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Rabbi Berel Wein

News and updates about Rabbi Berel Wein

Jewish history is repetitive: The last words of Jacob and Joseph

The message: Chazak Chazak Venitchazek, to be strong and to strengthen ourselves and others for the tasks that always lie ahead.

Jewish history is repetitive: The last words of Jacob and Joseph

Sometimes the dreamers are the practical ones

The Jewish people have survived only based on dreams. Our people to the land of Israel in our time is perhaps the greatest of dreams.

Sometimes the dreamers are the practical ones

10th of Tevet: A day that commemorates several Jewish tragedies.

The rabbis subsumed several tragic events that occurred in Tevet and memorialized them on the date the siege of Jerusalem began.

10th of Tevet: A day that commemorates several Jewish tragedies.

Growing accustomed to miracles

We don't say the Hallel prayer on Purim at all, but we do say it on Hanukkah. In our time, the reason for this difference is clearer.

Growing accustomed to miracles

The inestimable worth of the individual

It was the Soviet Union and Communism that saw people as being mere cogs in a great machine, the state. Not so the Jews.

The inestimable worth of the individual

Toldot: How can an Isaac and Rivkah raise a child who is wicked?

Commentators give several reasons for this to have happened, as it has throughout history, but perhaps the simplest explanation is the best.

Toldot: How can an Isaac and Rivkah raise a child who is wicked?

Jewish growth

I look in wonder at the growth of Orthodox Jewry in my lifetime, not only in terms of intensity of Jewish life, but numbers and population.

Jewish growth

A tale of two weddings

Young people willing to undertake to build homes that will be loyal to tradition and Jewish values, is itself most joyful, Zoom and all.

A tale of two weddings

Totalitarian society in biblical times - and today

"One language and the same few words.” It reflects the inability to tolerate other opinions and different words. Cancel culture?

Totalitarian society in biblical times - and today

Today's Open Orthodoxy - Bereishit 5781

There are good things that resulted from our praying outside, things we should try to retain and that contrast Abraham with Adam and Noah.

Today's Open Orthodoxy - Bereishit 5781

The imaginary walls of a sukka

Without the Oral Law's detailed descriptions, we would not be able to build the more open sukkas we need this year.

The imaginary walls of a sukka

Yom Kippur 5781

Yom Kippur is a gift from God to the people of Israel, an exclusively Jewish concept and holiday. This year we approach it with humility.

Yom Kippur 5781

Soldiers or sheep?

We pass before the heavenly court as soldiers in the army of King David. but also are like the sheep that exist around Mount Meron

Soldiers or sheep?

Finding the balance between Nitzavim and Vayelech

How quickly society changes acceptable human behavior! What was unthinkable and perverse is today admired and sometimes even enforced.

Finding the balance between Nitzavim and Vayelech

Cause and effect in family situations

Part of the reason for improper human behavior violating Jewish values, is the shortness of vision that our limited years impose upon us.

Cause and effect in family situations

All zoomed out

Our Sages characterized it best by saying that a student’s eyes should see his teacher not only when he is teaching but throughout life.

All zoomed out

Shoftim: Choose a leader who can do the job

The Torah is in favor of law and order and of choosing leaders who can do the job.

Shoftim: Choose a leader who can do the job

Ekev - there is a deep-seated cause behind our present situation

Human civilization needs a little less hubris, less arrogance, more minimal expectations, realization that it is not our will that prevails.

Ekev - there is a deep-seated cause behind our present situation

Who is it demonstrating right outside my window tonight?

I am not really clear as to what they are demonstrating for. I completely understand what they are demonstrating against. Op-ed

Who is it demonstrating right outside my window tonight?

Matot-Masei: Torah leadersihip means keeping one's word

The elders of Israel, the leaders of the tribes were taught directly by Moshe the entire Oral Law as received by him at Mount Sinai. Why?

Matot-Masei: Torah leadersihip means keeping one's word

Aaron and Pinchas, two diametrically opposed personalities?

When the situation demands it, the gentle priest becomes a man of war, who can and must take decisive and even violent action.

Aaron and Pinchas, two diametrically opposed personalities?

All about the "experts"

I do not believe what the experts are telling me because what they told me years ago never occurred. I am old enough to remember. Opinion.

All about the "experts"

Must Israel be Utopia?

For much of Jewish history, the Jews were absent from the Land of Israel.  Because of this, it became an imagined place of perfection.

Must Israel be Utopia?

Going back to Egypt has never been a positive solution

The uncertainty of the future that is descending upon us can make us anxious but we have to live with the fact that the world has changed.

Going back to Egypt has never been a positive solution

Naso: A sense of mission

A humble heart and a head held high at one and the same time is the demand the Torah places on our leaders - and us.

Naso: A sense of mission

Thrown into leadersihip

Thrown into leadersihip

Thrown into leadersihip

Included in the tragedy of the deaths of the 2 older sons of Aaron is the response of the two younger sons who have to rise to the occasion

Thrown into leadersihip

Boredom

Boredom

Shabbat that precedes Pesach is truly the Great Shabbat of the year

Shabbat that precedes Pesach is truly the Great Shabbat of the year

Offering ourselves and our ego

Offering ourselves and our ego

Going to a cantorial concert

Going to a cantorial concert

Monetary scandals

Monetary scandals

Mishpatim: A brutal acknowledgement of human weakness

Mishpatim: A brutal acknowledgement of human weakness

The outsider

The outsider

Miracles in all sizes

Miracles in all sizes

Human stubborness and futility

Human stubborness and futility

The four words of redemption

The four words of redemption

Why Moshe, of all people

Why Moshe, of all people

Walking the dog

Walking the dog

The only way to protect American and European Jews

The only way to protect American and European Jews

Vayeshev: Actors in a drama

Vayeshev:  Actors in a drama

When a righteous person departs

When a righteous person departs

Do individuals affect history?

Do individuals affect history?

The rainbow

The rainbow

Measuring time

Measuring time

Haazinu: Jewish angst

Haazinu: Jewish angst

Constantly growing - Vayelech

Constantly growing - Vayelech

Dinosaurs and phones

Dinosaurs and phones

Great people can be wrong, even when they are Jewish

Great people can be wrong, even when they are Jewish

Raise your head and be counted

Raise your head and be counted

Nationhood and freedom - two concepts, two holidays

Nationhood and freedom - two concepts, two holidays

Bamidbar (Israel): Numerical standstill

Bamidbar (Israel): Numerical standstill

Behar (for Israel): Being Jewish requires spiritual mountain climbing

Behar (for Israel): Being Jewish requires spiritual mountain climbing

Kedoshim: No shortcuts to holiness

Kedoshim: No shortcuts to holiness

No guarantee in matters of desire: Acharei Mot

No guarantee in matters of desire: Acharei Mot

Education for altriuism is a long process

Education for altriuism is a long process

Purim always

Purim always

Childhood and the pursuit of holiness

Childhood and the pursuit of holiness

Population statistics - there is no Judaism without Jews

Population statistics - there is no Judaism without Jews

The eternal light

The eternal light






























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