1. Home
  2. /
  3. Mendel's Messages
  4. /
  5. Page 5
no comments

#RashiToday: Eikev

Eikev Day 1:

Eikev can mean “because” or “heel”. The former seems to be a simpler contextual fit, but #RashiToday (Eikev Day 1) goes with heel (as the sole interpretation), as in (fully) fulfilling “mitzvot people tend to (figuratively/attitudinally) trample … Read the rest

...
no comments

#RashiToday: Vaetchanan

Vaetchanan Day 1:

1st #RashiToday commentary on Vaetchanan (Day 1) has 2 commentaries on this usual (opening) title word: (1) request for a free gift (2) a form of prayer. Based on a bunch of questions, Rebbe sees them as … Read the rest

...
no comments

Reasons to Celebrate Tu B’Av

The Talmud Taanit (near the end) lists 5 historical reasons to highly celebrate TuBav (15th of Av) in contrast & soon after the dark sadness TishaBAv:

(1) it marks when generation of desert stopped dying before entry to Israel (2) … Read the rest

...
no comments

#RashiToday: Devarim

Devarim Day 1

Moshe insisted his critique of their behavior be said to ALL the Jews, lest anyone non-present feel it irrelevant for them. But the critique itself was couched in allegory, indirectly referenced by locations, out of respect for … Read the rest

...
no comments

Half-Tefillin in a Yurt

Many years ago, in my childhood, probably in the mid-1980’s my father (Rabbi Yisrael Rubin) told this very unusual story in our Sukkah, thanks to an indirect regards from a Sukkah guest who had recently come from Israel.

It was … Read the rest

...
no comments

Six Studies for the Nine Days

“The Nine Days” which ends with the fast day of Tisha (9th of) B’Av is a time of year that marks the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple. It is a fitting time to study about it and find ways to … Read the rest

...
no comments

Broadening the Channel, Allow for More Flow!

After several weeks of heavy summer rains, with destructive flooding south of us in the Hudson Valley and devastating flooding in nearby Vermont to the northeast – there was a top-of-fold front page “Times-Union” article by reporter Rick Karlin on … Read the rest

...
no comments

#BarbieHeimer release in Menachem-Av

As July 21st 2023 happens to be the release date for two opposite types of films, there’s been a plethora of social-media memes that juxtapose the smiling cheery hot pink luminous Barbie (a film of fantasy and fun) next to … Read the rest

...
no comments

How They Described Their Mother

As a campus rabbi I’m not often asked to officiate at funerals but a local close family friend who helped us build Shabbos House asked me to officiate this week at the funeral of his mother-in-law, who passed away suddenly … Read the rest

...
no comments

A Rained-Out July 4th?

A rained-out July 4th!?

This July 4th, 2023, close to the time of fireworks, the Albany NY skies opened up with lots of thunder & lightning along with a very heavy downpour. It was so intense, the annual Fireworks Show Read the rest

...