There’s no “bad” in the world (based on the teachings of Rav Nachman)
If we believe in G-d, we believe that: Everything comes from Him and G-d is all-good and all-merciful. While these basic principles of faith originated with the Jews, they aren’t…
An Interview with Chaya Chertok
It was a breezy night in Jerusalem. People from around the world were dining in fancy restaurants in the city center. Chaya Chertok, a close friend of mine from Chicago,…
The Land
The Land lay still, As if in a summer night’s dream, Its shallow valleys, Could not be seen, For years it tried, And tried again, To gather strength, To understand….
Do Thieves Have a Conscience: The Best Jewish Marriage and Relationship Advice
Two Select Chapters from a booklet on Jewish marriage and relationship advice that have given me a better perspective on relationships and the world around me (dedicated to the speedy…
A Post-Kippur Post: The Power to Ask for Forgiveness and to Forgive
Asking for forgiveness represents our ability to tune into our natural instincts. The G-dly side within us appears, and raises us beyond our own nature
Hosting the Havel Havelim Blog Carnival for the 1st time While Vacationing in Chicago aka the Galut
It certainly looks like while I’ve been away visiting my parents, grandparents, and friends in Chicago, your typical, run-o-the-yard Mil’ East tyrant unleashed a chemical attack on those pesky rebels that just keep on coming back no matter how many virgins up above Hezbollah has amassed under its TNT-packed belt. What I’m actually trying to say is that it’s time, oh yes, it’s time…for yet another Havel Havelim Blog Carnival and this one isn’t to be missed!
An Interview with former Soviet Space Program Physicist/Jewish Hero, Igal Gurvich
This past April 15th, when my parents were visiting in Israel, my father and I had a unique opportunity to attend a Yom Ha’atzmaut picnic organized by a group of former refusniks (Jews who spent many years trying to leave the Soviet Union). We were invited because my father had studied Hebrew under the tutelage of Arye Volvovsky (of Efrat) who ended up spending three years in a Soviet prison for his “anti-government” activities.
Definition of “Hypocrite:” “Religious Jew living in America”
Every time Israel makes concessions to the Arabs, I hear American Jews voicing their disapproval. But they voice their disapproval with us not only when things don’t go their way–they’ve realized they have to come up with reason to hate the State of Israel and everything that represents Zionist values because if they don’t, it looks like they’re hypocrites.
Pre-Tisha B’Av Ruminations
Yesterday, Erev Tisha B’Av, I found myself thinking that there are few things I more nervously anticipate than the day before a fast, It of course has to do with…
Why Tammuz?
This previous Shabbat, we entered the new month of Tammuz. I have always found it fascinating that the names of our months are Babylonian and not Hebrew.
Yahrtzeits of Tzaddikim this Week
4th of Tamuz: Rav Yaakov ben Meir (Rabbeinu Tam). (1100-1171) The most famous of Rav Meir ben Shmuel’s sons, one of Rashi’s grandsons.
On Parshat Korach (Based on a Drash by R’ Yitzchok Snyder of Aliyos Yerushalayim)
I felt that this week’s drash was especially relevant to the events taking place in the Jewish community today. In Korach, we witness the biggest threat to Moshe’s position of leadership–and to the future of the Jewish people. Korach leads a popular rebellion against the Moshe, the single most significant representative of the Jewish people we’ve even known.
Yahrzeit of R’ Mordechai Eliyahu and Others This Week
Rav Mordechai Tzemach Eliyahu (1929-2010). He was born in the Old City of Yerushalayim to Iraqi immigrants. His mother was a sister of the Rosh Yeshiva of Porat Yosef and a great-niece of the Ben Ish Chai.
Shabbat in Hevron
If you have never spent Shabbat in Hevron, you have missed out on an incredibly intense experience of tefilah, history and devekut with the roots of our Nation.
Parshat Shlach: Praising the Land of Israel
This week we read Parshat Shlach. Finally, we have arrived at the conclusion of the story. We are heading home—to the place promised to Avraham Avinu so many generations ago.
Spotlight on Tveria, Northern Israel
Residents of chutz l’aretz are usually surprised that I live in Tveria. They think Tveria is a resort city and great place to bring the family for vacation, especially during the Chaggim, but to live here…?
Where it all Began: Tikkun Leil Shavuot in Ramat Hasharon
The night was still young and the yeshiva students were just beginning to get into their groove. It was Shavuot night, when Jews around the world stay up learning as a “tikkun”
What Judaism Means to Me
Judaism means everything to me. It’s a part of my life from the second I get up in the morning to the moment I fall asleep at night–and it also accompanies me in my dreams.
6th of Sivan-9th of Sivan: Yahrtzeits of Famous Jewish Scholars this Week
Rav Avraham Mordechai Alter, the Imrei Emes of Ger, (1866-1948). The son of the Sefas Emes and a great-grandson of the Chidushei HaRim, he was the third Rebbe in the Gur dynasty, the leader of over 250,000 chassidim in pre-WW II Poland. The Imrei Emes was instrumental in establishing and expanding Agudas Yisroel, and was at the forefront of strengthening the Jewish community of Eastern European.
Chodesh Sivan…Shavuot…Cheesecake!!!
Ask anyone about Shavuot, and the first thing that comes to mind is cheesecake. But, if we look deeply into the mystical aspects of this amazing month of Sivan, we will learn that embedded in the month are all the powers we need for strengthening our spiritual foundation for the entire year.
Squeezing Out Lemon Juice into a Salad
It is permitted to squeeze out lemon juice into a salad in order to improve the taste of the vegetables*. One must squeeze the lemon directly on the vegetables (i.e., it is not permitted to squeeze out the lemon juice into a cup and then add it to the salad).
Squeezing out lemon juice into a salad is permitted even if the lemon juice will not be absorbed into the vegetables of the salad.