In Midwood, Brooklyn, there’s a luxury kosher grocery store called Pomegranate serving the modern Orthodox and Hasidic communities. It looks like a really nice Whole Foods. There’s a wide selection of kosher cheeses from Italy and France, wasabi herring, gluten-free ritual foods and nicely toned wood flooring.
Twelve years and one week ago was the Yohrtzeit of Yosef Chaim Paley, just a few weeks shy of his Bar Mitzvah. His mother, Mrs. Leah Paley penned a powerful letter following a week filled with tragedy capped [hopefully forever] with the horrific news of the tragedy in Williamsburg on Motzai Shabbos. In her letter she pleads ‘cant we all just get along?’
A negative experience one Seminary student had with a particular teacher left a deep and resonating negative impact. Compounding the problem was her principal, with whom she shared her concerns to no avail. Now, she shares a letter – a plea – she wrote for the sake of the next sem girl.
The last time I saw Rabbi Shaya Gansbourg was on the second night of Chanukah, a few months ago. I had just completed my army service in the IDF, and my wife and I were on our last night in New York City after traveling abroad for several weeks. The next morning, we would be returning to our home in Israel.
In an opinion piece published on the Jewish Presses website, an author laments Chabads massive organizational prowess and success in ‘Kiruv’. The article is titled “Achdus with Chabad” which decries how Chabad is “not really integrated with the rest of Orthodoxy,” and how we are “obsession to one degree or another with their Rebbe as Moshiach.”
Sitting with an Imam on one side, a priest on the other and a Jewish anti-Zionist opposite was never going to make the question, “Is criticism of Israel Anti Semitic,” an easy one. That was the big question on yesterday’s BBC1 ‘The Big Questions’ program. The question emerged on the back of MP David Ward saying he’s surprised Jews haven’t learned the lessons of the Holocaust in the way they treat Palestinians.
Dear Yanky, I read your recent article entitled “Ad Mosai? How Long Must I Be in the System?” with great interest. First of all, I want to compliment you on your writing. You say you never had a secular education, yet your writing is so clear and lucid, straight forward and thought out. In addition, while writing about something that is bothering you, you sound so positive and good natured. I commend you for that.
Hello, my name is Yanky. I am a normal 21 year old “in the system” Lubavitcher bochur in one of the largest and most prominent Smicha in institutions Chabad has to offer. (Think out of CH, but close enough to rent a car every other week to come in for a Lechaim). I want to share something that’s been bothering me, and get some opinions too.
Jonathan Pollard saved millions of human beings in the Middle East and worldwide from excruciating deaths and painful lifelong physical disabilities. To do that, Pollard sacrificed his freedom.
Getting married at 19 to a 17-year-old, both immature and from unstable homes ultimately ended in divorce. Now 27, a young man shares what his life experience has taught him and what we can all take from it.
Until this weekend I had never heard of Noah Pozner, or of his family. But Noah’s father, Lenny, has a friend, and the friend had heard of us and called.
“They need you. You can speak to them, you can relate to them. Come, please come.”
Going into this Shabbos I was torn and uneasy, how does one digest the news that someone can maliciously and viciously execute anyone, let alone to systematically assassinate 20 children, and how are we supposed to overcome such abhorrent evil?
This past Tuesday evening, the 20th of Kislev marked what would have been the Bar Mitzvah celebration of Levi Yitzchak Wolowik Ob”m. In a heartwarming show of support hundreds were on hand at the Young Israel of Lawrence Cedarhurst to reflect on his life as well as celebrate the endless good that has been done in his merit since his passing three and a half years ago.
“Chas, we can save you!’ When I received messages on my blog making this thrilling promise, I assumed they were spam from a finance company offering to consolidate my loans into one ”easy” payment. Instead, it turned out, they were from a Christian in Nigeria who, having read articles I posted about my interest in Judaism and the Chasidim, wants to convert all my curiosity about Judaism into one churchy faith.
This morning, CBS Miami reported on “a possible new development” in the case of missing millionaire Guma Aguiar, who disappeared on his boat in June leaving behind a wife, 4 kids and a $100 million dollar fortune. The earth-shattering news – brought to the press’ attention by Guma’s wife, Jaime – was that Guma’s sister moved to the Netherlands.
Tishrei has come to a close. As we begin to “unpack” the inspiration of the month, we also have a chance to reflect on everything that transpired. What will we glean from the time spent in Rebbe’s “daled amos,” and what will we bring back into our mundane lives? Will it be a ma’amar learned? Perhaps a new chayus in davening? Or will it be the acrid stench of machlokes, as the reality of constant infighting rears its ugly head once more?
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It was a crisp November evening, my father came home from work, and after having dinner, he invited me to accompany him to the polls. Standing on line, my father gave me a crash course on American civics, democracy and the electoral system. Although the information overload confused my eight year old brain, I thoroughly enjoyed the quality time spent with my father and learned a thing or two. I can also remember him telling me that it was the first time he voted for a Republican President (Ronald Reagan).
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