I Took a Cab - In Memory of Leah Bas Meir A”H
04/17/2024 10:43:39 AM
Apr17
Nine years ago today, my mother passed away. What can I extrapolate from her life to help me better navigate the challenges of my life? She was a true Ohev Shalom- lover of peace in a real and meaningful way.
Read more... Huvi Saves the Day
04/11/2024 01:59:34 PM
Apr11
It was a warm day even for Beit Shemesh in the winter. All of the girls arrived at the Simcha Hall dressed for the Simcha. As soon as they arrived, they realized something was wrong. The air conditioning in the Shul broke that afternoon, and the family had no other option but to continue in the heat.
Read more... A Happy Ending
03/29/2024 10:48:37 AM
Mar29
I appreciate the downtime when I sit in my office on Shushan Purim. It's a time to review the events of the last twenty-four hours. It is a day to take stock and wind down from the frenetic pace of Purim. Once I became a Rav, I understood all too well why Yom Kippur is referred to as ”Yom Ki-Purim”- a day ”somewhat like” Purim. The responsibilities of a Rav to his Kehilla on Yom Kippur are quite daunting.
Read more... You Never Know
03/14/2024 03:11:32 PM
Mar14
As the plane landed at Ben Gurion airport, before even disembarking from the El-Al flight, Mendel Diamond* was texting his wife. Mendel had arrived from Los Angeles to bury his mother, who had passed away the day before. As soon as he passed through customs at the airport, he met up with his cousin Baruch, who would take him straight to Har Menuchos.
Read more... Binyamin Zev Ben Shlomo Herzka
03/11/2024 11:45:07 AM
Mar11
Today is the 18th Yahrzeit of my beloved father-in-law, Binyamin Zev ben Shlomo Herzka, known to all as Willi Herzka. Born in Vienna in 1930, he was separated from his parents before he was ten and sent to England to live with non-Jewish families and in an orphanage for Jewish children whose parents remained under the Nazi boot.
Read more... Brochus and Blushing
03/11/2024 11:39:39 AM
Mar11
As Rivka and her husband Zev pulled into the parking lot in Monsey, they breathed a sigh of relief. They had traveled over four hours from Baltimore and were relieved to arrive in time for the Chupah.The Chosson was her husband’s former Chavrusa, and he had waited a long time to finally find his Bashert.
Read more... The 25th Yahrtzeit
02/22/2024 12:51:51 PM
Feb22
Yoel Moshe ben Yosef Nosson was born on the 30th day of Tishrei 5686 (October 18, 1925). He passed away on the 13th of Adar in 1999. He was born in Bikur Cholim Hospital on Rechov Nathan Straus in Yerushalayim. His parents moved from Yerushalayim to what was then called Bayit VeGan (“House and Garden”), an Orthodox Jewish suburb of Arab Jaffa.
Read more... The Rosh HaYeshiva's Yarhtzeit
02/16/2024 10:52:22 AM
Feb16
I still hear his voice loud and strong as he led the yeshiva in singing Maoz Zur on Chanuka. Today, Erev Shabbos, which is Zayin Adar Aleph, marks the 29th Yahrtzeit of HaRav Chaim Yaakov Goldvicht ZTRead more...
The Tale of Two Boys
02/01/2024 01:54:36 PM
Feb1
One young boy had a difficult time in school. His parents did their best to provide him with the education which matched his needs. It wasn't always easy. Our Talmid had a challenging time in elementary school.
Read more... One on Achdus
01/23/2024 03:18:29 PM
Jan23
The other day, someone asked me, ”Rabbi, How long do you think this newfound Achdus in Klal Yisroel will last?” I pondered his question and wondered about the reality of this so-called newfound Achdus. What follows are some thoughts on the topic of Achus. There is no doubt that people right now are united. However, there are two types of Achdus.
Read more... Dini
01/23/2024 03:14:22 PM
Jan23
It was a Sunday, the third day of Chanukah. Savta and Zaidy spent the day with their granddaughters in Ramat Beit Shemesh. Tuvia, who is presently serving on the front lines protecting all of us from those who rise up to destroy us, was privileged to receive a rare two day-pass from the army to spend Shabbos and Sunday Chanukah with the family.
Read more... My Mother
01/16/2024 03:32:59 PM
Jan16
My mother, Leah Bas Meir, known to all as Lorraine (née Rubin), was born on January 16th, 1930, in the Hunts Point neighborhood of the South Bronx. At the time of her birth, the South Bronx was about 60% Jewish. The entire borough achieved a distinction that no other New York City borough ever claimed:
Read more... I am Yosef. Is my father still alive?
01/15/2024 03:14:47 PM
Jan15
”I Am Yosef. Is My Father Still Alive?” This is perhaps the most famous and perplexing question asked in human history. All the commentators ask, why would Yosef ask, ”Is my father still alive?”
Read more... Forgiveness
01/08/2024 02:04:44 PM
Jan8
”Hashem forgives, and in so doing, teaches us to forgive.” (Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, The Dignity of Difference, p. 154) Rivka called me before Rosh Hashanah. Rivka lived in Eretz Yisroel for almost fifteen years and kept in contact with me. Through phone calls and emails, I followed her life.
Read more... A Hard Day
12/25/2023 04:01:03 PM
Dec25
It was an unusually cold day in Yeshivas Kerem B’Yavneh.The Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Chaim Yaakov Goldvicht (1924-1994) was giving a Sicha (a semi-informal talk). He was seated on a chair at the front of the Yeshiva and looked regal to me. He was our connection to the past and our hope for the future.
Read more... The Hug
12/11/2023 06:50:59 PM
Dec11
The anticipation was unbearable. It was a time we were both waiting for since October 7th, Simchas Torah in Israel. He was called from his house on that Shabbos and except for a few hours here and there had not been home for any extended period.
Read more... Resilience
12/11/2023 06:46:26 PM
Dec11
When one spends Shabboss in Yerushalayim, Shabbos does not end. It continues way into Motzei Shabbos, especially on Chanukah. The reason is that the lights of Chanukah on Motzei Shabbos illuminate the entire city for hours and hours after Shabbos has officially ended.
Read more... Shabbos - Chanukah
12/08/2023 09:43:05 AM
Dec8
I am home! It makes no difference if there are long breaks in between, here is home! As I walk the streets of this special holy City- I feel as I belong. I am B’Soch Ami (amongst my people).
Read more... What a Difference
12/07/2023 03:37:52 PM
Dec7
I am sitting at the gate watching the crowd and waiting to board the flight to Eretz Yisroel.However, somehow today, everything seems different. I no longer feel secure. No one said a bad word, and no one looked at me with a scowl. However, it’s not the same. I no longer feel this is my home.
Read more... The Wedding
12/06/2023 11:26:30 AM
Dec6
The Chasunah took place on a rainy Sunday in December. The bride was seated on a Kallah chair, and wellwishers gathered around her to say Mazel Tov.The Chosson sat at the head seat in the Chosson's Tisch, surrounded by relatives and friends.
Read more... The Chanukah Gift
12/06/2023 10:37:26 AM
Dec6
It was a cool, crisp, clear day in Washington, DC. I was joining the largest gathering of Jews in the history of American Jewry. I joined the throngs of Jews gathered together in unity to show our support for our Jewish brethren in Israel.
Read more... Saved by Love
11/28/2023 10:19:10 AM
Nov28
Leah was very nervous about the upcoming Pesach. It had been years since she had moved from Yerushalayim to New Jersey, and much had transpired. She had grown up in Chareidi Yersushalayim yet had to find her path in Yiddishkeit.
Read more... Loneliness
11/22/2023 10:40:52 AM
Nov22
”I wanted to go. I felt it was important. Numbers count. We live in a country where we are allowed and expected to express our feelings. I wanted to go. Yet, there were many reasons not to go.
Read more... Washington Rally
11/14/2023 11:02:10 AM
Nov14
As I write these words, I am in Washington DC. I have just Davened Vasikin in front of the White House. It felt like Neila, Simchas Torah and Tisha Bav all wrapped in one.
Read more... The Wake-Up Kick
11/09/2023 01:14:19 PM
Nov9
In the early morning of Thursday, May 18, 1978, a young, strapping nineteen-year-old Yeshiva Bachur boarded a train at Penn Station in New York. He was not alone on the train. There were approximately 1500 young people and several Rabbonim who were also passengers on that train.
Read more... Kaddish
10/26/2023 11:41:26 AM
Oct26
It was early on Tzom Gedaliah when I received the call. The nursing home identified him as Lawrence Stein*. However, I knew him as Laibel. As the screen displayed ”Saint…Healthcare, ” I understood he was in a non-Jewish facility. ”Am I speaking to “Father” Rabbi Eisenman? ”
Read more... What Can We Do?
10/19/2023 10:02:53 AM
Oct19
My son Tuvia is one of the 360,000 reservists called up to defend the Jewish nation. He serves in Unit 9306, Combat Company Aleph, in the Northern Shomron. As we all know, Israel was caught off guard by the brutal and murderous attack.
Read more... What We Can Do!
10/16/2023 10:18:30 AM
Oct16
One improvement we can all do starting NOW- is the total Elimination of cell phones doing davening. No more catching up on the news during Chatzaras HaShatz. No more looking at emails in shul. We can create a cell phone free zone in our shul!
Read more... A Giant of a Man
10/13/2023 12:00:09 PM
Oct13
I was shocked when I heard of his passing. It was sudden and unexpected. I had only met him twice in person and spoken on the phone a few times.Yet, I knew I had to go to the Shiva home.
Read more... Some Give Blood - Some Take Blood
10/11/2023 05:41:45 PM
Oct11
We know that the Jewish people are in a very difficult situation. However, we can never despair or give up hope. Our enemies attempt to take precious Jewish blood. Yet, we respond by giving our precious Jewish blood.
Read more... Page 1 of 4Next »
Thu, April 18 2024
10 Nisan 5784
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Thu, April 18 2024 10 Nisan 5784