Ekev 5778

"והיה אם שמע תשמעו אל מצותי אשר אנכי מצוה אתכם היום לאהבה את ה' אלהיכם ולעבדו בכל לבבכם ובכל נפשכם" – איזו היא עבודה שהיא בלב? - הוי אומר זו תפלה (תענית ב.)

A Local Call Out of Area

This story took place more than twenty years ago, on a crowded street in New York. Benny stepped onto the sidewalk, relieved that his meeting had gone well. He looked at his watch. Mincha! Sunset was in just a few minutes, and Benny had no idea where to find a synagogue in the area. He briefly contemplated stopping on the sidewalk, and praying right there, but immediately rejected the idea. The frenetic pace of Manhattan pedestrian traffic wouldn’t allow for that. Benny frantically scanned the street, looking for some place where he could pray.

Vaetchanan 5778

“And you shall greatly guard your souls…”

(Devarim 4:15)

All for One?

Aryeh sat at his desk, diligently working on his latest assignment. He took his job, as an agent at the Israeli Security Agency (The Shabbak), very seriously. Which is why, when he was urgently called into his supervisor’s office, Aryeh couldn’t imagine what the man wanted from him. In fifteen years of his work at the ISA, Aryeh had never been called in to his supervisor, like this.

Shabbat Chazon 5778

Convenient Covenant

David looked at the calendar and groaned. Tisha B’Av was only three days away. David was generally scrupulous to keep all the mitzvot, however, he found fasts particularly difficult. Year after year, he would approach his rabbi, and ask if there was any kind of leniency to allow David not to fast. And, year after year, the rabbi would patiently explain that, given that this was a matter of discomfort, and not danger, David was required to fast. As David got older, the challenge of fasting only intensified. It looked like David would have no choice but to fast this year, as well.

Matot-Masei 5778

The Meat of the Matter

Arik and Aharon are learning together in a secular college, in southern Israel. At first, it seemed to them that they were the only religious students on campus. However, after a while, they began to pick up on the fact that many of the students came from somewhat observant families.

Pinchas 5778

"…from your vows and your offerings…” (Bamidbar 29:39)

Net Value

Shaul sat at the edge of the couch, his eyes fixed intently on the screen in front of him. The game was nearly over, and the score was tied at 0-0. As an avid soccer fan, Shaul had been following the World Cup games for two weeks. Now, at this crucial point in the game, Shaul’s eyes frantically darted back and forth, hardly daring to blink, as his eyes willed the ball in the direction of the opposing team’s net.

Balak 5778

 “Whoever has these three traits is of the students of our father Avraham, and [whoever has] three other (i.e. opposite) traits is [a student] of Bilaam the wicked: [one who has] a good outlook, a humble spirit and a meek soul is of the students of our father Avraham. [One who has] a negative outlook, a haughty spirit, and a greedy soul is among the students of Bilaam the wicked.

(Pirkei Avot 5:22)

Clean Language

As the elevator doors opened, Sarah carefully lifted the garbage bag that was resting at her feet. Mindful to not tear the bag, Sarah walked a few steps down the sidewalk, in the direction of the communal dumpster.

Chukat 5778

“…and it was that if a snake had bitten a person…”
(Bamidbar 21:9)

Lawn and Order

Nachum opened the door to his house, walked into the living room, and sank down into his favorite arm chair. After a full day at work, and a long ride on the train, he was pleased to have a few minutes of quiet, to himself.

Nachum was startled by the sound of someone pounding on the door. “Help! Help!” called a voice from the other side.

Korach 5778 - Lubavitcher Rebbe story

 Last week we sent out a story that was not translated into english. Attached are photos and an audio of the amazing story, which was sent to us by Rav Mendy Mochkin, from Canada.

Korach 5778

“Separate from amidst this assembly…”

(Bamidbar 15:21)

We learn from this that all components of prayer which sanctify the name of G-d should be recited amidst a quorum of men. (Gemara Megilla 23b)

Quorum Forum

(From Igrot Kodesh section 11, 3645)

Sh'lach 5778

“…and they found a man gathering wood on the day of Shabbat”

(Bamidbar 15:32)

Emergency Recall 

(From Shu”t Harav Harashi, pg. 329)

Shmuel woke up from his Shabbat nap, and slowly sat up in bed. Suddenly, he felt as if he could barely breathe! Desperately, he gasped “Yehuda! Doctor!” His son was immediately at his side. He took one look at Shmuel, and ran to the phone to call an ambulance.