by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Jan 13, 2017 | Lifeline
Before his passing, Jacob blessed Joseph’s sons, and then his own. Our Sages explain to us that each blessing is filled with prophetic insight, words which each brother in particular, the brothers overall, and all of their descendents, needed to hear. And when...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Jan 5, 2017 | Lifeline
Special Opportunity: we have an extension on the Early Bird offer in this year’s raffle! You must get your entry in by January 10, at which point a lucky winner will receive two tickets to Israel (or $2500 Cash), and still be in the running for the $100,000...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Dec 23, 2016 | Lifeline
The holiday of Chanukah is often misunderstood. People imagine that it was a fight of military prowess and for political liberty. Yet neither of these is true. Chanukah, rather, tells us that we can accomplish miracles when we truly dedicate ourselves to G-d. The...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Dec 9, 2016 | Lifeline
The story of Laban and Jacob is critical to our understanding of anti-Semitism, the pernicious hatred of Jews. We know this from the Passover Haggadah — we learn briefly about Pharoah, read that this hatred happens in every generation, and then continue,...
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...
