We are now in the month of Adar 1, coming soon to the holiday of Purim in Adar 2.   So let us discuss a very inspiring thought from the Megillah. We know that in the Megillah reading, when we get to the part that says “the King’s could not  sleep …” the reader raises his voice […]

Today is the special day of Gimmel Tamuz, the day that our Rebbe, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, was concealed from us until the coming of Moshiach.   But what can we do to connect with the Rebbe? We can learn the Rebbe’s teachings of chassidus, follow the Rebbe’s ways and fulfill the Rebbe’s directives. Perhaps the most

Humor is one of the greatest gifts G-d has given to mankind.  With humor even difficult situations lighten up. Once we realize we can still laugh even during hardships, it helps us to overcome challenges with greater power. And in fact simcha poretz geder: simcha, joy, breaks down barriers. Why is that? Because when we

The last days of Passover always bring to mind Moshiach. We even eat a Moshiach seuda on the eighth day towards evening: matza and four more cups of wine or grape juice. This is the meal of Moshiach and we actually internalize our connection to Moshiach. On these last day sof Passover the light of

​Chanukah sameach! Chanukah is one of my favorite holidays. All about light. Reminding each of us how we must be a light to the nations, a light to our surroundings and shine light to others. In the beginning of Creation, G-d shone a special Divine light into the world for 36 hours. Then He hid

It’s that time of year again: getting rid of Amalek! But this year it takes on even more significance. What is Amalek?  People who hate Jews simply because we are Jewish. But it is more than that. Spiritually bgematria it equals the Hebrew word sofek, which means doubt. So Amalek is that little voice that

I always seem to collect things…..and I have a difficult time getting rid of things that I collect. My children are always telling me to clean out the house, to get rid of old clothes, old trinkets, old toys…throw them away, they tell me.  It is junk.  Nobody needs them.  But something within me cannot

Let us start the New Year as new people. The idea of the new year is to leave behind all the negative aspects of ourselves and the previous year and begin anew.  May we be helped from Above to shake off any connection to unhappiness, negativity, unholiness and anything that prevents us from serving the

Recently the supreme court in Israel ruled that non Jews who convert through reform or conservative also are to be considered Jewish.  This is exactly what the Lubavitcher Rebbe cried about over thirty years ago: the issue of “mihu Yehudi” , who is a Jew.  The Torah clearly says that only a non Jew who

Yesterday, Yud Aleph Cheshvan, was the yahrtzeit (hilloula) of Rachel Imenu. so let’s reflect for a moment upon the greatness of the Jewish mother. This is truly mother’s day! What is it that we associate with Rachel Imenu? her tears! The tears of a Jewish mother crying for her children. The concept of arousing mercy