Wednesday, September 13, 2006
September 11th
As a Jew of faith I believe from the bottom of my heart that one day G-d will make the decision that my work down here will be over and I will break the earthly bounds and rejoin Him in Heaven. The question that has plagued me all through this week is, what will I be doing at that time? Will I have the merit like all those brave police officers and firefighters to be selflessly rushing to the aid of my fellow earthly companions?
Read the whole storyThursday, September 07, 2006
Strength in Numbers
There are roughly 5.1 million Jews in America. About 10% of those Jews identify with being Orthodox. That means there are 510,000 Orthodox Jews in America today. What would it take to double our number to 1 million Orthodox Jews? Can you imagine the impact we could have if Teaneck or Woodmere was double the size?
Read the whole storyFriday, August 04, 2006
Defending Israel
As a community we teach our children to be Zionistic, to support Israel, to love Eretz Yisroel. Yet, when it comes to physically defending that same land our community seems to be woefully lacking. Why?
Read the whole storyWednesday, August 02, 2006
Erev Tisha B'Av
Today is Erev Tisha B’Av and once again we are facing a war for our right to live peacefully in our homeland.
Read the whole storyWednesday, July 26, 2006
Our Future Leaders
Jewish teenagers can spend their days relaxing on (separate) beaches or watching (G rated) movies all summer long. Yet, last week in Auschwitz stood 40 teenagers who had given up a carefree summer (complete with overlooked American luxuries) to dedicate themselves to their people.
Read the whole storyWednesday, July 19, 2006
Mazal Tov to Rhonda and Nachman
As I spoke with Rhonda she frankly stated, “It’s pretty wild that I’m marrying a chasid”. Thinking back, I replied, “It could just have easily been a non-Jew”, to which she responded, “How true”.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
My NCSY Summer Experience
Shabbos was one of the best shabbosim I have had in 10 years because it has been 10 years since I last spent shabbos at NCSY Kollel.
Read the whole storyWednesday, July 05, 2006
Glorious Paris
If only they knew how hard it is to leave my wife and kids for these trips. Being away from my family for a day is torture. Two and a half weeks…
Yet, my aishes chayil and my four little tzadikim tolerate my trips because they believe in Klal Yisroel.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Mi KeAmcha Yisroel
It was in this context that I was in the middle of the dance floor with Noach, Rabbi Tzali Freedman and Charlie Harary. It was an intense and moving moment as the four of us danced together. Suddenly, Noach leaned over to me and asked, “When will Central East NCSY get the computer equipment they desperately need?” There we were with Noach on top of the world and he was still focusing on Klal Yisroel’s needs ahead of his own. Mi KeAmcha Yisroel!!!
Read the whole storyWednesday, June 14, 2006
Kiruv Conference
We are continually surrounded by scores of Jews who are drowning in a sea of materialism, G-dlessness, and secularism, yet few observant Jews turn to dive in and help their fellow Jews. Klal Yisrael is losing far too many motivated, intelligent, spiritually hungry Jews to assimilation and it all of our responsibility to jump in and save them.
Read the whole storyThursday, June 08, 2006
Nothing Like NCSY
Nowhere is the pressure of assimilation greater than in then halls of today’s public high schools. It during the vulnerable teenage years where there is immense peer pressure to conform to today’s latest fads. The task of Kiruv amongst teenagers is so difficult that few organizations have even attempted it for this age group. This is where National Conference of Synagogue Youth (NCSY) shines like no other Kiruv organization.
Read the whole storyWednesday, May 31, 2006
Shavuot
This devastating state of affairs means that on this Shavuot holiday four-fifths our Jewish brothers and sisters will inadvertently exclude themselves from celebrating their heritage simply because they are not even aware of the existence of such a Jewish holiday.
Read the whole storyWednesday, May 24, 2006
Fulfilling G-d's Mission
I always ask myself, “If I was not doing what I am currently doing, would someone else take my place? If NCSY did not exist, would there be another organization that brings thousands of teens closer to Yiddishkeit?”
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
The True Purpose of Tikun Olam
So many Jews today consider Tikun Olam (i.e. social justice) to be a religion onto itself. We must never forget that although we can play a pivotal role in fixing the world, ultimately it is still G-d’s world.
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Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Synagogues as a User Friendly Place
I am always astonished by how few Orthodox Synagogues have kippot boxes in their lobby. Even if an unaffiliated Jew were to walk into most Orthodox synagogues there are very few provisions for them. We must make our synagogues more user friendly to all.