How To Make Synagogues Holy
An American industrialist once came to visit the Chofetz Chaim of blessed memory. The Chofetz Chaim proudly gave the man a personal tour of his Yeshiva and asked him if he too would like to be a partner in the building of Torah. The man looked at the saintly Rabbi. He...
The Pharaoh Syndrome
Regarding the case of the Aguna of Vilna I see you are leaning toward stringency. You feel the woman should not remarry. The reason you are leaning this way is because you are not here. You do not hear the crying of this woman nor do you see her tears. If I would be...
The Nachas Vacuum
Moshe was eighty years old. He was commanded to become the leader of the Jewish Nation. G-d determined that he had what it takes to be the greatest Jewish leader of all times. Yet, he insisted on the approval of his older brother Aharon. Let's take a closer look....
Yaakov Avinu and Gaza
Being that we have the privilege of living in Israel , I’ve been getting many calls from concerned friends and family that want to know the feeling in Israel over the war in Gaza. Truth be told, I am no political expert (I hope the people making the decisions are) and...
Struggle and Success
"And Yaakov went out…" I picture our father Yaakov leaving Beer Sheva all alone. As his ancestors before him he was walking from Southern Israel to Charan, (the area of Turkey) to search for and discover his marriage partner. He was around eighty years old as he...
Open Your Tent!
As I prepare this essay the world is in the middle of a nightmare in Mumbai. Innocent people were slaughtered, hostages have been taken and closer to home, we are all praying for a miracle for those that have dedicated their lives to Ahavat Yisroel manning a Chabad...
Hebron
Prince Rudolph, son and heir to the Austrian monarch Franz Josef, visited Palestine at the turn of the century and recounted his trip to Chevron in his memoirs: Upon reaching Hebron I immediately went to the cave of Machpela. There I was overwhelmed at the realization...
Praying For Others
The following Dvar Torah was given at the Saranac Synagogue in Buffalo on Shabbat Vayera 5747, (1986), and transcribed from memory by Dr. Jeffery Zucker. We dedicate this essay in memory of Jeff's mother Ita bat Shalom, A"H, who shares her Yortzeit with Rochel Imeinu....
After The Flood
There have never been as many institutions of Torah as there are today. Schools that were started then have record attendance. For those that took advantage of the time and rebuilt Yiddishkeit, Yiddishkeit was built. For those who put their energies into other movements and projects, they too succeeded. In under fifty years, as in Noah’s vineyard, a miracle has occurred.
