How to Avoid Decades of Resentment
08/21/2025 02:29:12 PM
Aug21
(This Vort is in honor of HaRav Avraham Yaakov Pam ZT”L whose 24th Yahrtzeit is tomorrow on the 28th of Av) It was over forty years ago, yet I recall the incident as if it was yesterday. I am sitting across from Rav Pam ZT”L at Yeshiva Torah V’Daas. I could not contain my feelings of hurt and resentment.
Proud to be a Jew
08/14/2025 03:23:29 PM
Aug14
Today, I had a doctor's appointment. The doctor is a Jew (some might call a “not-yet-frum-jew”) and his wife is the receptionist /nurse/ raconteur. No matter how rushed I am, she always has time to schmooze. As too many people incorrectly assume,she thinks I represent the entirety of the world view of the Jewish people. With that erroneous assumption, she proceeded to ask me how American Jewry should be dealing with the current surge in anti-Semitism.
A Big Thank You For a Trip Down Memory Lane
08/14/2025 12:39:08 PM
Aug14
Never underestimate the power of a simple compliment. Yesterday, a man called me just to inform me of how much he appreciated the Short Vort about Beryl, Boro Park and the trip down memory lane. I always appreciate positive feedback - whatever the method. Yet, when this person first called, i was unable to pick up. He then sent me a text which gave me a heads on what the call was about.
A Trip Down Memory Lane
08/08/2025 11:08:13 AM
Aug8
Shabbos Nachamu is related to Nechama (consolation), which is associated with Menucha (to rest). We spoke for quite a long time on Tisha Bav (seven hours)- I attempted to offer Nechama (consolation). This Shabbos, we are all in need of Menucha, which of course is related to Nechama. When we rest, when we have Menucha, that can help us appreciate and experience Nechama. In order to experience my own Menucha, I will be away for Shabbos. I wish everyone a meaningful and restful Shabbos, and we should all be consoled and rejuvenated!
A Tale of Two Cars
07/28/2025 11:24:11 AM
Jul28
Car Number One: Last week, I spoke at an event in Manhattan. After the event, I retrieved my car from the parking garage and headed home. Soon after, a car began flashing its headlights at me. At first, I was concerned. Why was this car flashing its headlights at me? Had I done something wrong?
Stranded in France
07/28/2025 11:18:39 AM
Jul28
Baruch was exhausted as he arrived at the Gare du Nord in Paris after his almost five-hour train ride from Marseille. The Gare du Nord is the busiest railway station in Europe, handling over 700,000 passengers a day. As Baruch exited into the mass of faceless commuters, he saw the station clock read 9:15 PM. He had not eaten all day, nor had he slept the night before. It was Sunday evening, June 15, and Baruch had no idea where he would be spending the night.
Yehudah's Siyum
07/22/2025 02:47:24 PM
Jul22
He looked confident as he went up for his Aliyah; no one could have realized that just a few years back, he had no formal knowledge of Judaism. He said the Brochus flawlessly as my mind waxed nostalgic as I recalled our initial meeting. It was more than eight years ago when a heavily accented Turkish Muslim sat before my desk, attempting to communicate his aspirations for his future life.
One Week Later
07/21/2025 03:35:13 PM
Jul21
It was only last week when the great event took place. I had called his son, Rabbi Eliezer Krohn, beforehand and asked, ”Do you think your father is up to speaking? ” He said he would check with his mother and get back to me. When the return call came in, Rav Eliezer mentioned, ”My father can do it. I am sure you will get a big crowd.” I also felt that having Rabbi Peysach Krohn speak on Sunday afternoon, Shiva Asar B'Tammuz, would draw a large crowd.
The Calm Before the Zeal
07/21/2025 03:23:28 PM
Jul21
”Pinchas the son of Eleazar the son of Aaron the kohen has turned My anger away from the children of Israel by his zealously avenging Me…. Therefore, say, ”I hereby give him My covenant of peace.” (Bamidbar, 25; 11:12)
Yakov Henigson Z"L
07/17/2025 12:35:37 PM
Jul17
In memory of Yakov Chaim ben Dovid Z’L on his Fifth Yahrtzeit It was Sunday, April 5, 2020, when I received the first text. Yakov wrote, ”Hi, Yakov Henigson here. I’m in the hospital. Have felt too weak to daven or put on Tefillin, is that ok? ”
Yankel - Part Two
07/09/2025 03:25:47 PM
Jul9
This story was never meant to be serial. However, today I must make an exception and present part two of what may be an ongoing saga. For those who need refreshing, a few weeks ago (Short Vort on 6/13/25 to be exact), I related the story of R' Yankel, The Yid from the American Dream. In short, I regaled myself (and hopefully my readers) with the tale of how I masqueraded as the Rav's gabbai, allowing me to assist another Yid in Davening Mincha.
Happy Birthday to the Kingdom of Kindness
07/04/2025 10:34:24 AM
Jul4
Regarding the kindness (Chesed) that our government, the United States of America, has bestowed upon us —which Hashem in His abundant mercy on the remnant of Jews from the countries of Europe, and the remnant of the Torah giants and their disciples which He has brought here to reestablished both the old institutions of Europe as well as new ones.
Hodu Lashem Ki Tov- Thank Hashem, for He is (always) Good
06/26/2025 12:38:28 PM
Jun26
I urge everyone to do what I did today. I called and wrote to the President to express my deep sense of gratitude to the man who did what no other President has done before: he mobilized the United States armed forces to protect the Jewish people by bombing the Nuclear Reactors in Iran.
Sensitivity
06/20/2025 12:27:11 PM
Jun20
Recently, a woman wrote to me asking how she could properly address the following issue. She has many family members in Israel, including one who is on the front lines. She told me that she feels hurt when she meets people she knows and they don't inquire about the well-being of her family members.She knows that their seeming indifference to her plight is not intentional; however, she wants to understand how to avoid feeling slighted or developing a negative attitude toward these individuals.
Feeling the Pain
06/17/2025 02:44:31 PM
Jun17
It was Thursday evening at the Shul. I was in the middle of a shiur. One of the participants asked a question about leaving his computer on all of Shabbos to periodically check the newsfeed. After going through a brief discussion of the possible Halachik issues involved, I asked cluelessly, ”Why are you asking this now? Things seem relatively quiet. ”
The American Dream
06/13/2025 12:26:39 PM
Jun13
The man on the line sounded desperate. ”Ich darf a Minyan fur Mincha, ”- he blurted out, ”I need a minyan for mincha. ” ”I am at this place called American Dream, and it's time for Mincha, and I need a minyan. Can you help me? ”
Heavy Lifting
06/12/2025 12:21:19 PM
Jun12
Parshas B'Halosecha is one of the most varied and diverse Parshios of the Torah. The topics range from the Menorah to the Man and many other assorted subjects. Yet, at the beginning of the Parsha, right after the Menorah, we are introduced to a subject that stands out for its uniqueness in the Torah.
A Painful Letter
06/09/2025 12:23:56 PM
Jun9
It was a beautiful spring day in May. I took a walk and passed the baseball field at Tennyson Place. A group of yeshiva boys and their rebbe were playing a game of baseball. I heard the crack of the bat and saw the ball sail into the outfield. Suddenly, I was no longer in Passaic; I was back in Brooklyn at Prospect Park, and the year was 1972.
Loneliness
05/30/2025 12:29:41 PM
May30
It was a beautiful spring day in May. I took a walk and passed the baseball field at Tennyson Place. A group of yeshiva boys and their rebbe were playing a game of baseball. I heard the crack of the bat and saw the ball sail into the outfield. Suddenly, I was no longer in Passaic; I was back in Brooklyn at Prospect Park, and the year was 1972.
How High Should We Hold Our Heads?
05/25/2025 12:11:16 PM
May25
I noticed today in the Israeli and Jewish media sources the following ”news” item: (JTA) — Guy Christensen, a TikTok influencer with more than 3 million followers, came out in support of the shooting attack that killed two Israeli embassy employees. ”I do not condemn the elimination of the Zionist officials who worked at the Israeli embassy last night,” Christensen, a Gen-Z influencer who goes by YourFavoriteGuy on TikTok, said in a video posted Thursday.
All the news that's fit to print?
05/23/2025 10:15:22 AM
May23
Two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington were shot and killed Wednesday evening while leaving an event at a Jewish museum, with police saying the suspect yelled, ”Free, free Palestine” after he was arrested. Yaron Lischinsky, 30, who grew up in Israel and Germany, and Sarah Milgrim, 26, who was from Kansas, were killed in the attack.
The Shiva Visit
05/16/2025 10:54:46 AM
May16
The man arrived at the Shiva with jeans and a worn jacket. His Yarmulka was perched awkwardly on top of his large head of hair. Yet, he was not uncomfortable sitting among the yeshivish group of men. He had no trouble following the seamless mix of Hebrew, Yiddish, and Gemara-Loshon.Nevertheless, he was clearly the ”elephant in the room. ”
The Last Shiur
05/15/2025 04:00:31 PM
May15
It was Wednesday, April 16, 1986. I sat with a handful of other Talmidim as we waited in a state of uncertainty about whether the Rebbe would arrive. We all knew the Rebbe was battling lung cancer, and his ability to give Shiur was becoming more challenging by the day. Many of the Talmidim had already gone home for Pesach (It was one week before Pesach), and others began leaving as morning became early afternoon with no sign of Rebbe.
The Cups Stops Here
05/08/2025 12:01:02 PM
May8
Nobody ever said being a rabbi would be easy. However, I never thought among my duties would be the role of ”Barista-Bouncer”. Oy, the trials and tribulations of the rabbi. Oy, the trials and tribulations of the rabbi. Once upon a time, a Shul- and I use the word literally, namely, the room designated for davening, prayer, Tefillah- as opposed to the edifice itself, which can include the lobby, library, and classrooms- was sacred, Kadosh, a room to be approached with reverence, awe, Yirah and treated with the utmost respect.
Read more... Infallibility
05/08/2025 10:21:30 AM
May8
As a rav, I receive many interesting phone calls. This morning, as the white smoke bellowed forth from Vatican City, I received a call from a news outlet. This reporter has contacted me in the past regarding the situation in Israel, as well as before the Jewish holidays. Over the years, we have developed a friendly rapport, and I feel comfortable that he is never out to get me or misquote me.
Maftir On Shabbos HaGadol
05/07/2025 12:21:45 PM
May7
It was a week before Shabbos HaGadol, and I was discussing with Rav Leib* the Halachos of Erev Pesach, which falls on Shabbos. Rav Leib is a recognized Talmid Chochom and a Baal Chessed second to none. His day is filled from morning to night with Torah and Chessed. Yet, somehow, Rav Leib always finds time for me, and I cherish our friendship. As we were discussing Shabbos HaGadol, Rav Leib unexpectedly waxed nostalgic.
Read more... Yosef Leib ben Moshe HaLevi Z”L
03/30/2025 12:12:27 PM
Mar30
As a rav, I often have to officiate at funerals of people I’ve never met — elderly parents of members of my congregation, for example.
This time, I was asked to attend the levayah of Yosef Leib, a 65-year-old man who passed away alone in his apartment. I had never met him, but he must have been an exceptional person.
He was a devoted...Read more...
In Memory of Binyamin Zev ben Shlomo Herzka on his 19th Yahrtzeit
03/24/2025 02:38:10 PM
Mar24
Tonight, the 25th of Adar, is the 19th Yahrtzeit of my father-in-law, Willi Herzka. My father-in-law was one of those saved from the Holocaust via the Kindertransport. The Kindertransport was a rescue operation that brought nearly 10,000 Jewish children from Nazi-occupied Europe to Great Britain between 1938 and 1940.
Read more... L"zecher Nishmas My Father - Yoel Moshe ben Yosef Nosson Z"L
03/13/2025 01:18:56 PM
Mar13
Today is the 26th Yahrtzeit of my father, Yoel Moshe ben Yosef Nosson Z’l. My father was born in 1925 in Yerushalayim. His maternal great-great-great-grandfather- Rav Zalman Tzoref Salomon, emigrated to the Eretz Yisroel with the Talmedei HaGra (The Students of the Vilna Gaon) in 1811.
Read more... Letting Things Slide
03/07/2025 11:32:20 AM
Mar7
The Chupah had ended; it was time for me to leave. The one-hundred-and-fifty-mile round trip to Lakewood is grueling, and I longed to get home. The ride is getting longer and longer. I was moving quickly from the Chupah room through the lobby, attempting to make a beeline to my car.
Read more... Page 1 of 6Next »
Sat, August 23 2025
29 Av 5785
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Sat, August 23 2025 29 Av 5785