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If G-d “gave” us the Torah at Sinai, what room is there for human creativity? If our tradition is perfect, how can there be so many differing opinions in the Talmud? Why does the Torah have an oral counterpart? Learn the Rebbe’s approach here.

The splitting of the sea was more than a utilitarian measure to save the Israelites. Why did G-d choose this method?

[Rabbon Gamliel's] son, Shimon, would say: All my life I have been raised among the wise, and I have found nothing better for the body than silence... Ethics of the Fathers, 1:17 The Talmud goes even further, with the amazing statement: ``What is man's task in the world? To make himself as silent as the […]

There are four types of people: One who says, "What is mine is yours, and what is yours is mine," is a boor. One who says, "What is mine is mine, and what is yours is yours" this is a median characteristic; others say that this is the character of a Sodomite. One who says, […]

Assume a Master for yourself Ethics of the Fathers, 1:6 "And they believed in G‑d and in Moses His servant" (Exodus 14:31). What was the nature of Israel's relationship to Moses? Moses, after all, is a human being. And yet, the Torah uses the very same word to connote Israel's belief in him and in […]

All Israel has a share in the World to Come, as it is stated: “And your people are all righteous; they shall inherit the land forever. They are the shoot of My planting, the work of My hands, in which I take pride.” -Talmud, Sanhedrin 90a (introductory reading to Ethics of the Fathers) Moses received […]

Yehudah the son of Teima would say: Be bold as a leopard, light as an eagle, fleeting as a deer and mighty as a lion to do the will of your Father in Heaven. He would also say: The brazen to purgatory; the bashful to paradise. Ethics of the Fathers, 5:20 Use the shamelessness of […]

Nitai the Arbelite would say: Distance yourself from a bad neighbor, and do not cleave to a wicked person. Ethics of the Fathers, 1:7 On the surface, Nitai the Arbelite appears to be conveying a simple, if redundant, message: Stay away from bad people. In truth, however, a much deeper lesson is implicit in his […]

May it be Your will, L‑rd our G‑d and G‑d of our fathers, that the Holy Temple be rebuilt speedily in our days.... Ethics of the Fathers, 5:20 The Mishnah is a purely halachic, or legal, work, consisting of sixty-three tractates of legal material, arranged by topic in six "orders." Its concise, almost cryptic style […]

Whoever possesses the following three characteristics is of the disciples of Abraham our Father; and whoever possesses the opposite three characteristics is of the disciples of the wicked Bilaam.... Ethics of the Fathers, 5:19 Bilaam's identity as the evil counterpart to Abraham is a reoccurring theme in the Torah. On the verse, "And Bilaam rose […]

Rabbi Elazar of Bartosah would say: Give Him what is His, for you, and whatever is yours, are His. As King David says: "For everything comes from You, and from Your own hand we have given to You." Ethics of The Fathers, 3:7 The gist of Rabbi Elazar's message is clear, and encapsulates the Jewish […]

There is no free individual, except for he who occupies himself with the Torah. Ethics of the Fathers, 6:2 Why the roundabout, "negative" wording of the mishnah? Why not simply say "True freedom is attained through Torah"? Man is a finite being, and everything he possesses and is capable of achieving is likewise finite in […]

Vows are the safety fence for abstinence Ethics of the Fathers, 3:13 Somewhere between the good deed and the moral wrong is the permissible indulgence. How is one to approach these (seemingly) neutral pleasures? The Torah's view on the matter appears to be mixed. On the one hand, the Talmud interprets the injunction "Be holy" […]

Rabbi Elazar of Modi'in said: One who profanes the kodoshim (sacred things), who degrades the Festivals, who humiliates his friend in public, who abrogates the covenant of our father Abraham, or who interprets the Torah contrary to its true intent--although he may possess Torah knowledge and good deeds, he has no share in the World […]

Which is a dispute that is not for the sake of Heaven? The dispute of Korach and all his company Ethics of the Fathers, 5:17 Korach, Moses' mutinous cousin, earned the dubious distinction of father and prototype of all quarrelers and divisors. His very name became synonymous with disharmony and conflict. The Talmud goes so […]

Any dispute that is for the sake of Heaven is destined to endure; and that which is not for the sake of Heaven is not destined to endure. Which is a dispute that is for the sake of Heaven? The dispute(s) between Hillel and Shammai.... . Ethics of the Fathers, 5:17 Why would we want […]

A love that is dependent on something when the thing ceases, the love Also ceases. But a love that is not dependent on anything never ceases. Which is a love that is dependent on something? The love of Amnon for Tamar. And one that is not dependent on anything? The love of David and Jonathan. […]

All that G‑d created in His world, He did not create but for His glory. Ethics of the Fathers, 6:11 "I was created to serve my Creator." With these words, the Talmud sums up the purpose of life. But there is also another version of this talmudic passage, which reads. "I was not created, but […]

Artist Yitzchok Moully shares his journey from an Australian commune to Crown Heights, his Chassidic-inspired art, and how creativity ignites Jewish pride and resilience.

A doctor of theoretical chemistry and professor at Boston University, Dr. Abrams opens up about how he found his way to Jewish observance and now paves the path for others to follow.

Marriage, praise, and professional success could not give Shterna Ginsberg what she was looking for. Honest discovery and inner work unlocked the doors to her "awesome self."

After she saw her Soviet-bred Jewish father embrace Judaism, she and her siblings followed. A performer since childhood, she now sings only for women and inspires audiences all over the world.

Shimon's past as a bullied orphan prepared him to become a champion of underdogs and an empowering leader, who was knighted for his efforts.

Aryeh Siegel embraced Eastern meditation and Hindu practices before realizing how harmful they are. Now, he’s on a mission to save people from TM (Transcendental Meditation) and introduce them to kosher practices.

Reflecting on her 50 years in education, Mrs. Teichtel shares how the Rebbe guided her toward education and uplifted her after losing a child in a hospital accident.

Learn how Sal and Nina Litvak discovered the beauty and depth of Judaism and have become a beacon of learning, inspiration, and guidance for millions.

Rabbi Yitzchak Lerman talks about losing his home, synagogue, and worldy possessions but remains grateful that his family survived unscathed.

The child of a Muslim father and Jewish mother, Yosef embraced his Jewish heritage and made the Torah his guiding light.

With G-d at her side, Gitty Zee is unstoppable. Even spina bifida and blindness have not stopped her from living life to the fullest and empowering others to do the same.

Rabbi Schochet shares his journey of defying expectations, embracing authenticity, and learning to crawl out of the shadow of his towering father.

Hear Silvia Fishbaum share how her second attempt to escape communist Czechoslovakia succeeded and how she uses her personal experience to educate the world about Judaism and Antisemitism

Now a grandmother many times over, Frumma Kulek looks back at how she found hope, acceptance, family, fufilment, and love when she was a teen mom stuck in an abusive relationship.

Gavriel and his late wife's Bible studies led them to embrace Judaism, which entailed driving 10 hours just to get kosher meat!

Rabbi Danny Yiftach was among hundreds of Persian Jewish children airlifted by Chabad to safety. Today he serves the Persian Jewish community in California and back in Iran.

Born in India to Persian Jews, Sarah Karmely was guided by the Rebbe to become an author, teacher, guide, and mentor to thousands, with lots of miracles and drama along the way.

As a young Jew, he inked his Jewish identity onto his skin. Then he deepened his connection to Judaism and adopted a full Jewish lifestyle--including educating others on the prohibition of getting a tattoo.

Introduction Animal Training If you were to purchase an exotic pet, you would likely do your research beforehand. You would want to know its needs, its habits, and, in particular, the hazards it brings. You would also want to know how to train this pet, what tricks it could do, and whatever other benefits it […]

All these forces, souls, and soul-clothing just listed are of the three completely tamei kelipot that contain no good at all. But then there are those of a kelipah that does have some good—kelipat nogah. They are: The vitalizing, animalistic soul within a Jew, the soul that is from the side of kelipah and invested […]

אַךְ נֶפֶשׁ הַחִיּוּנִית הַבַּהֲמִית שֶׁבְּיִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁמִּצַּד הַקְּלִיפָּה, הַמְלוּבֶּשֶׁת בְּדַם הָאָדָם כַּנִּזְכָּר לְעֵיל, וְנַפְשׁוֹת בְּהֵמוֹת וְחַיּוֹת וְעוֹפוֹת וְדָגִים טְהוֹרִים וּמוּתָּרִים בַּאֲכִילָה, וְקִיּוּם וְחַיּוּת כָּל הַדּוֹמֵם וְכָל הַצּוֹמֵחַ הַמּוּתָּר בַּאֲכִילָה, וְכֵן קִיּוּם וְחַיּוּת כָּל הַמַּעֲשֶׂה דִּבּוּר וּמַחֲשָׁבָה בְּעִנְיְינֵי עוֹלָם הַזֶּה שֶׁאֵין בָּהֶם צַד אִיסּוּר, לֹא שֹׁרֶשׁ וְלֹא עָנָף מִשַּׁסַ"ה מִצְוֹת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה וְעַנְפֵיהֶן דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא וּדְרַבָּנָן, רַק שֶׁאֵינָן […]

To be a Jew today, you gotta be a leader.

Kabbalat ol (קבלת עול, “accepting the yoke”) is part of a longer phrase meaning “accepting the yoke of the dominion of heaven.” Why would you want to do that? Don’t you have enough yokes around your neck as is? But when you take on the yoke of heaven, you throw off every other yoke. You […]

While Jacob lived with his father and grandfather, he sat in his tent and studied and contemplated the divine wisdom of the Torah. When he ran from there to save his life from his brother, he fled to the yeshivah of Shem and Ever. When he dwelt with Laban for 20 years, he sat in […]

Moses brought us to Mount Sinai and gave us the Torah, with all the explanations and education he could provide in 40 years. He could have simply found out from G-d what He wanted and transmitted the instructions. But instead, he did all he could to bring us face-to-face with G-d. He wanted us to […]

“Be of the students of Aaron,” Hillel taught. “Love all people and bring them close to Torah.” Aaron was beloved to the people because he loved them all. In that way, he held the Children of Israel together as a single family. Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Lubavitch, known by the name of his collection of […]

Joseph was taken to Egypt as a slave and ended up ruling the land. How did he do it? Because wherever he was, whether in a slave’s chains, in his master’s house, or even in a dungeon, he took charge of the situation, because he knew G-d was with him. Rabbi Shmuel of Lubavitch, known […]

David was a shepherd boy who composed beautiful songs and became King of Israel. Through his Book of Psalms, he taught us to speak to G-d from the heart, like a child to a parent, like a close friend, one that will never leave you, as though He were your heart itself. He gave every […]

Although his father had made many journeys to publicize his teachings, Isaac never left the Land of Israel. People came to him, and he brought out the best in them, as one who digs wells to find living waters within the earth. The Maggid of Mezritch did the same. Learned tzadikim came to him from […]

On Sukkot, the Baal Shem Tov would exclaim, “Where is the celebration? Every Sukkot, in the Temple, they would celebrate for seven days, non-stop. Rabban Gamliel would juggle torches, and their eyes never saw sleep. How could it be that we’ve been sleeping all these hundreds of years? Wake up, you sleeping people! Wake up […]

The Zohar tells us that each night a party of seven special Ushpizin—Aramaic for “guests”—come to our Sukkah, each night led by a different member of the party. The order is: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joseph, David. Who are the Ushpizin, really? They are the modalities with which G‑d created the world. When G‑d […]

The whole year long, all the offerings in the Temple were accompanied with wine. Only on Sukkot was water poured on the altar—and then the joy was much greater. What is the connection between water and such great joy? The answer is that wine brings its own joy—and that limits how much joy it can […]

The Talmud tells us that when Hillel the Elder came to celebrate in the Temple on Sukkot, he would say, “If I am here, everyone is here. If I’m not here, no one is here.” Now that’s very strange. The Talmud tells many stories about the extreme humility of Hillel, describing how he had the […]

“When someone lowers himself with true humility,” the sages taught, “G‑d raises him up.” Why is that? Because if someone truly has that quality of sincere humility, that person can handle greatness without it getting to his head. David, for example, even when he was a great hero and king of Israel, still danced and […]

From the Rambam's Sefer Hamitzvot

The Mishneh Torah was the Rambam's (Rabbi Moses ben Maimon) magnum opus, a work spanning hundreds of chapters and describing all of the laws mentioned in the Torah. To this day it is the only work that details all of Jewish observance, including those laws which are only applicable when the Holy Temple is in […]

The Mishneh Torah was the Rambam's (Rabbi Moses ben Maimon) magnum opus, a work spanning hundreds of chapters and describing all of the laws mentioned in the Torah. To this day it is the only work that details all of Jewish observance, including those laws which are only applicable when the Holy Temple is in […]

Chabad Chassidus is an all-embracing world outlook and way of life which sees the Jew's central purpose as a unifying link between the Creator and His world. Written by the Alter Rebbe, the founder of Chabad, Tanya is the central text of Chabad Chassidus. It shows the reader a path to realizing their purpose and […]

Dawn (Alot Hashachar) - 5:14 AM -- (11/16/2025)

Earliest Tallit and Tefillin (Misheyakir) - 5:52 AM -- (11/16/2025)

Sunrise (Hanetz Hachamah) - 6:44 AM -- (11/16/2025)

Latest Shema - 9:09 AM -- (11/16/2025)

Latest Shacharit - 10:00 AM -- (11/16/2025)

Midday (Chatzot Hayom) - 11:40 AM -- (11/16/2025)

Earliest Mincha (Mincha Gedolah) - 12:06 PM -- (11/16/2025)

Mincha Ketanah (“Small Mincha”) - 2:36 PM -- (11/16/2025)

Plag Hamincha (“Half of Mincha”) - 3:39 PM -- (11/16/2025)

Sunset (Shkiah) - 4:37 PM -- (11/16/2025)

Nightfall (Tzeit Hakochavim) - 5:07 PM -- (11/16/2025)

Midnight (Chatzot HaLailah) - 11:40 PM -- (11/16/2025)

Shaah Zmanit (proportional hour) - 50:08 min. -- (11/16/2025)