Start from the Heart

Settling the Land Since the majority of the Torah portion ‘Massey’ deals with the mitzvoth of settling the Land of Israel, I will once again discuss this mitzvah, which the Sages said is equal to all the other mitzvoth (Tosephta, Avodah Zara 4:3, Sifrei, Re’eh 53). On the Torah portion “Va Yetze” I wrote that, … Read more

Be a Jew in the Workplace

Challenges at Work Recently, I received the following letter: “Rabbi, Shalom and blessings. My name is …and I live in… I am 33 years old, married with children. I have a Master’s degree in Economics and Accounting, and for a few months now I have been unemployed. Every week I read your extremely sensible articles … Read more

Ideological Persecution Masquerading as the Law

Rabbis Refusing Interrogation Question: As a politically left-wing person who tries to honor everyone, I cannot understand why the religious public demands extra privileges for rabbis. Why shouldn’t rabbis who have been summoned for police investigation show-up just like any other citizen? Even the Prime Minister and the President have been investigated, so why should … Read more

An Israeli Rabbi

Rabbi Shaul Yisraeli ztz”l This Tuesday is the yartzeit of Rabbi Shaul Yisraeli, may the memory of the righteous be for a blessing (19th of Sivan, 5755), who was one of the great ‘poskim’ (Jewish law authority) of our generation, one of the heads of Yeshiva ‘Merkaz HaRav’, and a member of the ‘Beit Din … Read more

IN THE MERIT OF SIX HOUSES

The day arrived when all the ministering angels of the world came before the Heavenly Court to debate the matter of Israel facing war against its enemies amongst the nations of the world. The prosecuting angel approached the tribunal and opened his speech by saying: “See, the People of Israel, whom God has gathered together … Read more

The Pioneering Rebbe

Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk A giant amongst giants, the holiest of the holy – such was Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk, the leader of the third generation of the Chassidic movement. The leader of the first generation was, of course, the venerated founder of Chassidism, the Baal Shem Tov; his greatest disciple was the … Read more