Jewish World

The story of Purim begins 523 years before the miracle of Purim, in the Hebrew year of 2882 (878 BCE). Hashem commanded King Saul to wipe out Israel's arch-enemy, the nation of Amalek. King Saul buckled under political pressure and failed to fulfill Hashem's commandment. He had misplaced mercy on Agag, the Amalekite king. King Saul resultingly lost the monarchy and the seed of Amalek again rooted itself. We fast forward to the Hebrew year of 3405 (355 BCE). "Showdown in Shushan," in the Persian Empire, is where the 10th generation great-grandson of Agag - Haman - threatens to annihilate the entire Jewish People. The 10th generation great-grandson of Saul - Mordechai - must now make some painful decisions to thwart Haman's evil scheme. The question is, will he too, like his great-grandfather King Saul, bow to political correctness? Let's see how this is the template for current events...

The story of Purim is the story of the true national leader of Israel. It begins with Abraham, continues with King David and then with Mordechai. It will soon culminate with Moshiach. Our past is our future. One cannot understand current events in Israel without understanding the events that led to the miraculous downfall of our enemies. The tyrants and traitors of old are still with us today.

The debate that's ripping Israel apart: should Yeshiva students be drafted into the army or not? Who really protects our country, the soldiers or the Torah scholars? Rabbi Lazer Brody, who has been on both sides of the fence, answers...

We say over one hundred blessings every day. There's a blessing for waking up in the morning. We recite another blessing before going to sleep at night. Everything we eat and drink requires a blessing. Then, there are additional blessings when we finish eating. After answering the call of nature, there is a required blessing. We haven't yet scratched the surface. What's the purpose of so many blessings? 

One good deed, or mitzva, that one person does for someone else has the power to invoke miracles. This particular good deed, on Highway 34 in the south of Israel, ultimately saved three lives.

Earlier today, a Hezbollah missile struck a number of civilian vehicles near the northern community of Dovev, near the border with Lebanon. Six of the casualties were Israel Electric Corporation employees who had arrived to repair damaged power lines. Such an attack against civilians would cross any nation's red line. Yet Israel, despite daily threats to Nasrulla and Hezbolla, still acts in restraint. In stark contrast, the narrative of Samuel I:30 is uncanningly similar to today's war. Let's see how King David reacted after consulting with the Almighty. The lesson of Ziklag is the Tanach's definition of deterrence.

The Gemara says that a prohibition done for Hashem's sake is greater than a mitzva that's not done for Hashem's sake (Nazir 23b). Here's a story that I told in the Ojai, California Chabad house about something that the Heavenly Court would certainly consider to be a "kosher" tattoo. Unlike us, the Heavenly Court takes all considerations into account.

The pro and anti-judicial reforms factions, as well as Israel's different political parties, are at each other's throats. It's no coincidence that the crescendo of this huge crisis is happening during the week of Tisha B'av. Can Israel survive this internal existential challenge?

In today's false world of shidduchim (matchmaking) with these ridiculous resumes that people demand, an Avraham Avinu or a Rebbe Akiva wouldn't have a chance. How many people today would refuse a shidduch with King David, because his great-grandmother was a convert? How many people today would refuse a shidduch with King Solomon, because his mother his mother was a divorcee? If you're looking for a soulmate for yourself or for your children, here is some vital food for thought.

There are repeated time in Jewish history when a single woman's heartbeat was the only difference between physical and spiritual survival and annihilation. Today's podcast is a tribute to Rabbi Zecharia HaCohen Wallerstein zatza"l, who departed the physical world on Rosh Chodesh Iyar, 5782 (2 May, 2022).

Here's an important and practical message about Jewish unity. "The Toothpick Test" is something that anyone can do, especially at the family Purim table. We cordially invite Prime Minister Netanyahu and opposition leaders Gantz and Lapid to join us in this test.

February, 2023 has been a tragic month for Israel. We cannot allow the blood of our cherished sons and martyrs to cry out in vain. It's easy to blame others but that won't stop the bloodshed. Here's what each of us must do, right now.