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What’s this brick doing on the table?

BrickonShabbosTable

Back in my yeshiva days studying Talmud, there were times that commentaries had better questions than answers. This might be the case with the bricks on the tables this Friday Night, hopefully my explanation might be as good as good … Read the rest

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Crying for the Other

When the brothers were united with Joseph, the verse says: “Benjamin cried on Joseph’s shoulder, and Joseph cried on Benjamin’s shoulders.”

The Medrash takes note of the switch from singular to plural. Why singular for Joseph’s shoulder and plural for … Read the rest

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The Year I Missed Menorah

By Raizy Rubin

On the Shabbat of Chanukah we went to my parents. It was the first time for our whole family to stay there for a Shabbat in maybe a year. This past year they visited us several times, … Read the rest

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Chanukah & Thanksgiving: 5 Connections

So much ado and fuss has been made of this year’s Chanukah and Thanksgiving coinciding. New names have been coined from Thanksgivukkah to Chanksgiving, new contraptions such as Menurkeys have been invented (and sold), and a there’s plethora of recipes … Read the rest

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Splitting Logs & Tanya 29

Lchaim Log-Splitting at DippikillOn the Saturday Night and Sunday before Chanukah this year, we had opportunity together with the Lchaim Student Group to spend a night and morning up in Dippikill, the Adirondack Wilderness Retreat owned and operated by the University at Albany … Read the rest

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Paramore and Macklemore

Two of our students went to concerts last week and I (Rabbi Mendel Rubin) asked them to come back with a meaningful Jewish message to share with fellow students at the next Shabbos Lunch. Here’s what we got:

by Eliot … Read the rest

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Why Kasha Varnishkes?

by Raizy Rubin

We don’t usually serve Kasha Varnishkes (buckwheat and bowtie noodles) at Shabbos Lunch, so here’s the backstory.

My father, Rabbi Shlomo Galperin, was born and raised in Tashkent Russia. He and his family were practicing observant Jews … Read the rest

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What happened to the water bottles?

Disclaimer: The water bottles were just that, water bottles. This was an educational gimmick and is not in any way an endorsement of alcoholic beverages or of the specific brands with logos pictured above.

There was something a little different … Read the rest

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The Velvel Greene Mincha Story and Sequel

THE ORIGINAL DR. VELVEL GREENE & RABBI MOSHE FELLER MINCHA STORY

The original Dr. Velvel Green & Rabbi Moshe Feller Mincha story happened in the early 1960’s. Rabbi Moshe Feller, a native Minnesotan, returned to town as a Shliach (emissary) … Read the rest

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Jacob was alone, and a man wrestled him…

Many are familiar with the Biblical story of Jacob’s wrestling with the man or angel, on the night before his reunion encounter with Esav. The verse says, “And Jacob remained alone, and a man wrestled him until the morning.”

This … Read the rest

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