Sivan Rahav-Meir

The Daily Portion: Ki Tisa / On the virtue of being slow

Would you also choose the golden calf?

The Daily Portion: What will we take with us from Purim?*

Jerusalem is so special that it has its own Purim day. But some aspects of Purim should last all year.

Purim / Venahafoch hu; when everything flips

The Purim story teaches us that there is always hope and it is forbidden to despair

The Daily Portion - A thought for today

Esther's message is clear: I cannot begin a dialogue with the enemy if the nation of Israel is not behind me

'The Daily Portion':

To look beneath the surface

Do you see what the parasha we read yesterday, the Megillah and our currect judicial reform controversy have in common? Actually, you can't.

Parashat Tetzaveh, Shabbat Zachor and Purim

Amalek attacked us. Since Haman is an Amalekite, reading this passage before Purim is a reminder of our perpetual war against evil.

Latest terror attacks:

Suffering, filling the void, and what Amalek has to do with it

Asked for a message to youngsters in a community that just lost two of its finest, Sivan Rahav-Meir recounts Amalek's mission in the world.

The last Jew of Antakya

The writer's weekly column describes a dramatic moment in Diaspora Jewish history - that occurred last week.

Sivan Rahav Meir:

The best and "worst" stories I covered about Chabad

Watch Sivan Rahav Meir’s speech to the 4,000 Shluchot at the anual Kinus in New York, 5783-2023

Watch:

Sivan Rahav-Meir addresses Chabad women's conference

The popular Israeli media personality spoke to 4000 Chabad women emissaries and shared stories about times she reported on the sect.

Thou shalt not murder!

Two headlines, two worlds separated by an unfathomable abyss. Op-ed.

Renowned media personality to address Chabad women's conference

International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch women emissaries to hear from Sivan Rahav-Meir

Raise your head and see the wonderful world

When we arrive in Heaven, G-d will ask if we saw His wonderful world. And what will we answer?

Terror, Shabbat, and Consolation

The question is not only will we survive difficulties, but also where we will find ourselves after they pass.

Holy men who have left us

Spiritual giants all, we can learn much from their lives.

Life is not only about what we do, but how we do it

A look at Shiffra and Puah, midwives in the Book of Exodus, at new Rabbi Uri Shachor, buried treasure in Lodz and a farewell to Genesis.

Telling your story: A strategy for conflict resolution

Revenge is not the answer, keeping things back is not the way to solve problems. Joseph and his brothers act out the best strategy.

Rabbi Druckman was not the last of his kind

Growing up in Communist Russia, the man who would become the spiritual leader of Religious Zionism thought Judaism was lost.

This was a special Shabbat

We had a rare Shabbat on which we read from three Torah scrolls, and tomorrow is still Rosh Chodesh. A time of joy and contemplation.

Faith in our children - and the first night of Hanukkah

Let them know we believe in them and that will give them strength and will power. Sometimes we need that too.

What kind of country is this?

Thoughts about Israel, symbols, thanking G-d and not missing our on holiness - to start your week.

Rachel and Ya'akov: inspired by love

Rachel and Ya'akov inspire us with their love, their coping with setbacks and the lessons they and we learn from Yitzchak and Rivka.

Our first leader

The command of 'Lech lecha' is spoken constantly by God to everyone, but Avram, our leader, actually heard, internalized, and acted upon it.

Somber skies may hide the light, but it is in our souls

Rabbi kook's message to us for winter months and times of somber reality can be realized in different ways.

To return to the beginning

The possibilities of what we might create by consulting with others are endless. And so are the possibilities for growth if we study Torah..

Three things to keep in mind prior to Shabbat Chol HaMoed

We can learn from the ushpizin about our own lives and the potential that lies within adversity.and pain.

Join the Sukkot revolution

The Sukkah is a hands on experience, no virtual Sukkah will do. And that is why it returns us to the most elemental roots of our being.

5 things to keep in mind through Yom Kippur

5 things to remember, 5 questions to ask oneself, and how youngsters see the day.

Who will we be a year from now?

Rabbi Kalonymous Kalman Shapira, zt"l,  the Admor (Hasidic rebbe) from Piaseczno. had a special approach to Rosh Hashanah's challenges..

What was the Queen of England's advice?

Two pieces of advice, one from a queen.

Thoughts for the end of summer and the new school year

The first day of school, the first week of Elul, and how we can work on the road leading from our head to our hearts and tongues.

Ishay Ribo: fame, social media, and Torah

Vignettes: Ishay Ribo responds to questions, Rav Shalom Cohen zts"l's message, the power of Shabbat songs and showing respect for others.

Terror victim's widow:

'A wedding such as this one is something I've never seen before'

Terror widow Yael Shevach, attends remarkable wedding of Efraim Rimmel and Ayelet Kolman. 'They were meant to go through this together.'

Consolation for Jerusalem

From consolation in the Haftarah to the news of shooting near the Old City, in one day.

Watch:

Special Tisha B'av program hosted by Sivan Rahav Meir

Media personality Sivan Rahav Meir speaks with rabbis and educators in a special program with Camp Mesorah and World Mizrachi

Rashi's commentary has lessons for life

In these vignettes we learn from Rashi, Savta Rabbanit Bramson, Moshe Rabbeinu and the Farkash family in Monsey.

The parasha for politicians: 'Whatever he says, he must do'

Just as there is chillul Shabbat or desecrating Shabbat, there is also chillul dibur or desecrating our speech by not doing what we say..

What can we learn from Kurt Rothschild, z"l?

Kurt Rothschild was an exemplary human being, one whose personality made people respect and love him at the same time;

Rabbi Uri Zohar and Rabbi Eliyahu Mani zt"l

Two rabbis, one in our generation and one over a century ago, and three people waiting for an MRI- and all with the same message.

Finding the time

The Lubavitcher Rebbe made it a daily habit to sit with his wife and drink a cup of tea. He said that this was a holy commitment.

The most beautiful story about the Rebbe

Tammuz 3, the Rebbe's yahrzeit is just behind us, but his wisdom lights our way forward. One example and some additional golden nuggets..

The shallow brook we dare not cross

The tethers that hold us back, birthdays and other insights that are part of the larger story of our people.

Sivan Rahav-Meir:

How do you see yourself?

How do our children see themselves and meet the challenges of summer vacation? From whose example can they learn and grow?

Yitzchak's Bible contest

Short thought provoking vignettes for quick reading.

Saying farewell to Rabbi Uri Zohar zt"l

Rabbi Uri Zohar was the epirtome of a baal teshuva who uses every minute to make up for what he perceived as lost Torah study time.

A few words from a teacher - and some advice

It's not teachers who need to demonstrate, but parents, children, and all those who care about education in Israel.

Rabbi Simcha Hakohen Kook zt"l

Three messages for Shabbat: About a Tzaddik zt"l, on self sacrifice in Ukraine, and how to go on a long journey and stay unscathed.

Everyone matters!

The Torah is not a suspense story or a melodramatic reality show.

Neta's triumph

There are prizes and prizes. There are prizes in this world and prizes in the World to Come..

Firsthand memories of Rabbi Kook

Rabbi Greenblatt passed away last week, after almost 100 years in which he was able to study, teach and share his memories of Rav Kook.

It was not a mechanic who was murdererd, it was our brother

In Parashat Behar, those with whom you do business are called "brothers." How apt for Yonatan Habakuk, victim of the Elad terror murders.

In memory of those murdered in Elad

From mourning to celebrating to mourning - in three days.

Are you an enemy of evil? A guide to conducting one's life

Six essential facts that make the Holocaust a unique event in history and ten messages from a survivor.

Don't lock the door - maybe someone will come

The real significance of the Mimouna holiday is the door open to all who wish to enter.

The Secret of Pesach

*Rabbi Jonathan Sacks* reminds us of the great secret of the holiday of Pesach: It's all about the children.

4 facts concerning Sefirat HaOmer (counting the Omer)

This is not just a technical counting. In order to receive the Torah, each year, we need to prepare.

Their names were Tomer, Eitam and Barak

In their memory

A third grader’s eulogy

One of Rabbi Avishai Yecheskel's young students wrote a letter to his bereaved family: "You were privileged to have a father like this."

Where's your plate?

Our heritage is not something to downplay or conceal, our lives should be consciously filled with meaning.

A peek into the life of a great man

One of the awe-inspiring stories about a Torah luminary who influence spans generations.