Mel Gibson’s Toughest Role
Mel Gibson’s powerful and on-target apology to the Jewish community for his anti-Semitic tirade was infinitely better than his weak and unsatisfying first statement. It would be a mistake for the Jewish community to...
It’s No Time For Vacation
The Jerusalem Post has summarized the intent of the declarations from leading Torah Sages in Israel posted by Rabbi Rosenblum: Haredim cancel vacations due to war. Thanks to ak for the tip. As one...
Rabbis Call for Partners to Pray and Study for Soldiers
An open letter to all Achenu Bene Yisroel [Our Brethren, the Children of Israel] After hearing the heart rendering appeal of the Gedolay Torah to intensify our Tefilos and Torah learning during this very...
Gedolei Yisrael on Bein Hazmanim
A Call to Bnei Hayeshivos from Rav Y. S. Elyashiv, Rav A. L. Steinman and Rav M. Y. Lefkowitz We currently find ourselves in a time of communal suffering, when Klal Yisrael is threatened...
Overcoming the Separation
A resident of Haifa sent out a plea for forgiveness last week. He has been forced to close his business because of the katyushas falling on Haifa, and he and his family now find...
Al Zeh Hayah Daveh Libenu
Sometimes it all comes down to a single story. Even an entire war. Many hundreds of us stood cheek to jowl in a Los Angeles shul on Sunday for a neighborhood prayer gathering. The...
What do They Know that I Don’t Know?
I was holding up fairly well under the pressures of this war until four things occurred. First: e-mails and calls from family and friends in the US who wanted to know how we were...
An Elegant Credo
Profound and complex ideas do not the most memorable speeches make. In reaching the crowd, the speaker is better off framing simple, straightforward ideas in effective language. Think Gettysburg Address. British Chief Rabbi Sir...
Charedim LaMatzav — Trembling about the Situation
Friday’s Yediot Acharonot carried an extraordinarily positive article about the Charedi community’s reaction to the current situation in Israel. For those unable to read the Hebrew, here are the first three paragraphs in translation:...
Feeling Good About Tisha B’Av
Only one voice of optimism carried over last week’s sustained background of sadness and despair. Jonathan Rosenblum, writing in Yated, cobbled together some of the positive consequences that have emerged from the current war...