Holidays and Fast Days

The lesson of Chanukah is the rejection of non-Jewish values and norms. How can we take that lesson with us throughout the year? The Kalever Rebbe gives important advice...

How do you describe the simple pleasure of celebrating Chanukah in a place where everyone is also rushing home to light their menorah? Our holiday, our land…

The Gemara tells the moving story of Chana and her seven sons, who preferred martyrdom rather than cowering to the Greeks and the Hellenists...

With the illumination of Chanuka lights, parental presence, the joy of dreidel games and the aroma of fried potato pancakes or donuts, a child feels secure...

It's so difficult to see suffering! How can we look "through it" to see the greater good that will be born from it?

HOLOCAUST DAY is 21-Apr. If the guard was especially cruel, he won a visit to the camp brothel, made up of women inmates who were given more food...

There are hero stories and there are "Kiddush Hashem" stories, but the unprecedented true story of Major General Sidney Shachnow, ob"m, combines both and tops them all…

“You are a murderer of children, and I am not afraid of you," said the little girl. That girl was Anna Burda - my very special sister…

The light of the fires on Lag B’Omer is the light of the Torah, and the light of Hashem. This light is in our souls, and it’s what is truly burning inside.

My husband and I had tickets for a bus from Beitar to Meron leaving at 1pm on Lag B'Omer. But hundreds of people were waiting, and there were no buses…

A person does everything to strengthen emuna and get closer to Hashem, only to find that life is even more difficult than it was before. What's going on?

Why do hundreds of thousands of people frequent Rebbe Shimon Bar Yochai's holy gravesite in Meron every Lag B'Omer? They have someone to count on...

Read a riveting and inspiring story of one woman's efforts to obtain forgiveness for her childhood wrongs...

Do you feel stuck in a rut? Are you waiting for something to give you a push forward? David Ben Horin gives great advice that will even help us prepare for the new year...now!

Freelancing is a lesson in humility with zero expectations. But the upside potential is also that much more. If only we could freelance with God…

Frustrated that you make the same goals every year with little change? Here are simple steps to ensure a favorable judgment for the coming year.

On Shevi’i shel Pesach, Nachshon ben Aminadav’s emuna brought about the survival of an entire nation. Imagine that your emuna, your personal holiness, your interpersonal relationships, your teshuva can save every Jew on the planet! It is an auspicious time when the Creator helps us make new beginnings. Let’s take advantage of this opportune time!

In Nissan, we get a renewed desire to draw closer to our Father in Heaven. For this reason, Nissan is the month of teshuva me’ahava and the month of Redemption.

The “extras” we do in the course of performing mitzvot are rewarded in this world. What are those “extras”? We are rewarded for the amount of preparation, excitement, passion, joy, and love that we invest in a mitzvah.

Belief in ourselves is critical before we can extricate ourselves from all the bad in us. How can we focus on the good within without blurring the lines between good and evil?

It's easy to become distracted by the horrific realities in the Ukraine. Nevertheless, we must keep our focus on ensuring that Jews don't abandon Torah and mitzvot. This is the lesson from Mordecai!

I knew about the greatness of Purim and its holiness and about the greatness of joy on that day. On the other hand, I was aware of the widespread phenomena of drunk people who lose their human dignity. I found a sure-fire way to maintain an atmosphere of yirat Shamayim without reaching a state of dissoluteness and silliness.  

Check out these mouth-watering hamantashen recipes that sure to add smiles to your Purim gifts.

Celebrate Purim with these delicious recipes! This year, Purim is followed closely by Shabbat, so time spent cooking and baking is at a premium. We selected recipes that are easy and quick to make, can be made ahead, and can also be used at a Shabbat meal.

We are approaching the Day of Judgment when we will promise (again) to improve. Let's listen to Hashem's advice on how to succeed in really changing!

Celebrate the new year and a new beginning with these delicious recipes from Jamie Geller's kitchen.

Don’t despair and don’t get depressed! This is the best Rosh Hashanah EVER! Don’t understand how? READ THIS URGENT MESSAGE FROM RABBI ARUSH FROM UMAN!

The lesson we can learn from this special request customarily recited on Rosh Hashanah is one particularly suited for our generation…

Acquiring the Torah is a daily task, not a one-time event. Shavuot was the catalyst for the regular, thorough work of receiving the Torah every day.

In life we have to count. When we want something, we wait and count, we set goals and count. Counting is a part of life.

Observing the commandments between man and fellow man must be every person's highest priority all year long - especially so during the Counting of the Omer.

Last year was the second year that I counted all the way through. But what is the inner significance or meaning of why each day needed to be counted?

In the final days before Shavuot, let's internalize the unique purpose of a Jew's life. When we accepted Torah on Mount Sinai and became Hashem's people, we were set aside from the other nations.

Oh no, it’s Rosh Chodesh Sivan - we have less than a week until Shavuot! I need to get my grocery list ready for major shopping. Maybe brisket? What kind of dairy course should I serve? I absolutely must find a new outfit - I can’t wear those rags any more...

What is our strongest weapon against those who want to destroy us? The spiritual energy of the Torah that we accepted at Har Sinai!

Rabbanit Arush gives us a moving tour of the burial site of King David. It's customary on Shavuot night and the next day to come here to pray and beg for mercy.

Celebrate New Years now? Yes! We have an amazing opportunity to renew our spiritual lives during this period.

What's the connection among Parashat Beshalach, Parshat Shirah, Tu B'Shvat, and Shovavim? RENEWAL! We are in a time of renewal for trees and for every Jew.

Do you want to make a positive impact on the world? Here's a concrete way to do just that!

During a lecture in Ashdod for newly observant Israelis, I asked the participants to tell me the hardest things they ever did…

From Rosh Chodesh Elul until Yom Kippur we all become so forgiving to everyone. But what happens the day after? That’s when we have to restart, once again…

When the People of Israel leave their homes and enter the sukkah for the sake of Hashem's Name, they merit to welcome the Divine presence there, and all the seven shepherds...

We can learn from everything - even a wobbly sukkah - to focus on what's important in life. David Ben Horin explains...

…each night of the seven nights of Sukkot expresses Hashem’s love in a different way...

In these times, when it is harder for everyone to make a living, let's pay more attention to our friends: listen to them, encourage them, be considerate. Give more tzedaka and help. Read an unbelievable, true story of such a person...

As we progress through the three weeks of mourning for the destruction of the Holy Temple and our extended exile, let’s remember that the cause is baseless hatred. This can only be remedied by fostering love of Yisrael, both within ourselves and others.

It can be challenging to connect emotionally to something we’ve never seen, something that happened so long ago, but I want to encourage you that it is possible.

When we travel on the path of gratitude, the Evil Inclination sets up land mines and booby traps. How can we possibly succeed? Here are some simple suggestions...

Celebrate New Years now? Yes! We have an amazing opportunity to renew our spiritual lives during this period.

What's the connection among Parashat Beshalach, Parshat Shirah, Tu B'Shvat, and Shovavim? RENEWAL! We are in a time of renewal for trees and for every Jew.

Can the modern man, armed with the latest generation of smartphone, connected to the internet and to hi-tech, relate to an arbor birthday or learn something from a humble tree?

A man is like a tree, and the most important thing is - water! Also find out why do we need to judge the trees at all?

Is there any significance that Israeli Independence Day is on 5-Iyar? You’ll be surprised at how closely that date is tied to Redemption! We dare not miss out on this golden opportunity...

Here is a three-part series of personal stories by those who lived in Israel during those days. Stories of emuna, bitachon, and wonderful achdut (brotherhood).

Gideon Lichtman taught under the assumed name of "Rimon" after Israeli President Ezer Weizman warned him that he could be a target for Arab assassination…

Ben wanted to be one of those guys, but he knew that he had little chance of being accepted to Golani. He was out of shape and almost 90 pounds overweight…

We are approaching the Day of Judgment when we will promise (again) to improve. Let's listen to Hashem's advice on how to succeed in really changing!

You might think that the Day of Atonement should be terrifying, begging for mercy at the feet of the King of Kings. But it is actually a day of love! A MUST READ!

One's own teshuva isn’t enough! Loving Hashem means to ease His suffering by helping one's fellow Jews find their way home as well.

The typical, millennial-old, break-the-fast menu of bagels, lox (salmon), and cream cheese never tasted so good. Check out these recipes and see for yourself!

Hashem says: "I will not build Jerusalem, the Holy City, in Heaven until I build Jerusalem on earth." Watch a beautiful video by Rabbanit Arush.

28-Iyar: Yom Yerushalayim: I put my hand on the stones but the tears that flowed were not mine. They were the tears of all Israel, tears that scorched and burned the heavy gray stone.

Why are we once more faced with the threat of losing parts of Jerusalem, Heaven forbid? Each Jew has a share in Jerusalem, the heart and focal point of our people…

Oh Jerusalem, my precious and beloved Jerusalem! Despite the decades of living here in the King's palace, it is still thrilling...