Hi- … Hope you’re having a great day. Please allow a very personal note. Today is my Mom’s yartzeit.  The anniversary of her passing. “Elisheva bas (daughter of) Dov Ber”. And it’s because of her that I write Torah Minutes.  That I have any Torah to teach. She grew up at a time when most […]

Hi – Hope you’re having a great day. … As you probably know, I recently lost my older brother Reuven. I wanted to thank so many who reached out to me at this difficult time. Whether it was a card, a phone call, Shiva visit or a contribution in his memory? Each and every one […]

Hi, Hope you’re having a great day. …One more story about my nephew Yehudah! For various reasons, after the accident his kids didn’t see him for many weeks. And while my wife and I were inOttawavisiting? They were going to see him for the first time. It was obviously a very emotional time. And a […]

Hi, Hope you’re having a great day. Whether we have ever met or not, I consider you “family”.  So I am sharing this with you. … You may have seen it on the national news. “A very serious traffic accident involving a Canadian Jewish family.  The driver swerved to avoid a deer and crashed into […]

Hi, Hope you’re having a great day. Passover is around the corner! And I wanted to share one more thing about my Uncle Jack. … At the Seder we celebrate our freedom. But first we remember our suffering as a People. Our slavery in Egypt and the many enemies who have tried to destroy us. […]

Boy! The summer was much longer when I was a kid! …My wife and I enjoyed a few days in Door County last week. (Both our boys were off in camp.) I don’t think most people there knew what a yarmulke is. But a few did. “You must be from Chicago! I’m from Oak Forest. […]

Hi, Hope all is well. We just returned from Toronto where we spent the holiday of Shavuot with family. … Shavuot commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. It’s what made us a People. And what made all Jews one. There are times that we feel it very strongly. Because when Jews are […]

Hi, Please allow a personal note. Today is my Mom’s yartzeit.  The anniversary of her passing. “Elisheva bas (daughter of) Dov Ber”. … I grew up in a Torah observant home. But my Dad didn’t come from an observant background. And what happened? He met my Mom, who did! They met at a time that […]

Hi, Here’s one of my favorites about Shabbat. “The Children of Israel shall observe the Sabbath… between Me and them it’s a sign forever”.  (Exodus, 31:16-17) The Torah calls Shabbat a sign. … Think of a large business.  It’s been around for many years. Very successful. But the old generation is gone.  And it’s handed […]

Hi, … The blessing of the children. It’s one of the most beautiful customs at the Shabbat Friday night meal. It sends a very important message to the child. Because we can imagine how a child might feel at a festive meal. With all those adults!  Talking about “adult stuff”! And there may be important […]