Taking Out the Garbage Isn’t About You

Article by Rabbi Mordechai Lipskier: If my marriage is about me, my status, pride or sense of fulfillment, I’d surely choose to do only the more sophisticated and pleasurable jobs. But marriage shouldn’t be about me. It should be about something greater than me.

“With My Yisroel I Won’t Argue!”

A chossid of the Alter Rebbe from his early years in Liozna, R. Yisroel Yafeh of Dubravna was a talented baal menagen. When the Alter Rebbe went to rest during the Zhlobiner chassuna, he played his violin outside the door, inspiring the Rebbe to recite a maamar until 7 am.

The Cartier Saleswoman was Taken by His Confidence

Article by Rabbi Mordechai Lipskier: There’s a notion that by blurring the boundaries between Yidden and goyim we’ll gain their respect. That we’ll solve the problem of anti-Semitism or anti-Israel biases by showing that we’re really all the same. But the opposite is true.

When “Normal” Parenting Doesn’t Cut It

Article by Rabbi Mordechai Lipskier: If we always go with what’s normal, chances are that when our children grow up, they may do even less than we did. But if we make a point to allow an “abnormal” situation—we have the children share rooms to make space for guests—these doses of abnormal commitment to Hashem will help educate our children to overcome tough times ahead of them.

Who’s Making Chinuch Decisions in Our Schools?

Article by Rabbi Mordechai Lipskier: In the summer of 5718 (1958), there was a huge controversy amongst activists and journalists about a certain demonstration about Eretz Yisroel. At a farbrengen, the Rebbe noted that with all the screaming and blaming, people were missing the most vital point.

He Got the Czar’s Mattresses for the Rebbe

When the Frierdiker Rebbe asked R’ Boruch Sholom Kahn to buy mattresses for the Rebbe Rashab and Rebbetzin Shterna Sara, he went to the fanciest store and was not satisfied until they gave him the mattresses designated for Czar Nikolai II.

Screens Don’t Need to be Put in Shaimos

Article by Rabbi Mordechai Lipskier: When we daven, say Tehillim, or learn Torah from an actual sefer, it’s an opportunity to hold a holy object and turn its holy pages. If at all possible, why exchange such an amazing opportunity for the convenience of a digital device?

Kibbud Av V’Eim is Not for ‘Perfect Parents’

Article by Rabbi Mordechai Lipskier: The Torah doesn’t command us to honor the perfect parents. It commands us to honor our parents. The Rebbe showed that sometimes we need to be creative in finding ways of fulfilling this mitzvah even when it’s difficult.

 
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