In Every Generation, Including Today’s
"In every generation they stand against us to destroy us, and the Holy One, Blessed be He, saves us from their hands." These words from the Passover Haggadah are as true today as they were when written, well over a millennium ago. They are also why threats, terror and...
It’s That Time of Year Again!
As we mentioned last week, the spiritual disease called "Tzaraas" shows itself as a physical blemish on the body and one's clothing. The Torah reading this week describes how it might even afflict the walls of a house. The process for diagnosis and removal of this...
Little Prayers
The Torah portions this week and next are devoted mostly to the spiritual disease of Tzara'as. Tzara'as is a physical blemish found on the body, clothing, or the walls of the house, that is diagnosed by a member of the Jewish priestly class, a Kohein. It is said to...
Purim: A Celebration for Uncertain Times
Is it just me, or does the world seem to become more volatile every day? We used to say that last year, we could never imagine where we would be today. Now we say the same thing about last week. The renowned Rabbi Berel Wein, who I was privileged to have as a teacher...
What Ukrainian Victims Can Teach Us About Happiness
This week we welcome in the Jewish month of Adar—in actuality, Adar II, as a leap year on the Jewish calendar involves a full extra month, to keep the holidays in their seasons on the solar calendar while marking months by the cycle of the moon. The Talmud says, "When...
Driving Skills
The Mishkan (Tabernacle) was like a movable forerunner of the Holy Temple. As the Jewish People traveled through the desert for forty years, they assembled it at each of their encampments, and took it down when it was time to move on. But despite its portability, the...
Fit for an Audience with the King
After Moshe (Moses) witnessed the sin of the golden calf, and he delivered the justice and retribution due to those who sinned, he then went back and ascended Mount Sinai once again, to appeal to G-d for forgiveness on behalf of the Jewish nation. He said what appears...
Growth in Vestments
The first half of this week's Torah portion is devoted to the details of the vestments worn by the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) while serving in the Mishkan (Tabernacle) in the Desert, and eventually in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Each of the eight articles of clothing...
Gifting Without Glory
The great Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin, the Rabbinical Academy of the Sages of Lublin, opened in 1930, between the two world wars. Under the leadership of Rabbi Meir Shapiro zt"l, the school built a magnificent building which still stands today (although it was ransacked...
A Desperate Caller
Running late for his flight, Jerry pulled into the airport parking lot and anxiously searched for an open spot. With only minutes left to go through security and reach his gate, Jerry desperately cried out to G-d, "Please, Please! I have to make this flight. Help me...
Rib Steak for Your Brain
When the bread the Jewish people brought with them for their Exodus from Egypt had run out, G-d provided them with Manna that miraculously descended each day from the Heavens. Of course, we're all curious what Heavenly bread tasted like. The Talmud (Yoma 75b) cites...
The New Moon With In Sight
G-d's gave His first commandment to the Jewish people in this week's Torah portion -- the Mitzvah to sanctify the first day of the lunar cycle, the new moon, as the first day of the month (see Ex. 12:2). Sanctifying the new month seems an odd choice for the first...
