This Little Light of Mine Sarah Pachter It may be hard to imagine what Israeli-born Michal Oshman, a top executive at TikTok UK, has in common with the small group of Maccabees we know so well from Chanukah. When Michal was 18, she left home…
Dear Readers, Impulsive feelings. Imagery. Public pressure. Shaming. Who would imagine the power these currently wield? If we can travel back in time and ask people what their opinion would be, taking into account the relative risk involved, regarding shutting down schools, not visiting the…
A Different Angle Sarah Pachter When defending white collar criminals in court, a high-profile defense attorney once shared that the hardest part of his job is explaining to his clients that they have committed a crime. Preposterous! Or so we think. Interestingly, the human mind…
Dear Readers, The first time I went skiing, I signed up for lessons as I had no idea how to ski. The lessons started at 11:00am but the slopes opened at 10:00am so I figured I’ll try skiing a couple of times on my own,…
I’m Done Complaining Sarah Pachter Have you ever read a story from the Torah and thought, I can’t believe the Jewish nation did that! I always find it fascinating that when we learn segments from the Torah, in hindsight it seems obvious to the reader…
Dear Readers, While walking with my 10-year-old daughter the other day, she stopped and said that she wishes the Yetzer Hara operated the way children’s books describe; a sinister character lurking in the bushes, instead of the reality of his being within us. Perhaps without…
It takes A Village: Revolutionary New Community Coming to LA Devorah Talia Gordon Perhaps you’ve seen the large sign up in the heart of Pico-Robertson announcing The Village, a first-of-its-kind project about to be launched in LA. A six-story apartment building and community center for…
They Broke into the Jewelry Store! Sarah Pachter Before I was born, my mother prayed daily that my father would not have to work on Shabbat. She longed to observe it properly and attend synagogue weekly. She prayed for over ten years, with no success.…
Dear Readers, We all know the importance of Ahavas Yisroel, loving our fellow Yid. We also know that the Torah doesn’t allow us to keep grudges and act upon them. The reality is that there are people we naturally get along with and there are…
The Wisdom of Getting UnstuckRabbi Shimshon Meir FrankelMosaica Press250 pp. Reviewed by Devorah Talia Gordon “You are the author of your own story. You’re the main character and, as you know, a compelling story always has the main character come into conflict with an opposing…
Young Israel of Hancock Park Welcomes Rabbi Elan and Rebbetzin Elisheva Segelman Devorah Talia Gordon After an extensive search process, Young Israel of Hancock Park is proud to announce the arrival of their new rabbi and rebbetzin, Rabbi Elan and Rebbetzin Elisheva Segelman. The couple…
Yeshiva Ketana of Los Angeles to Expand Its Campus to Accommodate Its Growing Student Body Yehudis Litvak Since Yeshiva Ketana of Los Angeles opened its doors ten years ago, it has been expanding to accommodate its unprecedented growth. This year, with over 300 students, Yeshiva…
Dear Readers, No matter one’s opinion about the Chinese virus and how the world has reacted to it, we can all agree that fear is not the Jewish way. Everything that happens in this world comes from Hashem. Nothing happens to us without Hashem having…
I Don’t Make Birthday Parties Sarah Pachter I don’t throw birthday parties. Instead, I make siyums. Any time a child of ours completes any type of Jewish learning, Torah book, or sefer, we make a celebration. They choose how they want to celebrate, and we…
You can always come home! Rabbi Chaim Shaul Brook, Chabad Shliach to Bozeman Montana We are in the midst of the High Holy Days, a time of reflection and new beginnings. Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur bring to life judgment and sincerity, Sukkot and Shemini-Atzeret/Simchat-Torah…
“I Can’t Afford that Hotel!” Sarah Pachter Rav Yisroel Salanter was known to share the following mashal. There was once an extremely expensive hotel that charged $120,000 per night. They offered proration per minute, and even the most affluent individuals often chose this option. A…
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