by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Nov 17, 2016 | Lifeline
Last week we learned that Avraham and Lot had separated. Lot moved to the fertile land surrounding the city of S’dom, yet he retained some of the traits of his holy and generous uncle. So when two disguised angels came to the gates of the city, he rose to greet...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Nov 4, 2016 | Lifeline
There is an old joke of a mugger demanding of a Jew, “your money or your life!” The Jew doesn’t move, and the mugger demands, “hurry up already!” To which the Jew responds: “I’m thinking, I’m thinking!” Despite its...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Oct 28, 2016 | Lifeline
With an insight that my friend Rabbi Leonard Oberstein called prescient, the very first comment of Rashi on the Torah quotes a Medrash: Rebbe Yitzchok says: He did not need to begin the Torah [here,] but from ‘this month will be for you the first of...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Oct 6, 2016 | Lifeline
When a computer device of some kind isn’t operating correctly, the first question any technician will ask is, “have you tried rebooting?†The option may be called “Restart,†but it means the same thing: clean out apps that are running, wipe the memory...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Sep 29, 2016 | Lifeline
In an ideal world, our leaders would be qualified, competent, and benevolent. If we could find such a person, we certainly would want him or her to rule for life, providing for our common needs, protecting us from danger, and helping us to flourish. Now imagine living...
