I recently listened to a long, meaningful and memorable interview of Rabbi Aharon Cousin of London on the HFL (Homesick for Lubavitch) Podcast with Bentzi Avtzon.
It goes back to his WWII childhood, he mentions his childhood chewing tar out … Read the rest
...While visiting Philadelphia (Mendel had a speaking engagement at one of the Chabads) we did a walking tour of the Old City, Philadelphia’s historic center. While there we really wanted to visit the historic Mikveh Israel synagogue, a Philadelphia landmark.… Read the rest
It’s well known that the “Proclaim Liberty throughout the Land, to all the inhabitants thereof!” line inscribed on the historic Liberty Bell in Philadelphia – is a biblical verse from Leviticus.
But it’s quite something else to actually see it … Read the rest
...This summer I’m spending 8 Fridays serving on a Grand Jury where cases are presented by the ADA/prosecution teams to confirm that there’s enough evidence to go to trial. Mum is the word, we’re not supposed to share any of … Read the rest
...A Midrashic description of the biblical Rivka/Rebecca in the house of Lavan/Laban before marrying Isaac is “Like a Rose Among Thorns.”
I thought of this phrase a number of times during my stint at Grand Jury duty on 8 Fridays … Read the rest
...What was Moshe looking for in his successor?
The verse in Parsha Pinchas tells us when Moshe asked about a successor, he addressed G-d as “G-d of the Spirits!”
Now, that’s an unusual expression! Why did Moshe address G-d this … Read the rest
...It so happens that this week, (especially HT to a tweet by digital artist Ilan Block on Twitter) this Mishna in Avot (Ethics of our Fathers) came to life in most vivid ways:
“Contemplate three things, and you will not … Read the rest
...Unfortunately, flooding is a big news item this July 2025. The July 4th flooding along the Guadalupe River in the Texas claimed 130 lives (including young children at a summer camp, families in trailers, others vacationing etc) with many people … Read the rest
...Flooding can be a big problem, it can be a terrible, devastating thing. It can ruin basements, carry away cars or entire homes, and worse, it can be life-threatening. Yes, water is life-giving, it’s a key ingredient of life and … Read the rest
...On the weekend prior to Gimmel Tammuz (3rd of Tammuz, Rebbe’s Yartzeit) this 5785/2025 we hosted a Galperin Family Reunion Get-Together. Long beautiful story of its own, but that’s why I was sitting on the couch reading books to my … Read the rest
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