1. Home
  2. /
  3. Mendel's Messages
no comments

Biblical Fruits of Israel

Deuteronomy (Devarim) 8:8 speaks of “A land of wheat and barley, of grape-vines, figs and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and date-honey.”

On Tu-Bishvat, the Jewish New Year for Trees (usually in February), it is customary to partake of … Read the rest

...
no comments

Cold Snap

We’re all experiencing the Cold Snap here in Albany, as winter has been especially harsh since the start of the Spring semester. We happened to take out this children’s picture book from the Library titled “Cold Snap” by Eileen Spinelli, … Read the rest

...
no comments

Superbowl LIX (#59) 2025 Insights & Messages

As we’ve been doing for a number of years now, with the help of sports enthusiast students and alumni, we try to prepare a set of inspiration and life messages or Jewish/Torah connections to this year’s Superbowl to share on … Read the rest

...
no comments

Mr. Rader and the Expedited Tefillin

I thought this story was fitting for Parsha Bo, because (a) two of the sections inscribed  in our Tefillin are in this week’s Parsha Bo, and (b) Parsha Bo speaks of the urgency and haste with which the Jews left … Read the rest

...
no comments

Inspiration from Agam Berger & Gadi Mozes

Of course, each of the hostages returning home is a world unto his/her own, and means the world to their family and friends, and indeed all of our people. But we’re also starting to hear stories and snippets of individual … Read the rest

...
no comments

Buffalo Bills vs Chiefs Jan 2025

I don’t know much about the respective strengths of Buffalo Bills vs. the Chief going into this all-important game, but I know many UAlbany students and alumni very invested & eager for a Bills win! So what can be learned … Read the rest

...
no comments

Blessed is Man Who Trusts in G-d

We watched parts of President Trump’s 2025 Inauguration this week, especially the benediction by Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, President of Yeshiva University. The rabbi’s speech wasn’t as dramatic or theatrical as the pastor from Detroit who followed him, but his … Read the rest

...
no comments

Opposites Abstract

“Opposites Abstract” is a profound children’s picture book by Mo Willems with plenty of food for thought for adult readers, too.

You may know Mo Willems from his Pigeon books, the Knufflebunny, or Piggy and Gerald. He might be considered … Read the rest

...
no comments

Pensive Ponderings on the LA Fires

So many of us have been glued to the news of the multiple Los Angeles Fires: the Palisades Fire, the Eaton fire, other nearby fires, devouring thousands of acres, destroying whole communities. Wildfires aren’t new to California, but they’re usually … Read the rest

...
no comments

Parasitic Drain (in Cars & People)

We love our blue 2007 Honda Odyssey minivan, still trying to squeeze more mileage out of it, It’s latest problem though is that its chewing through car batteries way too fast. AAA installed a new car-battery in 2021 and we’ve … Read the rest

...