2+ hour, 9+ min ago (1608+ words) Raised in a devout Christian family that later became Amish, Nechama Leapley felt an unexplained pull to Judaism all her life'until she finally chased it home. Nechama grew up in a family that stood out wherever they lived. Her father's naval career meant being constantly on the move and, as the oldest of seven, Nechama was used to people staring. "Three kids is considered a large family in America," she says. "Once we had five, people would look at us like, "What's going on here?" Her parents were devout Christians, strictly vegan, and wary of technology. Nechama was an outdoor girl, happier in the forest watching birds than anywhere else. "Even as a kid, if I had a choice between being on a computer or being outside with a book, I'd never choose the computer." Despite having no connection to…...

4+ hour, 10+ min ago (688+ words) Published 12:00 am Sunday, November 30, 2025 Every year around this time I stop and count my blessings." I think about the many things that God has given to me: a beautiful wife, two loving children, a wonderful son-in-law, two gifted grandsons, and so much more." Yes, I have been truly blessed!" I have often heard people say that God can do anything" but I have found six things that God cannot do." And it is for these six things that I am truly thankful: 1. God cannot lie. In John 14:2, Jesus told His disciples: "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not true, I would have told you." There is a battle raging in America over who determines what is right and what is true." We need to understand that truth comes from God." It's not that God won't lie,…...

5+ hour, 22+ min ago (676+ words) " " " | November 29, 2025 Yud Kislev marks the day when the Mitteler Rebbe was released from prison in 5586. Read the story of his arrest and release, and watch it celebrated at the Rebbe's farbrengens. Rabbi'Pinchas'Reizes was a'chassid'of the second'Rebbe'of'Chabad-Lubavitch, Rabbi DovBer (known as the "Mitteler Rebbe). When Rabbi Pinchas passed away, his only heir was a nephew, who opposed the chassidic ways. Among the items that came into the nephew's possession was a letter written by the rebbe to his uncle, asking Rabbi Pinchas to serve on a special committee to disburse funds for charity. The sum cited in the letter was 4,000 rubles. The nephew showed the letter to a cousin of the Mitteler Rebbe, whose last name was Lipman. Lipman, who unfortunately was a complete scoundrel, saw this as a golden opportunity to blackmail the rebbe. If the Rebbe did not give…...

8+ hour, 16+ min ago (68+ words) [ Jewish girls at a school performance in Benghazi, Lybia. (photo credit: DIARNA)]Theodor Herzl stood on the shoulders of these pioneers, and his ideas for a Jewish state can be traced directly to them. Zionism beyond Europe: Restoring the Mizrahi narrative in Jewish education - opinion Theodor Herzl stood on the shoulders of these pioneers, and his ideas for a Jewish state can be traced directly to them....

8+ hour, 51+ min ago (944+ words) Jewish texts are of two minds about what it means to live in a monarchy. By Rabbi Dr. Zev Farber Personalities of the Bible Why did the Israelites turn to monarchy and was it a good idea? The Bible is of two minds on this question." In the Book of Samuel, the Israelites demand that the prophet appoint a king over them so they can be like other nations. Previously, governance was achieved through prophets or temporary chieftains when necessary, but now the people are dissatisfied, and God grudgingly acquiesces:" Heed the demand of the people in everything they say to you. For it is not you (Samuel) that they have rejected; it is Me (God) they have rejected as their king (I Samuel 8:7). However, before Samuel begins the process of finding a king, God commands him to inform the…...

10+ hour, 48+ min ago (400+ words) " " " | November 29, 2025 When Reb Yisroel Noach, the Tzemach Tzedek's son, set out to build his home in Niezhin, he gathered the local baalei batim for advice. After hearing them out, he calmly explained that his father had taught him to do the opposite of whatever baalei batim suggest. Reb Yisroel Noach, the fourth son of the Rebbe, the Tzemach Tzeddek, was born in the year 5575 (1815). In his first marriage, he was the son-in-law of Reb Yekusiel Zalman Valles, son-in-law of the Mitteler Rebbe. After his first wife passed away, he married the daughter of Reb Nochum, son of the Mitteler Rebbe. He lived in Lubavitch, where he served as the rosh yeshiva in his father's yeshiva (founded in 5602/1842). The Tzemach Tzeddek also appointed him to respond to many of the halachic queries sent to him, leaving only the more difficult ones…...

11+ hour, 37+ min ago (419+ words) The Bnei Akiva movement held its annual ceremony this evening to announce the permanent designation of this year's initiates in Bnei Akiva chapters worldwide. Bnei Akiva's secretary-general recorded a special message about the new name in the Arutz Sheva studio. Each year, the Bnei Akiva movement welcomes new initiates at chapters worldwide with a month-long process of teambuilding and organizational introduction, culminating in a Shabbat of group activities at which the new initiates are given a permanent designation for their year. The designation is known as that year's 'tribe' and is used for all future Bnei Akiva activities. This year, the month's motto was "A generation will rise and live," the words of former Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Avraham Yitzhak HaCohen Kook. The theme highlighted the story of the revival of the people of Israel and the responsibility of…...

17+ hour, 54+ min ago (502+ words) But exile is not only a punishment, it is a correction. His mother Rebecca sends her younger son to her brother Laban so that he might learn in the school of life how to contend with God and with human beings and prevail. She believes in him. But does he believe in himself? What does the Master of the Ladder promise him? A homeland: "the land on which you are lying, I will give to you and to your offspring". A great nation: "your offspring shall be as the dust of the earth". And a purpose: "all the families of the earth shall be blessed through you and through your offspring" (Genesis 28:13-14). A people, a land, and a Torah. And we have spoken often about how Genesis, the foundational book of our nation, "teaches us to read our historical journey…...

21+ hour, 5+ min ago (893+ words) Avraham - Our Father The first Jew, Avraham, was named for his role as a father. His original name, "Avram," means "mighty father." Later, Hashem changed his name to "Avraham," which means "father of many nations." This was the beginning of the Jewish people. There were righteous men before Avraham, but Avraham was the first to establish a nation by passing his legacy to his descendants through his children. This is why Hashem felt close to Avraham and why He blessed and rewarded him. Hashem invested in Avraham not just because of his personal piety and greatness, but because of the nation he was founding. We, Avraham's descendants, follow his lead by also placing great emphasis on chinuch ha'banim - educating our children. This education includes teaching children Torah, familiarizing them with mitzvot, and showing them how to live correctly. This "living…...

22+ hour, 10+ min ago (239+ words) " On today's Bible Answer Man broadcast, Hank answers the question, "Has God spoken?" Muslims answer by pointing to the Qur'an as God's only credible, uncorrupted revelation. Mormons are certain that God has spoken through a revelation called the Book of Mormon. But God has not spoken through the Qur'an, nor the Book of Mormon. [] On today's Bible Answer Man broadcast, Hank answers the question, "Has God spoken?" Muslims answer by pointing to the Qur'an as God's only credible, uncorrupted revelation. Mormons are certain that God has spoken through a revelation called the Book of Mormon. But God has not spoken through the Qur'an, nor the Book of Mormon. He has, however, spoken through the Bible, as Hank demonstrates in his book Has God Spoken?: Proof of the Bible's Divine Inspiration. Hank also answers the following questions: What is a good…...