The Daily Portion

The Daily Portion:

Hints along the way

What are you searching for? What are we searching for?

How to make sense of the latest events

History is unfolding before our eyes, changes of biblical proportions.

3 short stories about a Great Man

Here are three small stories about Rabbi Charlap zts"l, collected by his great-grandson, Yair Charlap:

Everything they taught us in kindergarten is still true

Do you remember what we learned in kindergarten about Kislev and about the holiday of Chanukah?

A memorable Brit Milah

Mazal tov on the Brit Milah of Baruch Tzvi Piatkovski and Moshe Tzvi Lafche, named for Rabbi Tzvi Kogan Hy"d.

A ray of light from Amsterdam

She got the job. Without an interview. How come?

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Six items concerning this week’s Torah portion

This week’s Torah portion is Lech Lecha, the third in the book of Genesis, following Bereishit and Noach.

The power of our tears

“Anyone who sheds tears over an upright person who died, God counts his tears and places them in His treasury.”

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Starting again from “Bereshit”

Many of us have “lost” our flashlight-the weekly parasha - which helps to light our way. We need to return this precious “object”- to ourselves.

5 reminders regarding Yom Kippur

Information on the most solemn day of the Jewish year.

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Five things to think about this week

How symbolic that these days fall this year during the week in which we will be commemorating October 7.

When the Shofar sounds the world listens

Where will you hear the shofar on Rosh Hashanah?

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The missile from Yemen and some important reminders

Within seconds, literally seconds, people started flooding social media with jokes.

5 items regarding this week’s Torah portion and the month of Elul

This week’s Torah portion contains more mitzvahs than any other. It includes 74 of the 613 mitzvahs found in the entire Torah.

Saying goodbye to Hersh Goldberg-Polin

"Sweet boy, go now on your journey. Finally, finally, finally, finally you are free. I will love you and miss you every day for the reset of my life."

Their last day of saying Kaddish

Eleven months since October 7th means the last day of saying kaddish for those killed on that day.

What is our gift to Agam?

Dozens of these dear families tell us: it's not just Sinwar and not just the negotiation teams who have influence but we also have a responsibility.

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Our fate is in our hands

A message for the fast and all the days that follow it.

Fasting on Tisha B’Av this year

There are two types of tears...

A new and improved “Waze”

We are literally helping each other find the right direction!

Speaking about the Parasha at Neve Tirtza Prison

The biblical Tirtza herself plays an active role in this week's Torah portion of Pinchas.

Ma’alot: where the entire Torah was studied in a single week

Wow! It includes the Tanach (Bible), the Mishnah, the Babylonian Talmud, the Jerusalem Talmud, Midrashei Halacha and Midrashei Agada and the holy Zohar as well.

Information sources and the minority that differs

Fake news about the war in Gaza puts the spies' report in the shade.

A hug that says it all

The story of a kidney donation.

To learn from our mistakes and continue on our journey

Passages about our transgressions are part of the holy Torah and it is crucial to linger over them and learn the lessons that they teach.

Welcome Home!

We are hoping that these photos will give encouragement to all Israelis who also see the photos of our fallen soldiers.

A story for Parashat Naso

A powerful proof of the Jewish people’s ancient ties to the Land of Israelץ

When prophecies come true

Look for this book: “Only Good Tidings — Consoling Prophecies from the Bible.”

At the entrance to Jerusalem: A message for all of us

“Just get stronger from everything.” (Roi Dawy, Hy"d)

5 guests for Holocaust Remembrance Day

Recalling the memories of those who have inspired hope.

Experiencing Pesach for the first time at age 30

He wants to fully understand the Haggadah and all of us would do well to emulate the enthusiasm with which he is preparing for his first Seder.

The Daily Portion / A lesson in faith

We are part of a universal story that has meaning for everyone.

Holy moments

“We will continue to live the dream, but differently.”

Sensitive to loss, may we have joyful occasions

Shlomi Cohen's eyes were red with tears.

Living proof of the resilient Jewish spirit

“How do we emerge from darkness into light?”

Fighting anti-Semitism is not our only mission

Shining the spotlight on anti-Semitic lies about Israel is important, but it’s not our only mission.

A picture that tells the story of Israel today

Evacuated from Kiryat Shmonah, but not from Israeli hearts.

Fasting from speech - Taanit dibur

We have already said everything there is to say about the current situation. So maybe the time has come to remain silent.

True beauty

Excerpt from the diary of Lieutenant Nethanel Menachem Eitan, HY”D.

Why are the details so important?

The Mishkan’s construction is described at length, down to the finest detail. What, in fact, is the importance of these small details?

Adar in Gaza: Delivering joy

"My commanding officer said to me with a loving smile: 'Selavan, you are such a fool.’ I answered him: ‘If I wasn’t a little foolish from time to time, I would lose my sanity.’

Praying for the hostages

There is a link in this article to the list of hostages and their mothers' names, as is customary in Jewish prayers for someone's welfare.

A condolence call with a message for us all

The character of the son that we knew became clearer with each person who knew Barak, whether for the briefest moment or for an extended period of time.

Advice from a hostage’s mother

Do not supress pain, but do not let it rule.

Outstanding evaluations for outstanding children

A special report card for children evacuated from their homes in war.

In memory of Eyal

Eyal Mevorach Twito fell in battle in Gaza. A glimpse of one of the priceless pesons the world has lost while bravely fighting Hamas barbarians.

Happy Tu B’Shvat!

At a time when we wait impatiently to see two blue check marks next to our WhatsApp message, we get a reminder once a year regarding what is most important.

“Do you have good news?”

These are difficult days.

The freed hostages read a psalm at the Kotel

Their being released alive and well should not be taken for granted, nor should their being able to come on their own to give thanks.

The Daily Portion / God puts an end to darkness

To every form of darkness, there is an end. Difficult times come to an end. They do not go on forever.

Statements from the wounded that give us strength

Gaining strength at the Sheba Rehabilitation Center.

The Daily Portion / Finding strength on a trip to London

At the end of a regular conversation with someone, the person I had been speaking with invariably left me with “Am Yisrael chai!.”

Another day of war, another beautiful story from the home front

A home which from the very beginning is being built on extraordinary lovingkindness.

The Daily Portion / Freeing the captives

To some extent, collectively, we are imprisoned with the hostages as we think of them and pray for them constantly.

The Daily Portion / To hope for more, a lot more

But it’s not over yet. Hamas captured precious souls and is now trying to capture our minds

What gives us strength?

Teenage Israeli girls talk to Sivan about their sources of strength during the current war. Saying Psalms is one way, but there is more.

Our enemies and us

What can be said or done when your life’s work has been destroyed?

Yom Kippur Katan, straight from the Kabbalists of Tzfat

The source of the prayers on the day before Rosh Chodesh. Chodesh tov!

The nation of Israel is very much alive

People who never came to a Jewish event suddenly arrived here and spent the entire Shabbat with us.

To fall -- and get back up again

What we have to practice doing...