A terminally ill woman’s dream to see Barry Manilow at Madison Square Garden came true when he gave her a private 15-minute concert in her hospital room, embodying bikkur cholim. This act of kindness reflects the Divine spark in all, inspiring figures like Jerry Lewis to uplift others with their talents.

In Parashat Eikev, Moshe teaches Bnei-Yisrael that all Mitzvot are equal under "Kalah KeVaChamurah," holding the same value in HaShem’s eyes. The term “Eikev” (heel), with a gematria of 172, links to the Ten Commandments and implies constancy (“Keva”) in observance to gain covenantal blessings, or “Beka” (broken) if neglected, risking exile. Faithful observance ensures divine prosperity and miraculous victories in the Promised Land.

Recent moves by France, Canada, and the UK to recognize a Palestinian state, alongside a Senate vote to halt arms sales to Israel, echo the abandonment depicted in Eicha, leaving many stunned. Yet, as Pirkei Avot and Tehillim 121 remind us, true help comes from Hashem, not earthly allies. Despite historical threats from Rome to modern Europe, the Jewish people’s enduring bond with God ensures their resilience and flourishing.

You arrive home exhausted, too drained to help your wife, only to be tempted by a basketball game invitation. When you try to leave, she blocks you, sparking a "foul" cry. Parashat Eikev teaches that clinging to God (דבק) requires the same devotion to one’s wife, warning that distractions causing זנות (spiritual infidelity) harm both bonds. A schedule,e.g., basketball on Tuesdays and Thursdays until 10 PM, can balance fitness with marital harmony, ensuring she feels prioritiz

In Aaron Silverstein's opinion piece, Superman is portrayed as a Jewish myth akin to Moses, embodying restraint and moral clarity against power obsessions. Jews are likened to history's true punk rockers for defying empires and promoting revolutionary Torah principles like workers' rights, animal welfare, environmental care, and universal dignity, making them perennial outsiders challenging moral relativism.

Cap Curious from West Hollywood expresses discomfort from wearing a wig, experiencing scalp pressure after three hours. Tallie from TNT by Tallie suggests using a non-slip velvet band, a fabric pocket for excess hair, or a larger cap size to improve comfort, and invites further details to tailor solutions.

After a natural disaster stripped a man of everything, he still gave an $18 check in shul, only to receive a secret million-dollar gift from the same friend. This Tisha B’Av tale, shared by Rabbi Ephraim Shapiro, shows how silent, dignified kindness, preserving a soul’s worth, can rebuild what was lost, urging us to love quietly and compassionately.

David Greenberg reflects on post-Tisha B’Av dining as summer flies by, highlighting creative Nine Days menus. He reviews Fish Grill’s fish tacos and grilled fish (79/100), a weekly staple, and teams up with LA Jewish Home’s David Rogatsky to explore Trattoria Natalie’s rice balls and ravioli (85/100). Despite missing meat, they find joy in light, crispy dishes, promising more guest reviews next issue.

Each morning starts with Mode Ani, a prayer thanking our Creator for a new day. Sheina Gilbert’s poem encourages gratitude and kindness: “Cordials are chocolate, with filling so sweet. Just like nice words, when people we meet.” Begin with a wide smile and a cheerful “good morning,” use “please,” “thank you,” and “excuse me” to spread joy, and end with a sincere “good night.” These manners, echoing Pirkei Avot’s “Sayver Panim Yafot” (a cheerful countenance), reflect the kind

In 2025, France, UK, and Canada plan to recognize Palestine at the UN, shifting from talks-based policy. Supporters see solidarity, but Israel views it as aiding Hamas and delaying hostage release. Recognition rewards violence without disarmament demands, weakening negotiations. False Gaza suffering images, debunked by Eitan Fischberger despite 2M tons of aid since Oct 2023, persist. Lou Shapiro calls it propaganda over peace.

The Talmud (Berachos 55a) suggests addressing bad dreams with “hatavas chalomos” before three friends, a practice Sephardim follow per Shulchan Aruch, though fasting is optional. Ashkenazim often recite “Ribono shel olom” during birchas kohanim instead. Aruch Hashulchan advises ignoring dreams unless tied to holy thoughts, as they may stem from mundane influences or overeating. The Lubavitcher Rebbe echoes this, noting dreams lack significance for those with worldly distracti

In Parshat Vaetchanan, Shabbat’s “Shamor” and “Zachor” commands offer a Torah blueprint for self-care, urging us to guard its sanctity and remember its purpose daily. This holy pause, blending rest with reflection, reduces stress and fosters resilience, as studies show, making Shabbat a generational gift for our Pico-Robertson families to recharge and renew.

Yehudah Kamman advises women in couples’ coaching to stop overhelping their husbands, who may rely on them to fix the relationship. By researching therapists or planning date nights, women often carry the emotional load, reducing a man’s urgency to grow. Kamman likens men to coal needing pressure to become diamonds, suggesting women create boundaries and focus on their own growth. This shift can inspire men to step up, fostering a dynamic where both thrive, with love rooted i

Why do I fish? Despite the $90 license and $15 lures lost to the ocean, the thrill of standing on Redondo Beach’s jetty, waves crashing, is unmatched. Like Melville’s sailors, I hunt halibut, learning from fish to seek life’s essentials, friends, community, Torah, while staying vigilant.

On the 9th of Av, God decreed that all adults who left Egypt would die in the desert before entering the Holy Land. Each year, 15,000 people would sleep, not expecting to wake, until the last 15,000 did not die on the 9th of Av. Realizing the decree was lifted on the 15th of Av—a day of the full moon—they began to commemorate it. This day signifies appreciating what we have, as taught in Va'etchanan, where loving God comes from recognizing His gifts, like a smiling, caring wi

Ramban sees Torah observance making “Jewishness” “Godliness,” earning praise from foes, per Moshe in Vaetchanan. Living mitzvot inspires awe despite advocacy millions and rising antisemitism. Personal devekut, like Molah Ohr Sharga’s life, may shift this, awakening global admiration through historical miracles.

The Orthodox Union launches a relief drive on August 1, 2025, to aid the Druze community in Syria facing a crisis akin to the October 7 attacks. With tens of thousands displaced and supplies scarce, the OU partners with Israeli Druze leaders and Tzahal to deliver food and medicine. Donate at ou.org/druze to support this vital cause!

Reb Reuven Botvinasokolov, a pioneer Jew in a once-barren land, turned a g’mach into a hub of unity, charging for items but adding love and extras, easing community tensions. His legacy birthed Kehillas Ashkesephardichussid, a shul where Ashkenazim, Sephardim, and Chassidim unite without sinat chinam, a timely Tisha B’Av lesson shared by Sholom Feldheim.

Camp Morasha and Yachad marked 25 years of unity with a vibrant Shiria sing-off, celebrating inclusion as over 1,000 campers joined in song, including a re-recorded hit by Mordechai Shapiro. This milestone event, livestreamed from Lakewood, Pennsylvania, showcased Yachad’s transformative impact, blending joy and purpose for a stronger camp community.

When an 11-year-old boy was told by his wounded father, “It’s time for you to be a man,” he answered with panic and disbelief. But in that moment, something deeper was born, a lesson that would guide one of Israel’s top Intelligence Officers for life: greatness isn’t about readiness; it’s about willingness. In this moving retelling of a true encounter, Charlie Harary reminds us that what separates the underdog from the victor is never skill, but grit, faith, and heart.