This Thursday, after the Passover Seders, we attended two funerals of people we know from the community. As the Yiddish saying goes, “No one should die any younger” for both these people lived long and full lives. At each of … Read the rest

A Yeshiva friend of mine recently shared this story with me:

A wealthy man from a non-Chabad Chassidic community was an admirer of the Rebbe’s work. Once he had opportunity to see the Rebbe, sometime close to Passover, and offered … Read the rest

In the Haggadah Rabbi Gamliel says that there are three key words, critical to the Passover experience, that must be said on the Seder Night. They are: Pesach, Matzah and Maror. Pesach is the Paschal Lamb, which even though we … Read the rest

It’s almost Passover now,  but at his 18th yarzteit we just heard this beautiful, humorous and telling Sukkot story about the hearty and warm Chassid, my grandfather, Reb Moshe Rubin, of blessed memory, from Reb Leibel Morrison of Chabad in … Read the rest

My two oldest daughters with their Maimonides Bnos Chaya High School class visit a teen named Judy in St. Margarets, a pediatric and young adult Nursing facility in Albany.

This time, the nurses suggested they tell her a story or … Read the rest

I (Rabbi Mendel) was on the checkout line in a local store this week and overheard two teens speaking an unfamiliar foreign language. Curious I asked them what language they were speaking.

“Albanian,” they replied. Albanians in Albany!

“Is Albanian … Read the rest

by Michelle Fast

Many of you know that I am actively involved in Jewish life at UAlbany, serving on both the Hillel and Lchaim Boards, so when I went to Washington DC this semester for the Albany Washington Semester program, … Read the rest

Today (29 Adar) is the yartzeit of my grandfather Reb Moshe Rubin for whom our son Moshe is named. He passed away in 1996 in the period between my engagement to Raizy and our marriage. He was a unique Chassid, … Read the rest

This Shabbat (3/1/2014) as we read the last Torah portion in the Book of Shmos or Exodus, there’s a complicated Haftorah (portion from the Prophets read after the Torah reading) situation.

Regularly we would read the Haftorah for Pekudei, which … Read the rest

by visiting Dan D.

Some time ago I was traveling the Thruway and stopped off at a rest-stop. As I walked out of the restroom I noticed my reflection in the mirror. It took me by surprise, since I appeared … Read the rest