Opinion Archives | Page 10 of 10

Opinion

Did They Really All Miss The Point?

“Every article misses many points; on a topic like pnimiyus HaTorah, אילו פינו מלא שירה כים would still not suffice. But to say all three missed the point is a strong charge. In this case, the very source he brings, קונטרס עניינה של תורת החסידות, shows otherwise.”

OU Leaders Take Rebbe’s Lesson From Dubai Hijacking

In a statement, Orthodox Union President Mitch Aeder and OU CEO Rabbi Josh Joseph reflect on the Rebbe’s timeless lesson that “a Jew is never stuck,” and how it came vividly to life aboard the hijacked Dubai flight.

Should Mamdani Be Welcome in Crown Heights?

"The sight of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani visiting a sukkah in Crown Heights raises a question that goes well beyond the usual Chol Hamoed photo-op."

Since When Was Chassidus Meant to Be Self-Serving?

"In the past few weeks, we have had three thoughtful articles wrestling with essentially the same question: What is Chassidus supposed to do to a person? The articles disagree with one another in important ways. But I think they all miss the most basic point."

What Happens After Shiva Ends?

"We all know someone who has lost a loved one, and maybe we've experienced it ourselves. We know about the shiva, the meals, the calls, the people who come to visit, and how to be there in those first days. But what happens after?"

Authentic Chassidus or Relatable Chassidus: Why Not Both?

"There has lately been a long string of passionate articles warning about the ways Chassidus and psychology are being merged, and about the danger of psychological ideas being dressed up and presented as Chassidus. I would like to make one observation. Maybe the challenge is not to choose between authentic Chassidus and relatable Chassidus. Maybe the challenge is to become much better at doing both."

Chassidus Was Never Meant to Leave the Person Behind

"The nimshal of all of Chassidus was never the sefiros. The Rebbe said this in the first maamar he ever delivered and repeated it for forty years. The purpose of everything, of the entire Seder Hishtalshelus, is a dirah for Hashem in the lowest world, the world of which there is none lower."

Are You Meant to Succeed in 5787?

"In recent years, I’ve found that my Rosh Hashanah davening comes alive much more when I stop and ask myself: what would a truly good and sweet year actually look like for me?"

Chassidus Misapplied: The Dangerous Reinvention of Chassidus

"A new discussion has emerged around the application of Chassidus and making it more practical and meaningful in our daily lives. On the surface, this would seem like a welcome endeavor: to translate the ideals of Chassidus into actual practice. Unfortunately, this is not what we are seeing."

Maybe $50,000 Was Never the Problem

“We hand young Anash a savings number like it’s a mitzvah, and nobody checks if the number is even right. People sit down with a lender only after they think they’re ready. That’s backwards. That conversation should happen first, not as a reward after five years of sacrifice.”

What Is Going On at 451 Kingston Avenue?

"There are some addresses that become more than just buildings. They become symbols of the problems a neighborhood can no longer afford to ignore."

Five Years of Saving, and We’re Still Nowhere Near a House

"My husband and I have been renting since we got married, saving up to buy a house the way everyone tells you to. Five years in, we sat down and counted what we have. $50,000. It's not even a real down payment."

A Caring Bus Driver Made All the Difference

"You may not realize it, but you can make a tremendous difference in a child’s life, in a mother’s life, and in an entire family’s day. For a family with several kids, a calm school morning versus a stressful one can set the tone for everything that follows."

I Wanted My Children to Speak Yiddish, Here’s What Worked

"I’ve often heard parents say that they would love for their children to speak Yiddish, but they’re not sure how to make it happen, especially when everything around them is in English. I don’t claim to be an expert in language or chinuch, but I can share what worked in our home."

Ateres Chaya’s Doors Have Closed, But Its Lessons Live On

"For 12 years, Ateres Chaya Mushka School for Girls served the Crown Heights community. It was truly a gem of a school - one of a kind." One thankful mother shares a glimpse into some of its highlights, so that we can all learn from its beautiful ways.

A Threat to the Security and Future of Crown Heights

"What will be the future of Crown Heights?! Will our neighborhood become the center of homelessness, crime, drug usage, mental illness, and poverty in New York City?! Is this what we really want for our future?"

You’re Getting Everything Done, But Where Are You Going?

Life has a way of keeping us incredibly busy without ever forcing us to ask where all that busyness is taking us. Elul and Rosh Hashanah give us the chance to stop moving long enough to remember where we actually want to go. From a shiur by Rabbi Mendel Schapiro of Los Angeles.

Tomchei Tmimim Doesn’t Need to Be Reinvented

"We all recognize the amazing contribution of Tomchei Temimim to our own lives and to world Jewry. But sometimes we still think that there are those who have a thing or two to teach the Yeshiva as well. After all, the Yeshiva is, in many ways, old-fashioned and outdated."

The Job Everyone Thinks They Know How to Do

"My friend who is a plumber doesn't have others telling him how to his job. Even my friends who are Chabad House Rabbis will not allow their congregants to dictate how they run their Chabad House. But the good Mechanech will need to take abuse and face derision for doing what they are most qualified to do."

But How Can I Listen to Them?

"There are so many incredible podcasts and interviews being produced today by some of the best people around the world. But I keep coming back to one simple question: How can I listen to them?"

You Really Want to Change; So Why Haven’t You?

We tend to assume that if we truly wanted to change, we would have changed already. A powerful insight in the Rebbe’s maamar Ani L’Dodi 5726 suggests that the truth may be very different. From an Elul shiur by Los Angeles Mashpia Rabbi Mendel Schapiro.