.
By Akiva Kra
No matter how much effort you put into a recipe, whatever comes out, whether a crowd favorite or a kitchen disaster, ultimately exists because of His word.
The Baal Shem Tov taught that by speaking a blessing with awareness, we release sparks of holiness trapped in the physical.
Shehakol is the humble workhorse of blessings, ever ready, ever flexible, and ever reminding us that even in the mundane or overlooked moments of life (a sip of soda, a bite of chocolate), there is reason to pause, acknowledge, and give thanks.
To serve Hashem fully, we need to be aligned in everything: how we treat others, how we care for ourselves, how we grow emotionally, spiritually, physically. It’s not separate – it’s one. It's all Shehakol.
The presidential presence, while adding an undeniable buzz, also contributed to significant logistical challenges. Unprecedented security measures and long lines at the entrance gates led to a frustrating delay for thousands of ticket holders.
A child who struggles to read, follow directions, or write quickly may feel embarrassed in front of peers. This is especially true as children grow older and school becomes more publicly performative through reading aloud, presenting projects, or participating in class.
I do understand and empathize with singles who do not wish to go out unless they think that the suggestion makes sense as it is extremely frustrating to meet somebody that is totally incompatible at all right from the outset of the first date.
For us, the focus is building pro-social experiences for our students. So, we really spent a lot of time this summer investing in [asking] what does that look like? Neugroschl said.
We must remind ourselves that these experiences are not the “luck of the draw” or mere happenstance. Our strengths, weaknesses, and struggles – whether physical, emotional, or spiritual – are all a function of mazal, tafkid, and tikkun, designed for our ultimate growth and emanating from Hashem’s infinite love.
By Irwin Cohen
Rabbi Wein moved in many fields and was superb in all of them. What a resume he had.
By Mendi Glik
Moti used to listen to chazzanut for hours and try to analyze the pieces, to listen to the dynamics and understand their meaning.
Mindy felt guilty enough about depriving Chani of a fun Shabbos lunch that she behaved like a model mother and hostess for the remainder of Shabbos, lavishing care on Pinny and encouraging Chani to get out and attend a class in the neighborhood given by the rebbetzin of their shul. On the whole, Chani reflected, things had worked out quite well for her.
In this piece, I will cover accounts that may not be top of mind, but can be extremely beneficial for frum families with a range of wealth, lifestyle, and personal circumstances.
This handwritten volume, recording the names and yahrzeits of nearly 1,500 neshamot, was copied for the shul’s last rav, Rabbi Shlomo Baumgarten, just before he fled the Nazis in 1938. It is only thanks to that copy that we know what we know today.
Willpower is the scholar’s strength to seize back the microphone. To choose what I should do over what I want to do. But it is finite. Like a phone battery, it drains over the day, leaving the teenager in charge by nightfall.
No couple has a completely seamless dating experience. None. Sure, some daters go through this process with ease and some struggle, but regardless, there is no perfect dating journey.
While Jacob Frank emphasized transgression and mystical dialectics between good and evil, Eva’s theological voice, while less documented, seems to have emphasized divine femininity, purity, and mystical royalty.
An inflection point in this process was reached during the Covid school lockdowns of 2020-22, when many parents were shocked, even outraged, to discover what their children were being taught.
By Jason Maoz
Our commitment to helping our neighbors is well-served by events like this, which involve a collaboration between private businesses and not-for-profit agencies, said COJO Flatbush CEO Louis Welz.
What’s the point? Why so many? Are you actually going to read all those sefarim? Why not read them online?
By Rabbanit Dr. Adena Berkowitz
Our sefarim are not merely books with values and wisdom. They represent something far deeper. They hold honored places in our homes and their departure is akin to saying a tearful goodbye to loved ones.
I wondered then: Why is she selling these new sefarim from her bookshelf in Washington Heights? Were they not wanted anymore?
I tell my husband I'm bringing the ones with cracked spines to sheimos. He tells me there's an inyan about not getting rid of sefarim. I ask for the source but he can't tell me where it is.
From the moment G-d spoke at Sinai, the Jewish people have been listeners, readers, and scribes. The Torah isn’t just a story – it’s a constitution.
Despite its unsettled reception, The Man in the Glass Booth was neither suppressed nor forgotten; to the contrary, its notoriety ensured its place in the canon of post-Holocaust drama.
A guy who immediately suggests that you change in order to meet their approval is not someone you can keep in your life.
Fear sees a threat. Anxiety imagines one. Fear screams, Get out! Anxiety ponders, What if?” While fear results in running away or fighting, anxiety inspires gloom and doom.
It is important to understand why some children struggle with stealing and lying so you can handle these situations appropriately and help your son navigate what he may be feeling.
This project was first envisioned by local leaders and elected officials in 1997 as a means of addressing the needs of the Williamsburg community, which was outgrowing existing programs and resources.
By Irwin Cohen
The Orthodox community in Harrisburg is under 100. Some wear their tallis over their head while davening and some don't.
Forgiveness is strongly associated with lower levels of anxiety, stress, and hostility, as well as fewer symptoms of depression and a reduced risk of alcohol and substance abuse.
Honestly, part of her did want to see Effi again, if only to see his face and get a sense of where his head was at. She missed him! Despite the years, she still treasured her memories of their time together.
By Mendi Glik
I’ll be very honest with you: This new trend of using different tunes for the High Holiday tefillot really ruins the davening for me.
The Hitler Haggadah takes the traditional Passover narrative and reimagines it through the lens of wartime realities, framing the Allied victory over the Nazis as Divine intervention.
The winery is not simply a commercial enterprise, says Aharon Ziv, one of the founders and the head winemaker for the past ten years, but part of our community’s core mission.
Abraham Lincoln chose a different path. Instead of surrounding himself with loyalists, he built a “team of rivals,” appointing to his Cabinet, men who had opposed him and even run against him for the presidency. They disagreed with him often and sometimes bitterly, but Lincoln welcomed the challenge.
The reason that it makes the heat index hotter is that it stops your body's ability for sweat to evaporate, thereby trapping body heat.
It's not the heat. It's the humidity. That's the common refrain. A high temperature alone isn't enough to change your day, but when it's humid? Humidity is everywhere.
By Martin Bodek
Hot and humid, hot and humid, everybody loves it when it's hot and humid, and your clothing sticks to you. I know, catchy, right?
Recently I was in Washington, D.C. for a work trip; it was 95 degrees and humid. As I walked around town, exploring the sights, I was sweating so much that my sheitel started sweating as well.
A person can think of all sorts of ways to cool down. Perhaps a glass of cold water, a cool shower, or a shady spot would do the trick.
Children who struggle with social skills are less likely to participate in class, less likely to ask important questions when they don’t understand something, and more likely to fall between the cracks.
A toxic friend will not be happy for you when something good happens to you or when you get something new. Someone who truly loves you will celebrate your happiness. Toxic friends do not.
Fundamentally, bitachon is the acceptance and recognition that every experience comes directly from Hashem, given out of His love for us. It means knowing unequivocally that nothing happens by chance and that every aspect of our lives is under complete and total Divine supervision.
Having too much cash sitting in a checking account is typically a poor decision, as you are losing buying power due to inflation.
Mindy, of course, had no idea Chani was busy struggling to process the idea that Effi Weinberg would be coming to town, wondering if he hated her and how she would react if their paths crossed.
By Mendi Glik
Yossi grew up in a musical house. His mother played accordion and used to sing with the kids every Shabbat. His grandfather on his father’s side was a ba’al tefillah. His grandfather’s brother was a cantor and knew the big cantors.
Ironically, it’s minority schoolchildren, whom teachers claim to care about, who have been the biggest losers.
Its clarity, accuracy, and comprehensiveness swiftly eclipsed earlier lexicographical works, establishing it as the indispensable reference for generations of scholars – both Jewish and Christian – who sought to unlock the linguistic treasures of the Tanach.
By Marc Gronich
There is a clear nexus between cell phone use and a decline in students’ mental health and academic success due to a decreased ability to focus, diminished social interaction and emotional stress, said Senator Shelley Mayer (D – Yonkers, Westchester County), chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee.
The goal of dating is to get to know someone better, to build a relationship, to get engaged, and to iy”H get married. This should mostly be an insular experience between two people. Yet, we live in a world that loves to share and impress.
My flags are red, white, and blue And blue and white too They both fill me with pride
While Zola is celebrated today as a defender of Jewish rights, his fiction, particularly in La Curee, reflects the complexities and contradictions inherent in French attitudes toward Jews in the late 19th century.
By David Curwin
Moshe was a Hebrew name from the start, but he also bore an Egyptian name. A key piece of evidence supporting the Hebrew origin is the pun itself.
By Avi Ganz
The lesson is that to aspire to greatness in leadership, we need to realize that the kedusha; the greatness, is everywhere. Not just in the burning bush or the heavenly voice.
By Solly Hess
Sadly, the culture in which we find ourselves today tells a different story. Leadership has been reduced to “influence.” If you can find or rally an audience, you are a leader. All you need is followers. How you act, what you say, or how you treat the very people who look to you for guidance, matters far less than your status, position, or title.
The Torah emphasizes the fact that all eyes were on him throughout his lifetime, and his leadership becomes that much more inspiring when one considers what his experience must have been like in that environment.
He was even open to his father-in-law's advice to delegate judging disputes, instead of acting like he could do it all.
Since his move, Sasson has become a dominant force. His list of achievements is impressive, including two singles titles at the French Open (2024 and 2025), a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, and a Wimbledon doubles title.
The excitement kicks off with the U.S. Open Qualifying Tournament, where 256 of the world's most talented players compete for a spot in the main draw, all of which you can watch up close and for free.
As someone who used to be on the receiving end of this toxic behavior from friends and family – I say used to be because I stopped all contact with these health-destroying individuals – I have zero tolerance for any emotional and verbal abuse – I wonder why the spouse doesn't just walk away.
It’s all about when and how you say no.
Unlike legitimate shame, which is a productive, self-correcting mechanism that says, I am less because of what I’ve done, this is toxic shame: I am less because of what was done to me.
By Irwin Cohen
The six-foot-six left-handed pitcher's career spanned 19 seasons and he racked up a career record of 251 wins and 161 losses with a pretty good earned run average of 3.74. C.C. won 19 games three times and once won 21 in a season.
By Mendi Glik
You’ll be surprised to hear that Netanel was not pushed by his father to be chazzan – it was all his choice. But chazzanut was a big part of his childhood.
Mindy’s hours scrolling through Instagram had served as her cordon bleu education, and when motivated, she could summon enviable energy to attack large gourmet meals.
We must all prioritize our time and be sensitive to others. During the time that we are working on ahavas chinam, let us all try to work harder on not ignoring others when we are with them and really being present, without the distraction of a phone.
October 30, 2026 
