Why do we cry on Tisha B’Av? What is it that we really mourn? Is it possible that we mourn for thousands of years over bricks and stones? Over the demolition of buildings? These questions burn in our mind throughout Tisha B’Av. How many of us question in the depths of our hearts the meaning […]
Category: Stories
This past week, we celebrated Chai Elul – the 18th day of the Jewish month of Elul. It was on this day, in 1698, the great master and sage, Rabbi Yisrael Baal Shem Tov (Master of the Great Name), was born. Thirty-six years later, he began to disseminate his teachings throughout the world, after the […]
“These are the accounts of the Mishkan (tabernacle), the Mishkan of the testimony, as were rendered according to the commandment of Moshe, through the service of the Leviim, by the hand of Itamar, the son of Aharon the Priest.” (Shemot 38:21) “These are the accounts: In this parashah, all the weights of the donations for […]
I left off last week, speaking about true Jewish leaders. This last week has been so very hectic in Israel. As you all know election day was last week, and the country was split up over two very possible candidates – Tzipi Livni, and Bibi Netanyahu. I spent Shabbat with relatives, and heard the back […]
I woke up to bright lights and the sound of screeching brakes, as my Greyhound bus pulled into the station. “Welcome to Downtown Baltimore! This is the final stop,” said the driver in a thick, Baltimore accent. I hurried to get up, making sure not to forget my hat from the rack above. I stepped […]
I was sitting here, at my desk, reading through the weeks Parasha while sipping my tea, when a few verses jumped out at me. I read them a few times, and closed the Chumash, to think a little bit about what they meant. A few minutes (and sips) later, I flipped up my laptops screen, […]
My thoughts were interrupted, when coming up to the railing right besides us, were none other than two young men with guns and helmets…and of course, clothed in blue. We all laughed as our eyes met, and “Shabbat Shalom”s rang out simultaneously between of our little groups.
Former Chief Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, recovering from a life-threatening disease, prayed several times at Rachel’s Tomb before the recent war in Gaza. Informed that an “old woman” saved IDF soldiers’ lives in Gaza, he said, “Did she mention that I sent her?”