When a group of masked people screaming genocidal slogans comes to your community and sets up shop at a contentious flashpoint location, they aren’t “protesters”, they are instigators. The community wasn’t having it, and the message was made clear.
Chol Hamoed. The holy days between the holy days. A time for meaningful family connection, spiritual elevation… and, apparently, sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic en route to a trampoline park packed with 500 other frum families who all had the exact same brilliant idea.
One of the classic frustrations that we deal with as teachers is that we hardly receive any positive feedback or encouragement for our hard work. Negative comments and flack? Plentiful. But a call or text from a parent about how happy their child is? Rarely…
These images may be man made, but as the saying goes, “Every dream contains a hint of truth.” Let’s use these viral photos as a wake-up call. Not just to cringe, but to act.
Every Pesach we ask the four questions, but this year, we’re adding on a fifth: Do shadchanim trust in Hashem?
We must ask ourselves: How are parents allowing their simcha to take such a turn? How are halls permitting this under their roof? And how did we reach a point where something so foreign to Chassidishe values is being normalized?
In a world where smartphones dominate teenage life, a group of determined parents is proving that saying no is still an option.
In light of the recent article posted about suicides in the frum community, I want to address HOW you can actually help. You might be surprised to learn that helping someone who is actively suicidal is not as hard as you think.
As Purim approaches, the question on everyone’s mind is the same: What are you dressing up as this year? At Amudim, we deal with people who wear costumes every single day of the year—not for fun, not for Purim, but to hide the truth about who they really are.
As I was leaving 770, a young man approached me. His face was unfamiliar, but his words stopped me in my tracks. “Excuse me,” he said hesitantly. “Are you who I think you are?”
As we approach Purim, I feel compelled to reach out regarding a matter that weighs heavily on my heart. This year marks the 18th yahrzeit of my father, Gedaliah Yirachmiel Ben Michel, which falls on the 17th of Adar. In his memory, I would like to emphasize the crucial importance of safety during this joyous celebration.
I would like to share a – relatively – unknown story that brings out the deep hiskashrus that the Rashag had for the Rebbe. This story I heard from my dear father who personally witnessed the event and was the only Lubavitcher present – other than the Rashag – at the event.
A fellow Bochur mentioned to his friend that it was time for him to get a smartphone with WhatsApp to prepare for camp. This struck a nerve because it highlights a larger problem: the assumption that having a smartphone is a necessity for Madrichim.
This past Isru Chag I went to 770 to daven shacharis. Since the shul is full of foreigners for Tishrei I made the obvious decision to daven in the tent, but little did I know this decision would haunt me for months.
Many “empty nesters” think they are done with Chinuch and have fulfilled all of their responsibilities once their children have completed their education. In addition there are those who lament the decline in the religious standards of the younger generation while sitting on their hands and not doing anything about it.
It’s a zechus for us to live in Crown Heights and to play a role in hosting so many visitors. But as the influx of guests continues to grow, it’s important to reflect on the realities of hachnosas orchim and how we can ensure this mitzvah is approached with sensitivity, mutual respect, and appreciation.
There are too many stories and young couples putting their energy and life into communities and then things fall apart (for various reasons) and they are forced to leave. There must be awareness of some of the pitfalls that have caused the breakdown of these relationships, so that it can be prevented in the future.
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