Trump aroused in many Jewish souls the spirit of Hanukkah, an uphill military effort that ended with rededicating the Bet Mikdash.
One homebased miracle if it happens, and one foreign affairs miracle. Both seemed impossible once.
The story of Joseph unfolding in this period's Torah readings is on two levels: Man's actions fulfill G-d's master plan behind the scenes.
Not all members of the Haredi sector promote violence and controversy, but unfortunately, we also do not hear them condemn such phenomena.
Hanukkah is definitely one of the most widely observed holidays.
The story of Joseph seems to show the negative aftermath of parental favoritism. Or is there more to it than meets the eye?
Mattityahu cried “He who is for the Lord, follow me” - who has the spiritual stamina to fight, who feels the pull of God in his soul? Do we?
From the US, Israel, Spain, Hungary, India, Russia, Scotland - all over the world! Made of glass, wood, metal and, yes, from clay.
Yosef is the symbol of faith, so how could Rashi say Yosef received 2 more years in prison for putting his faith in the chief cupbearer?
We light a small flame this evening that tells a story about the past heroism of our ancestors, but this year we are heroes too.
There is a very interesting connection between the holiday of Hanukkah and the Torah portion of the week. Joseph's pit is a parable.
The way in which we light the Hanukkah candles teaches us how to achieve our full potential.
There is a delicate balance between the neglect that leads to lack of confidence and excessive praise or favouritism..
The Esaus of the world are impressed only by strength - with which Ya’akov is endowed when necessary and which the Maccabees evinced..
What happens to what we teach them, once we are not here. Joseph gives the answer.
Ove and above sustaining life, the air of the Holy Land uplifts the individual soul while its earth spurs our national development.
Joe Biden has children who intermarried with Jews, a sad living symbol of what has happened to American Jewry.
This week began with the 'Rosh Hashannah of Hassidism,' the 19th of Kislev, when the author of Tanya was freed from prison in 1798.
I met with Reform Jews with a clear understanding that the object is brotherhood, but that there are unbridgeable differences between us.
Devorah was Rivkah Imenu’s tutor as well as her nursemaid, sent by Rivkah to instill what a grandmother can teach a grandchild.
How brave these young corona brides are - putting off their dream weddings without wallowing in self pity. Here is one story.
Why is it that Rachel has attained such a unique place in the Jewish People’s collective consciousness?
We want our children to fulfill God's commands with feeling. How can we help them achieve that?
Jacob tells Esau they will meet again on Mount Seir, but he does not go there during his lifetime. So what does he mean?
Israel's first Ashkenazi Cheif Rabbi, leader of Religious Zionism:'Oral Torah adds insightful understanding through careful examination.'
Jacob's fear at meeitng Esau shows the merit of living in Israel. Even today, we must show the world that the land belongs to the Jews.
Why is Eisav's angel referred to as 'a man' during battle with Yaakov?
The story of Jacob wrestling with an unnamed adversary and his new name Israel is essential to understanding what it means to be a Jew.
Jealousy is the terror of seeing someone achieve more than us. What would we do to make sure others don’t get a bigger piece of the pie?
The connection to Eretz Yisrael binds the individual soul to the collective, eternal soul of Israel with a strong bond.
Eventually evil devours itself, but there are times when it succeeds - and the time is not right to fight. Jacob knows that truth.
What are the three greatest challenges facing the Jewish people?
Three major Orthodox forces in America, the OU, RCA and YU join in a filmed tribute to Rabbi Sacks.
Isaac rightly felt that Jacob's potential needed the help of Esau's activism, but that synergy can only happen at the end of time.
Many things require continued striving and much patience, as the story of Jacob so clearly teaches us.
The Tanya compacts four millennia of Jewish wisdom to answer the great personal and existential questions of life.
What the Maccabees did for eight days.
The story of Jacob's sojourn outside of Israel is written as one long story in the Torah, without division into smaller parshiyot.
Jacob went back over the Yabok River because he had forgotten a fw little vessels. He was teaching us something.
Where are the tribes exiled by Assyria in the 8th century B.C.E.?
My meeting with Reform clergy was not for any purpose, it stemmed only from love of humanity.. I do not plan to run for the Chief Rabbinate.
It’s important to prepare for where we’re going and in doing so, derive meaning from the journey.
Life occasionally compels us to leave our comfort zone and deal with crisis. A biblical and modern model.
Israel's first Chief Rabbi, iconic leader of Religious Zionism: It is only the soul that experiences visions while dreaming.
In his very essence Yaacov was diametrically opposed to his illustrious father and grandfather.
Literally meaning a “heel”, the Hebrew word “eikev” evolved to denote a mark left by the heel, a foot-print - and more. All in Jacob's name.
Why did Yaakov cry when he met Rachel?
Jews who eschew Torah, swiftly break any faith with the Land of Israel; and Jews who eschew the Land, swiftly break faith with the Torah.
There will be time where we all need the courage to exit and leave our safe and comfortable zones to do the work that needs to be done.
A few words in the Zohar that seem to describe a geographical location provide insight into our entire.essence.
What is Yaakov surprised about? Why does the Torah provide so much build up and detail about this dream?
It was the Soviet Union and Communism that saw people as being mere cogs in a great machine, the state. Not so the Jews.
Jacob was faced with two diametrically opposed tests. He passed them both.
The ability to survive and to recover is part of what it takes to be a leader. Covenant & Conversation for Vayetse.
Is Thanksgiving a case of "walking in their statutes" or a universal holiday in whose celebration observant Jews can comfortably take part?
All three elements of Adam's sin can be found rectified in the lives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
This week we read of Jacob's flight and finished Erovin in the Daf Hayom, Yad Vashem is to get anew head and Satmar defied rules.Connected?
The Tanya compacts four millennia of Jewish wisdom to answer the great personal and existential questions of life.
Rebulding the Holy Temple is possible - time to begin, even if it means rebelling against the Chief Rabbinate and its Rabbinic Council.
