Hope you’re having a great day. Today’s Torah Minute is about… Joe the barber! … Joe passed away recently. He was not Jewish. But he was a fixture in the Rogers Park Jewish community. It was even mentioned in his obituary.   “Joseph Filecia, the son of Italian immigrants, maintained a close rapport with the […]

Hi, Here’s the perfect story as we get ready for Rosh Hashanah! … Rabbi Michel Berenbaum.  A great Torah scholar. He was what is called the “Mashgiach” in a major Yeshiva. The person in charge of the ethical development of the students. You might call him “the ethicist”. But he didn’t just teach from books. […]

Hi, That’s right. Rosh Hashanah is approaching! This is the time of the year that Jews try to improve themselves. And right up there on the list of things to work on? Chessed.  Acts of kindness! We need to be more sensitive to the needs of others. And not only respond to their needs. But […]

Hi, Hope you’re having a great day. … More on Rabbi Leibowitz. A student of his called to tell us how much she will miss him. She cried like a baby. “The Rabbi was like a father to me.  Literally.” Her parents were friends of Rabbi and Mrs. Leibowitz. Since she lived “out of town”, […]

Hi, Hope all is well. Yesterday was a tough day for me and for my community. I attended the funeral of a twenty year old “boy”. Albert Bitton, of blessed memory, an army medic, was killed in Iraq by a roadside bomb. … Albert Bitton loved people. Two friends eulogized him at the funeral. They […]

Hi, Hope all is well. I wanted to thank the many Torah Minute readers who sent “happy birthday” wishes. (Including the comedian who said … “I bought you a very expensive gift. But since I am always obedient to a Rabbi’s wishes? And you said, “No presents please”? … I returned it to the Rolex […]

Hi, In the Torah Minute, I stay away from “politics”. Completely! And I don’t usually comment on the passing of public officials. But Rep. Tom Lantos, who passed away recently, was unique. “He’s been referred to as “the moral authority of congress”. Tom created the Congressional Human Rights Caucus to fight human rights abuses all […]

Happy rest of Chanukah! … We were thinking of driving to New Jersey for a wedding. But changed our minds after hearing forecasts of “icy driving conditions.” Decided better safe than sorry. Then we thought maybe one of us would fly in. We scratched that idea too. There was a good chance flights would be […]

Hi, More on “cleaning up our act”. “Lashon Harah. Gossip”. You have heard it from me many times. In Jewish tradition, it’s one of the worst things we can do. We’re even told that it weakens the power of our prayers. Because the tongue used to hurt other people? G-d doesn’t want to hear from […]

Hi, A very special man I knew passed away last week. Abe Robinson was blessed with a long and productive life. He was in full control of his faculties and left behind a wonderful family. All of his descendants are Torah observant Jews. Excelling in their relationship with G-d and with other people. … Abe […]