6+ day, 8+ hour ago (9+ words) 5TJT Podcast Larry Gordon talks with Rabbi Marc Schnier...

2+ week, 15+ hour ago (296+ words) His'rabbanit'and children, who objectively speaking bore the brunt of their father's incredible sacrifice for the Jewish people, often said that they never felt that they were missing their father while he was on the road. In fact, he saved his biggest smile for his home, and "his primary strength" was spent at home leading the family in singing, giving over Torah, and playing games. Then and there, Reb Yoram, beard fully white and a grandfather many times over, hiked up his frock and began to scale the fence. "HaRav!'Kavod'HaTorah!" cried the'avreichem'nervously. As he deftly landed on the other side, Rav Yoram looked back at them with a mischievous smile. "You think I'm an old man? I'm a'moshavkid! A fence is not going to stop me from giving a'shiur.'Ya'alah" "Yaakov was an innocent man, dwelling in tents" (25:27). Reb Meir…...

1+ week, 1+ day ago (227+ words) As Dirshu Embarks on Chelek Daled of Mishnah Berurah A Game Changing Hotline is Going Live HaRav Yehuda Aryeh Dunner addressing the Kav Hameishivim Rabbonim First a bit of background. The gathering, held in the'moshav'of Beis Chilkiyah, was an exciting new development in Dirshu's desire to spread'yedias'haTorah'among all segments of'Klal'Yisrael. "Let's say a'mesivta'bachur'has been learning the'Daf HaYomi B'Halacha'and now he wants to learn'hilchos'eruvin. He may encounter terms and ideas that he doesn't understand and now, he will be able to simply pick up the phone, call Dirshu's hotline, called "Kav Hameishivim,' and the'maggid'shiur'will explain it to him," said Rabbi Avigdor Bernstein, a senior member of'hanhalas'Dirshu. Rav Dunner also promised that a month after'Chelek'Daled'begins, the group will meet again to see if there is anything that they can finetune to ensure that any Dirshu learner will always just be a phone…...

4+ week, 1+ day ago (380+ words) The revered'rav'of Slutzk and'rosh'yeshiva'of Eitz Chaim in the Holy City, Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer, was once learning with his students when one of them glanced out the window. Excitedly, the'talmid'cried out, "Rebbi! The Brisker Rav is heading this way!" In a flash, Rav Isser Zalman jumped from his seat. As befits greeting a'gadol'b'Torah, he donned his Shabbos coat and hurried to the door to welcome the honored guest. But when the man entered, it became clear: this was not the Brisker Rav at all, but a simple'Yid. A worn traveler who arrived to meet the'rosh'yeshiva. Unfazed, Rav Isser Zalman welcomed him with warmth, offering refreshments and treating him with great'kavod. Embarrassed, the man said softly, "Rebbi, I don't deserve such honor" I only came to ask for a favor. I must travel to America to raise money for my daughter's…...

6+ day, 15+ hour ago (292+ words) However, as far as anything related to the State of Israel in conjunction with NYC, that might turn out to be an issue which really has no bearing on Jews actually living in NYC. Let's try to ease the fear-mongering and live as we have without running to other places, unless things don't work out as planned. In other words, go about your business and keep a packed suitcase, just in case. I can think of virtually dozens of other examples of similarly minor, but individually huge, situations affecting shuls, yeshivas, businesses, organizations, and innumerable residents, where a call or email to Tony's office meant a rapid resolution. He once sent me to the office of a prominent community'rav'to convey his decision to provide help to resolve a sensitive communal matter. Because his official involvement would have complicated the remediation…...

4+ week, 1+ day ago (383+ words) Our last pieces studied the world's first two pillars: Torah and'avodah. This week, we study the third'gemilut'chassadim. This is why the first Jew,'Avraham'Avinu, prioritized'chesed'over meeting with Hashem.'Parashat'Vayerabegins by describing how, even while meeting with Hashem Himself and even on an extremely hot day, Avraham was on the lookout for potential guests. And when he finally spotted three wayfarers, he abandoned his audience with Hashem to run to invite them into his home. Our acts of'chesed'are also our way of giving back to Hashem. Rav Avraham Chaim Feuer explains that this is why the'Mishnah'uses the term'gemilut'(literally translated as "repaying)'chassadim: Our'chesed'is how we "pay Hashem back for His'chesed. By assisting others He created in His image, we show our appreciation of the fact that He made us this way as well. Because'chesed'is rooted in our love for others…...

3+ week, 7+ hour ago (773+ words) In an ambitious move to shape the future of Jewish leadership, the Orthodox Union launched the OU Pipeline Initiative, a groundbreaking program that brings together Yachad, NCSY, JLIC, and Human Resources in a unified effort to nurture future leaders from within." The initiative focuses on college-aged volunteers, strengthens leadership pipelines across the OU and broader Jewish community, and promotes cross-departmental collaboration with the goal of enhancing Jewish communal life by sharing best practices, engaging and retaining volunteers, cultivating leadership skills, and creating both immediate impact and long-term professional growth. The OU Pipeline Initiative consists of three core components: the first is the Emerging Leaders Fellowship, a yearlong program bringing together 30 elite volunteers10 each from Yachad, NCSY, and JLIC for mentorship, professional and leadership development, and a national leadership"Shabbaton. "OU mentors have built organizations, navigated challenges, and shaped Jewish life on…...

4+ week, 1+ day ago (1209+ words) It spanned just six and a half hours, but for 70 heads of North American Bikur Cholim organizations, the Orthodox Union's inaugural National Bikur Cholim Conference 2025 in New York's Financial District was nothing short of transformative. For leaders whose work is often carried out in isolation, the conference offered a rare chance to connect with peers who truly understand the weight and privilege of providing comfort, logistical help, and emotional support to patients and families at their most vulnerable. OU Managing Director for Community Engagement Rabbi Yaakov Glasser notes the conference reflected the Orthodox Union's broader vision, to serve as a unifying space for those supporting every dimension of communal life. "Through connecting, sharing best practices, and confronting challenges with creativity and compassion, we can elevate the impact of all who serve and support our community," he says. "The OU is…...

1+ week, 1+ day ago (189+ words) Rabbi Sadyah'ben'Maimon'ibn'Danan was born in Granada, Spain in the middle of the 15th century and lived there until 1492 when the Jews were expelled. He relocated to Algeria where he spent the remainder of his life. Rabbi Sadyah'ibn'Danan followed in the footsteps of the Rambam and took a more lenient position regarding the status of converso Jews. In a responsum printed in'Chemdah Genuzah, he writes as follows: "Finally, there is no wise man among the sages of Israel who calls'the Conversos as gentiles or wicked people because their crime was forced onto them and even those who may have lifted the yoke of Torah off their necks of their own free will'and desire were not called'goyim gamurim." The bottom line is that no scholar among the scholars of Israel considers the "generations of forced conversion complete gentiles and evildoers because their sins…...

1+ day, 6+ hour ago (212+ words) Natan Sharansky and Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander Q&A Natan Sharansky receiving the award Ohr Torah Stone celebrated its Annual Dinner, honoring Natan Sharansky and Robert M. Beren,z'l, two figures whose leadership, courage, and generosity have strengthened Jewish communities around the world. They are the inaugural recipients of the Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Legacy Award, created to recognize individuals who embody Rabbi Riskin's lifelong commitment to Jewish identity, education, and impact. The program opened with remarks from Laurence Schreiber, Chair of OTS's USA Board, followed by prayers for the United States, the State of Israel, the welfare of IDF soldiers, and the recovery of the injured. Dr. Rebecca Winter, one of the graduates, delivered the evening'sdvarTorahafter being introduced by Rabbanit Chamutal Shoval, Director of OTS's Susi Bradfield Women's Institute of Halakhic Leadership (WIHL). IHSP 2025 Graduates recognized at the event include Lawrence…...