ב"ה
Matos Maasei
Seasons of the Soul
Tisha B’Av and the 3 Weeks 2026
The “Three Weeks” and Tisha B’Av are designated as a time of mourning over the destruction of the Holy Temple and the galut (exile).
The “Three Weeks” and Tisha B’Av are designated as a time of mourning over the destruction of the Holy Temple and the galut (exile).
Temporary Setback
Though I tried to summon some platitudes of comfort, he was having nothing of it. "I started off with nothing," he declared, "G‑d blessed me till now, and this is just a temporary setback..."
Though I tried to summon some platitudes of comfort, he was having nothing of it. "I started off with nothing," he declared, "G‑d blessed me till now, and this is just a temporary setback..."
What Was In the Holy Temple (Beit Hamikdash)?
For eight hundred and thirty years there stood an edifice upon a Jerusalem hilltop which served as the point of contact between heaven and earth. What did the Holy Temple look like? Take a tour of the Holy Temple to experience the splendor of this magnificent edifice.
For eight hundred and thirty years there stood an edifice upon a Jerusalem hilltop which served as the point of contact between heaven and earth. What did the Holy Temple look like? Take a tour of the Holy Temple to experience the splendor of this magnificent edifice.
Parshah
Milestones or Tombstones
Why are these forty-two pit stops referred to as “journeys,” rather than “encampments”? Weren’t each of these destinations milestones reached, not just locations left behind?
Why are these forty-two pit stops referred to as “journeys,” rather than “encampments”? Weren’t each of these destinations milestones reached, not just locations left behind?
Brother of Peace
The clouds represented everything that Aaron stood for—millions of people can be shielded by the same cloud, unlike food or water that can’t be shared by even two people simultaneously. Like the clouds, Aaron protected and cherished everyone equally...
The clouds represented everything that Aaron stood for—millions of people can be shielded by the same cloud, unlike food or water that can’t be shared by even two people simultaneously. Like the clouds, Aaron protected and cherished everyone equally...
I Found a Leader!
G‑d commanded Moses to wage battle against the Midianites, after which he would pass away. But when it came time for Moses to forward the commandment to the Jewish people, the instruction went through some editing . . .
G‑d commanded Moses to wage battle against the Midianites, after which he would pass away. But when it came time for Moses to forward the commandment to the Jewish people, the instruction went through some editing . . .
The Anchored Journey
People often tell me wistfully how they wish they would have been raised in a Torah-observant home. They imagine that I am already at the destination that they are journeying towards...
People often tell me wistfully how they wish they would have been raised in a Torah-observant home. They imagine that I am already at the destination that they are journeying towards...
"Your brothers go into battle and you will sit here?"
Moses' dismay at the request of several tribes to remain on the eastern bank of the Jordan is a powerful lesson in Jewish communal responsibility.
Moses' dismay at the request of several tribes to remain on the eastern bank of the Jordan is a powerful lesson in Jewish communal responsibility.
Hardened Souls, Collected Sparks
What is the connection between Matot and Massei? And why are these two Parshiot are always read during "The Three Weeks", when we mourn the destruction of the Holy Temple?
What is the connection between Matot and Massei? And why are these two Parshiot are always read during "The Three Weeks", when we mourn the destruction of the Holy Temple?
Matot-Masei in a Nutshell
Vengeance and war spoils, east and west of the Jordan, tribalism, havens for inadvertent murderers, the daughters of Tzelafchad and forty-two journeys.
Vengeance and war spoils, east and west of the Jordan, tribalism, havens for inadvertent murderers, the daughters of Tzelafchad and forty-two journeys.
Living
Soldier, Survivor Have Emotional Reunion
"I have traveled thousands of miles without seeing a Jewish child." Then he stooped down, lifted the boy and danced around the room with him. Neither man ever forgot that day...
"I have traveled thousands of miles without seeing a Jewish child." Then he stooped down, lifted the boy and danced around the room with him. Neither man ever forgot that day...
Just One Life
With a new baby on the way, how would they survive? An abortion was inconsistent with their traditional values, but they felt there was nothing else they could do. They feared for their future...
With a new baby on the way, how would they survive? An abortion was inconsistent with their traditional values, but they felt there was nothing else they could do. They feared for their future...
World Cup Fever
I naively assumed that because the World Cup is a sporting event, it would raise awareness of the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle, cause a rise in memberships to sports and fitness clubs, and increase the consumption of health foods...
I naively assumed that because the World Cup is a sporting event, it would raise awareness of the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle, cause a rise in memberships to sports and fitness clubs, and increase the consumption of health foods...
Self Esteem, Individuality and Love for Teenagers
Self-esteem is something we come into the world with; it follows us through life like a shadow. If we lose it, we are lost. If we have it, we can face all of life's trials...
Self-esteem is something we come into the world with; it follows us through life like a shadow. If we lose it, we are lost. If we have it, we can face all of life's trials...
Marriage: A Relationship Between Real People
Over time, all spouses come to possess an intimate understanding of each other's imperfections. The question is how to prevent this familiarity from tarnishing the esteem and love a couple feels for each other...
Over time, all spouses come to possess an intimate understanding of each other's imperfections. The question is how to prevent this familiarity from tarnishing the esteem and love a couple feels for each other...
Jewish Stories
The Baal Shem Tov's Sixteenth Birthday
When the man saw me he asked: "What is a small child doing all alone in the forest? Are you not afraid to be in the forest all by yourself?"
When the man saw me he asked: "What is a small child doing all alone in the forest? Are you not afraid to be in the forest all by yourself?"
Two Candles for Sammy
I first heard of Sammy Rosenbaum in 1965, when a Mrs. Rawicz from Rabka came into my office in Vienna to testify at a War Crimes trial
I first heard of Sammy Rosenbaum in 1965, when a Mrs. Rawicz from Rabka came into my office in Vienna to testify at a War Crimes trial
The Wonder Horse
Finally, Reb Yehoshua set a price of 25 Napoleons—a sum that would support a family for two years. Surely, no one would be so foolhardy as to pay that kind of money for a horse . . . !
Finally, Reb Yehoshua set a price of 25 Napoleons—a sum that would support a family for two years. Surely, no one would be so foolhardy as to pay that kind of money for a horse . . . !
Chassidic Thought
Seeking the Lost Mountain of Sinai?
Don’t we all remember the precise location where we proposed, or the hospital ward where our first child was born? How could we forget? And yet, somehow, we’ve lost touch with the place more important to our people than any other . . .
Don’t we all remember the precise location where we proposed, or the hospital ward where our first child was born? How could we forget? And yet, somehow, we’ve lost touch with the place more important to our people than any other . . .
Breaking Walls
The Kabbalah of the Three Weeks: a buried seed of goodness, a 21-day almond wood, walls that protect and walls that imprison, the pregnant Tet, and a cosmic birth that puts history to rights.
The Kabbalah of the Three Weeks: a buried seed of goodness, a 21-day almond wood, walls that protect and walls that imprison, the pregnant Tet, and a cosmic birth that puts history to rights.
The Jewish Woman
Learning to Understand My Challenging Child
How could I, his mother, not see through him? How could I not appreciate the intense power pulsating in him? How could I not be on his side? “Sorry for betraying you,” I sob, burying my face in his soft curls...
How could I, his mother, not see through him? How could I not appreciate the intense power pulsating in him? How could I not be on his side? “Sorry for betraying you,” I sob, burying my face in his soft curls...
Mitzvahs & Traditions
Guard Your Life
The Torah considers one responsible for safeguarding one's own as well as others' health and wellbeing. Presented here is a partial collection of laws pertaining to guarding the life and health of oneself and others.
The Torah considers one responsible for safeguarding one's own as well as others' health and wellbeing. Presented here is a partial collection of laws pertaining to guarding the life and health of oneself and others.
Shabbat A to Z
a) Leave work early Friday afternoon....j) Pour a cup of kosher wine or grape juice into a special goblet...u) Eat the Third Meal...z) Repeat next week.
a) Leave work early Friday afternoon....j) Pour a cup of kosher wine or grape juice into a special goblet...u) Eat the Third Meal...z) Repeat next week.
"Let me tell you what I try to do. Imagine that you're looking at a candle. What you're really seeing is a lump of wax with a thread down its middle. So when do the thread and wax become a candle? Or, in other words, when do they fulfill the purpose for which they were created? When you put a flame to the thread, then the candle becomes a candle.
"The wax is the body, and the wick the soul. Ignite the soul with the fire of Torah and a person will then fulfill the purpose for which he or she was created. And that is what I try to do -- to ignite the soul of our people with the fire of Torah."
"My candle," I asked, "has the Rebbe lit it?"
"I have given you the match," he said. "Only you can light your candle."
"The wax is the body, and the wick the soul. Ignite the soul with the fire of Torah and a person will then fulfill the purpose for which he or she was created. And that is what I try to do -- to ignite the soul of our people with the fire of Torah."
"My candle," I asked, "has the Rebbe lit it?"
"I have given you the match," he said. "Only you can light your candle."
— From a conversation between the Lubavitcher Rebbe and Yehudah Avner
Print Magazine
“The man Moses was more humble than any human being on the face of the earth.” (Numbers 12:3)
Moses didn’t fool himself. He knew how good he was. He knew he stood on a level beyond any other human being. Yet he was humbled before them.
Because he knew that all that he had achieved was only with the capabilities given...
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