The I.D.F. Recruitment Crisis

The Crisis Tensions surrounding the issue of recruitment of yeshiva students for the army are rising. Quite certainly it can be assumed that previous arrangements exempting members of the Haredi community from military service, while at the same time, they receive funding from the national coffers for studies in yeshivot, cannot continue for long. The secular … Read more

The Tenth of Tevet and the Building of Jerusalem

After the destruction of the First Holy Temple, the Prophets and Sages of Israel declared a day of fasting on the Tenth of Tevet, for it was on that day that Nebuchadnezzar the King of Babylon and his legions placed Jerusalem under siege. Along with this siege began the terrible chain of calamities which finally ended in the destruction of the First Temple and … Read more

The Torah on Striking

Nurses Strike Q: I work as a nurse, and presently our union has initiated a strike which might be severe and prolonged. I have a suspicion that there is an ulterior motive behind organizing the strike right before the Knesset elections – to harm the chances of the Likud and the Right-wing parties from forming … Read more

The Light of Chanukah and Torah

The Oral Law – The Light that Illuminates the Darkness It is no coincidence that the holiday of Chanukah falls out at a time of the year when the nights are longest and the cold of winter permeates the land.  Moreover, the moon barely shines, since Chanukah coincides with the days immediately preceding Rosh Chodesh, when the moon wanes. As the … Read more

Nip Evil in the Bud

“Remember Days Long By” – World War II As a result of the sour end to “Operation Pillar of Defense”, there is room for some reflection on the important and bitter historical issue of World War II. The Torah commands us: “Remember days long gone by. Ponder the years of each generation” (Deuteronomy 32:7). History … Read more

We Told You So

We Told You So As a result of the Oslo Accords, we said they would attack us from any place we withdrew from. We said that missiles would be fired on Ashkelon from Gaza, and all the leftist, delusionary peace seekers, claimed that we were terrifying the public – and now, ‘Gush Dan’ (greater Tel … Read more

Shabbat without Soccer

Sports Balls on Shabbat Q: Rabbi, I wish to begin by saying that what you wrote about the importance of learning Torah on Shabbat has encouraged us to learn more with our children. We started a project with them, where they receive points and prizes for study on Shabbat. Rabbi, you wrote in your Jewish law … Read more

The Independence in Modesty

Q: In recent years, a question has come up in religious high schools for girls: How to react towards girls who are not careful about dressing modestly? Is it appropriate to punish someone who does not come to school in accordance with the rules? Or perhaps the proper way is to explain in depth the … Read more

The American Presidential Elections

The American Elections Two years ago, towards the mid-term elections to the Congress and the Senate, I responded to a question posed by immigrants from the United States, asking whether it was worthwhile for them to make an effort to participate in the elections, in order to strengthen candidates who support Israel, and oppose the … Read more