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Hemingway’s Old Man and the Sea

At Havdalah and Pizza Ari K. mentioned that he had read Hemingway’s “Old Man and the Sea” over Shabbos. It’s 120+ pages of Hemingway telling the story of an old fisherman who hasn’t caught fish in some 80 days. A … Read the rest

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B’Simcha uvTuv Layvov!

A little background first but this is about a verse in Ki-Tavo, that Alter Rebbe focuses on its inverse message in Tanya Chapter 26, and Rebbe used to quote and emphasize this a great deal.

I was ten years old … Read the rest

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The “Hashkeefa” Magnifier

There’s an unusual word in Parsha Ki-Tavo: “Hashkeefa” that speaks of G-d gazing down upon us from heaven. Commentaries see that gaze as a “zoomed-in” look. This word has more meaning nowadays, now that we’re familiar with zoom lenses and … Read the rest

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Reb Yosef the Coachman

My daughters at the long line of wagons and coaches in the historic museums at the Altamont Fair reminded me this beloved childhood story titled “Reb Yosef the Coachman”. You can read the children’s version here “The Coachman” on Chabad.org… Read the rest

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Helping the Overloaded Donkey

If you see your fellow’s donkey or ox overburdened and fallen on the road, you must not ignore it; instead you must help raise it together. (Ki Teitzei—Deut 22:4)

The Torah portion for UAlbany’s Opening Weekend and the Welcome Shabbat … Read the rest

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25 Years since the Jerusalem Sbarro Bombing

Sbarros isn’t a Kosher eatery in America, but back in 2001 it was a popular Kosher eatery in the heart of Jerusalem, on the corner of King George and Jaffa streets. On the fateful date of August 9, 2001, it … Read the rest

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“Where’s Mommy?” (and Where are the Students?)

by Raizy Rubin

I heard Rabbi Gluckowsky of Rechovot Israel speak at the Kinus HaMechanchos (womens educators) conference I attended this Summer 2026. One thing he said was a piece of advice he gives husbands: “Whenever you come home, first … Read the rest

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Messages from Albany’s Historic Rainfall of 2026

This July 2026 storm ended up being 3X the forecasted rainfall, and more inches per hour than the systems could handle, creeks overflowed and storm sewers backed up. Many homes ended up with water in their basements and some places … Read the rest

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Waterfall Chasing on a Stormy Day in the Catskills

To preface this post: The day of this Catskills outing was Tuesday of the Torah portion of Vaetchanan. The daily study of Chumash of that day ends off with this phrase: “Underneath/at the base of the waterfalls falling from the … Read the rest

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Our Search for Russian Babka

It all began earlier this summer, mid-June, in the Israeli consulate in Manhattan. We were there to get a visa for our daughter to attend seminary in Israel. The line was especially long and the wait took hours, so we … Read the rest

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