The Library

Let's see. If you're used to not having any amount of significant days of sobriety and now you're accumulating hundreds of days clean, what does that mean? Just like gamblers or drug addicts, after a certain time in the program, they only go to a meeting once a week (inst...

G-d spoke to Israel in a night vision and He said, Yakov, Yakov. And he said, Hineni - HERE I AM" (Bereishis/Genesis 46:2) Today, we are learning, how Parsha Vayigash speaks to those who seek Recovery. As we continue the story of Yakov and his sons, we learn at the very ...

I felt overwhelmed by feelings of unworthiness and fear yesterday, and being at the computer, used the opportunity to write my fears out, clearing my head and pointing out exactly what I am anxious about/fearful of.The wife and I have been at odds the last couple of days....

The Midrash offers a parable in explaining the use of olive oil for the Menorah in the Temple: it is comparable to a king whose legions rebelled against him. However, one of his legions remained faithful and did not rebel. The king said, "From this legion that did not reb...

“And Pharaoh said to Yosef, ‘after G-d let you know all of these things, there is none so understanding and wise as you’.” (Bereishis 41:39) Over the past few months people have witnessed how the high and mighty have been taken down to the lowest depths due to foolish...

The Greeks wanted to get rid of the Jews. They did not hate us, they just wanted to steal our spirituality, which would lead us to leave Hashem. It's an untold part of the Chanuka story that at the time when the Greeks began to attack Judaism, the Beis Hamikadash was bei...

Then Pharaoh said to Yoseph, "See! I have placed you in charge of all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh removed his ring from his hand and put it on Yoseph's hand. As we continue the story of the sons of Yakov and the brothers of Yosef, we learn in this Parsha how Yosef wen...

"הנרות הללו קודש הם ואין לנו רשות להשתמש בהם" "Chanukah candles are holy and we have no permission to use them, rather only to see them." - And for how long? Half an hour from the start. After the half-hour, they are allowed to be used. In marriage, when a pers...

A great Rabbi, Hillel, taught that on the first night of Chanukah we light one candle and each successive night we add an additional candle until on the eighth night there are eight candles. Why did Hillel prescribe this method for commemorating the eight days of Chanuka...

One can help oneself by preparing for upcoming situations. I heard from Horav Simcha Schustal ZT"L at a siyum of a Yarchei Kallah in Lakewood the yesod of the Mesillas Yesharim of זהירות שלא בשעת מעשה: if you recognize what to do in certain situations, you can then progra...

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“His brothers saw that it was he whom their father loved most of all the brothers - so THEY HATED HIM...(37:4)" As we continue the Story of our Patriarchs and Matriarchs, we learn in this Parsha about one of the most unimaginable episodes of the entire Torah. How could t...

From a news story: "One man's neighbors reported that he subsisted on cat food. During the winter, they collected money and bought him a warm coat. When he died, the kindly neighbors were astounded and outraged to learn that the miserly man had amassed $850,000 in ba...

I daydreamed through sunset Dreaming of dawn When I came to my senses The Sun was long gone I understood then What my Mum used to say: When you live in tomorrow Then you miss today

I just said Mizmor Shir chanukas habayis l'Dovid in davening, which I love saying cuz He really did "switch (hofachto) my mourning into a dance for (lee) me." And I wanted to share that this has nothing to do with religion or sinning or Teshuvah for me - and that is very ...

Dearest Chani, It is extremely difficult for me to write this to you. But it is harder not to. Lately, I feel that my perceived dishonesty and hiding is creating tension in our marriage, sort of a rift between us, and rightly so. A good marriage must be built on a solid f...

Ever wonder what would happen if we treated the Torah as we treat our cell phone? What if we carried it around in our purse or pocket every day? What if we looked through it many times each day? What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it? What if we always checke...