by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on July 26, 2023
As we enter into Tisha b’Av, our minds and hearts are directed towards the current turmoil that is roiling Israel and tearing at the very fabric of Israeli society. Whatever one thinks about the substantive issues relating to the changes in the judicial system, and wherever one is tempted to point the blame, we should all be able to recognize the tragic disunity and deep damage—in terms of the society, economy, military preparedness, and international relations—that recent weeks and months have brought about.…
by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on July 19, 2023
Originally Published July 2015 What happens when we repeat a story or lesson in our own words? Does it improve with the retelling, or does it worsen? Is the message lost, or is it made more relevant? What is the point of retelling?…
by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on July 13, 2023
Originally published July 2014 A story is told that when Rav Soloveitchik’s wife Tonya, z”l, was hospitalized due to an illness, he and Haym had the run of the house. Following technical laws of kashrut, they ate cold milkhig food on fleishig dishes.…
by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on July 6, 2023
Originally published August 2016 This week’s parsha Pinchas has much to say about zealotry and peace, and the messages remain worthy of examination today. Consider the following: A religious zealot witnesses a person flagrantly violating religious standards. Acting in the name of God, she picks up the nearest available weapon and violently slays the sinner.…
by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on June 29, 2023
Originally Published June 2015 Transitions are hard. As the wandering in the desert begins to draw to a close, Bnei Yisrael encounter many changes and anticipate many more. Their leaders begin to die: Miriam and Aharon this week and Moshe a few months later.…
by Rabbi Daniel Epstein
Posted on June 29, 2023
Do you want time to go fast or slow? Time flies when you are having fun. Dunbar in Joseph Heller’s Catch 22 decides he wants his life to be as boring as possible so that he will live a very long time.…
by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on June 22, 2023
Originally published June 2015 Korach is not just about rebels; it also portrays different models of leadership. Both Moshe and Aharon are attacked. The latter remains markedly silent during the confrontation while Moshe defends both his position and his brother’s. Aharon’s response comes later and in a different form.…
by Rabbi Daniel Epstein
Posted on June 22, 2023
A boy was daydreaming during class one day and started wondering. If I am riding on a beam of light and turn on a flashlight will it go past me? What an interesting question. Some might scoff and think it was a worthless inquiry, but not this boy.…
by Rabbi Daniel Epstein
Posted on June 15, 2023
“I am not afraid, for God is with me. I was born to do this”— Joan of Arc Joan of Arc uttered these immortal words as she was setting out on her journey to battle the English army. This was a woman with bitachon, with faith. …
by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on June 15, 2023
Originally published June 2015 Shlach is as much a story of leaders as people. It is a story of leaders both poor and good. Ten of the twelve spies, poor leaders, saw challenges that confronted them in Canaan and ran: “We are not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we” (Bamidbar, 13:31).…
by Rabbi Dov Linzer
Posted on June 8, 2023
Originally published June 1998 In Behaalotecha, the Torah begins its narrative of the travels of the Israelites through the wilderness of Sinai. The stories of the Israelites’ sojourns, their sins and their quarrels, give us insight into the character of the people and especially their leaders.…
by Rabbi Daniel Epstein
Posted on June 8, 2023
The purely righteous do not complain of the dark, they increase the light; they do not complain of evil, they increase the good; they do not complain of heresy, but increase faith; they do not complain of ignorance, they increase wisdom.”…
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