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Andy Blumenthal

Jun 22, 2025, 5:51 AM

Defeating “The Giants” of Iran With Tikkun

Recently, during an interview regarding the ongoing conflict with Iran and the remarkable achievements of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeatedly attributed these successes to “BeSiyata DeShmaya”—with the help of Heaven. This profound acknowledgment reflects...

Michael Feldstein

May 9, 2025, 8:11 PM

The Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets were matched up in the first round of the NBA playoffs this year, and the Clippers took a 2 games to 1 lead after three games, despite being the underdog. With the...

Andy Blumenthal

Apr 14, 2025, 6:44 AM

From Destruction to Rebirth

What we lost in the fire, we will find in the ashes. - The Magnificent Seven This theme is perhaps nowhere more prominent than in our recent history, where our people went from the gas chambers and ovens of the Holocaust...

Danielle Sobkin

Feb 3, 2025, 12:00 AM

Between Who I Was and Who I Am Becoming

Screenshot. (courtesy)

There are moments when I catch my reflection in a subway window, or a conference glass wall, and I don’t recognize the woman staring back at me. I pause, searching for some trace of the girl I used to...

Jan 2, 2025, 10:36 PM

Why do we make New Year’s resolutions when we don’t stick to them?

'Joseph and His Brothers,' by Franz Anton Maulbertsch, between 1745-1750. (Wikimedia Commons)

Learn from Judah, who, in contrast to many sinners, takes responsibility for his actions, and from Joseph, who forgives those who wronged him (Vayigash)

Dec 26, 2024, 11:27 PM

Brothers in Alms

Last week we were captivated by the response of Joseph to the Ish, the mystical person he encountered when he had lost his way. When asked what do you seek, he responds; “My Bothers!” There is a staggering visualization...

Oct 13, 2024, 6:29 PM

Our rabbis deem the days between Rosh Chodesh Elul and Yom Kippur as yemi ratzon-—days of yearning. During this 40–day period, Jewish people across the world ponder lifestyle and spiritual changes. Lifelong smokers consider going cold turkey from all tobacco...

Malka Fleischmann

Oct 11, 2024, 7:34 AM

Where is teshuvah, when you can’t go home again?

A couple of weeks ago, I returned to my gap-year seminary, the Stella K. Abraham Beit Midrash for Women, more commonly called by the name of the kibbutz over which it casts its mighty shadow, Migdal Oz. Arriving there...

Oct 9, 2024, 4:10 PM

You Shall Be Pure

The nature of Yom Kippur is a profound mystery. We know that something powerful and wonderful is happening, but it’s not easy to clearly identify what that ‘something’ is. I think the key to understanding the nature of this...

Oct 8, 2024, 9:58 AM

It shouldn’t have happened.

Today is October 7th, 2024. But it still feels like October 7th, 2023. The pain is just as fresh. Watching the ceremonies was excruciating. I’m not here to rehash the pain, suffering, and trauma—these have been addressed elsewhere—but the truth...

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