Hope you’re having a great day. … The other day I visited the Ark. It’s an incredible Jewish social service agency in Rogers Park. They provide all types of services for people in need while preserving their dignity. And as I walked in? I noticed one of the many people for whom theArkis a second […]

Hope you’re having a great day. … “Once upon a time…” Most cultures have parables.  A fictional story with a moral lesson. Here’s one told by a great Rabbi in the 18th century. With a huge lesson for us. … There was a man whose two sons lived in a different country. One was not […]

Hope you’re having a great day. … This coming Shabbos is my Mom’s yartzeit.  The anniversary of her passing. “Elisheva bas (daughter of) Dov Ber”. I wasn’t sure if I was going to send a Torah Minute in her honor. Many of you have read (more than once!) my tributes to her. How she inspired […]

Hope you’re having a great day. Wednesday night is Tisha B’av, the one day set aside in Jewish tradition for mourning. We try to connect to the suffering of Jews throughout history. To feel their pain as well as to be inspired by their strength. How despite what they went through, they held on to […]

Hope you’re having a great day. I recently heard a story that inspired me. And I thought to myself, “Torah Minute”! It’s not about a “great Rabbi” or a famous person. But about a person who should be famous! An “ordinary” Jewish woman who recently passed away. Ida and Moshe Schreiber caught the last ship […]

Hi, Hope you’re having a great day. … Tuesday night is the holiday of Shavuos. The day that we received the Torah at Mount Sinai. And here’s one of my favorite stories. A very absent minded professor is driving together with a student. And the professor goes through a stop sign. The student notices, but […]

Hi, Hope you’re having a great day. … I was driving to synagogue the other day for morning services. Let’s just say… I wasn’t early! I was coming from a minor street and turning on to a major street. And they don’t give you too much time. In fact? Right after the light turns green? […]

Hi, Hope you’re having a great day. … It’s time to talk matzah! And here’s an amazing story. It was in a DP (Displaced Persons) camp, shortly after liberation. One of the survivors arranged the baking of matzah for Passover. Supplies were very limited and the matzah was rationed. Two matzos per family. A great […]

Hope you’re having a great day! … This is a follow up to the last Torah Minute. We spoke about how we need to do kindness with truth. To make sure that it doesn’t just make us feel good. But that it really helps the other person. And I told you about the yeshiva high […]

Hope you’re having a great day.   Chessed.  Acts of kindness. There’s nothing greater in Jewish tradition. But there’s an interesting phrase in the Torah. “Doing kindness and truth”.  (Genesis, 47:29) Because sometimes we can try to be kind with the best of intentions. But in truth we’re not really helping the other person.   […]