Social Conformity
In the 1950s, Solomon Asch, a young Jewish immigrant from Poland, conducted a series of psychological experiments to explore how strongly peer pressure influences the choices we make in our decisions and lifestyles. Known famously as the Asch Conformity Experiments, these studies revealed that nearly 75% of participants conformed to group opinions at least once, even when those opinions contradicted reality, illustrating a common willingness to disregard personal perception for group acceptance.
From Abraham to Amazon: The Power of Leaving Your Comfort Zone
In 1994, Jeff Bezos was just 30 years old and thriving as a senior vice president at D. E. Shaw, a prestigious Wall Street investment firm. He had what most people would consider a promising future: a secure, high-paying job, prestige, and a clear career path.
Then he encountered a statistic that changed everything: internet usage was growing at 2,300% per year. Bezos realized that this new medium could transform the world and that he could create something meaningful through it. He envisioned an online bookstore, a concept that didn't yet exist at scale.
Will AI Take Over the World?
When Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates was asked in a recent interview about warnings that artificial intelligence could wipe out humanity, his answer was sobering:
"The transition to the AI era will be one of the most turbulent times in human history…if left unchecked, the technology could cause ‘a billion deaths’. If the world takes the right steps, AI will be a force for good and leave everyone better off."
Universal Mission
David Chase, a Holocaust survivor, businessman and philanthropist who led many important charitable efforts for Jewish communities around the globe, once shared an inspiring episode.Chase maintained the practice of praying in Tallit and Tefillin daily—even aboard airplanes and his personal yacht. In following the Talmudic dictum to face towards Jerusalem while praying, Chase regularly asked his captain, a non-Jew named Nick Winters, of the ship’s position and projected route.
Remaining Nonpartisan
During the turbulent early 20th century, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn (1880–1950), known as the Previous Rebbe, was once traveling by train to Petersburg. In his car were noblemen, clergy, and a group of Jewish students. Before long, a heated discussion arose on the topic of ideal systems of government.
Finding Calm in the Current
Managing our stress level is a challenge we often face when trying to keep up with our daily responsibilities and commitments.
Maintaining a healthy balance between family, work, community and a connection to our heritage is essential to living a purposeful and meaningful life. But how can we properly dedicate ourselves to each of these aspects of our lives within the limited time we have without feeling overwhelmed? This quandary assumes even greater prominence during times like these when we are faced with uncertainty and unique challenges.
Post Oct 7 Baby Boom
In the weeks and months following October 7th, a quiet but profound movement began spreading through Jewish communities around the world. It didn't emerge from a corporate campaign, a political initiative, or a central organization. It arose organically — from the hearts of ordinary Jewish families sitting with an almost unbearable grief.
Hamas tried to reduce the number of Jews in the world. The response of the Jewish soul was simple and defiant: we will make more.
Lechaim- Are We Living or Existing?
“Lechaim (to Life)" is not just a nice slogan used when friends and family make a toast together during joyous occasions. Lechaim connotes a blessing and desire that we wish to focus more on living and less on just existing.
To exist means to consume space, resources, food and all other materialistic things that our physical existence depends on. To live, on the other hand, means to focus on the meaning and purpose of life. Instead of being motivated to work just to pay our bills, we strive to contribute to society, develop meaningful relationships with our families and friends, and make a positive difference for the people around us.
Speaking Truth to Power
As the world watched in great anticipation for the miraculous return of the hostages earlier this week on Hoshana Rabbah, the climax of the Sukkot holiday, a momentous gathering took place in the Israeli Knesset.
Standing before President Trump, Yair Lapid, of the centrist Yesh Atid party and the head of Israel’s opposition parties in government, declared:
A Nation of Lions: The Miracle of FlyDubai Flight 1073
On September 30, 2026, Flydubai Flight 1073, en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv, became the scene of an extraordinary mid-air crisis. The co-pilot—an Omani national—violently attacked the Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, with an axe, then seized control and forced the aircraft into a steep dive. In just 35 seconds, the plane dropped over 16,000 feet, reaching near-supersonic speeds of roughly 700 mph. Passengers standing in the aisle were thrown about under extreme g-forces. It seemed certain that no one would survive.
Hamas-Iran's Mistake and the Simchat Torah War
On October 7, 2023, on the holiday of Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah, Hamas launched its brutal attack on the Jewish people. According to credible reports on the secret deliberations among Hamas leaders, this attack had been planned for over two years. They debated whether to carry it out on Yom Kippur or Simchat Torah.
Iran's leadership and its terrorist proxies' are well-versed in Jewish traditions and understand the secret to Jewish resilience.
Three Types of Relationships
Men usually don't sit over coffee talking about their marriages. That's why a particular conversation between three males stuck in my mind — they were discussing the joys of wedded life.
"I love my wife," said David. "That's why I do everything she asks me to do. A few months ago she exclaimed, ‘David, I would really appreciate a new diamond necklace for my birthday’, and I make sure to purchase one for her next birthday.”
Shared Merit, Shared Mission
When Sergey Brin and Larry Page met at Stanford University in 1995, they were two Jewish graduate students with strong, diverse opinions, curious minds, and a shared fascination with how to organize the rapidly expanding world of information on the internet. What began as an academic partnership soon evolved into one of the most transformative collaborations in modern history, the founding of Google.
They discovered that their differences were not obstacles, but strengths that complemented each other. Page’s vision, persistence, and product focus merged seamlessly with Brin’s mathematical insight, creativity, and restless curiosity. Together, they transformed a research project into a global tool that reshaped how humanity accesses knowledge.
The Sukkah on the USS Abraham Lincoln
In 2024, in the middle of its deployment across the Pacific and into the Arabian Sea, on a mission defending Israel and deterring Iranian aggression, amid the roar of jet engines and the constant motion of a carrier at sea, something unexpected was built on the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln.
A kosher sukkah.
Embrace Diversity
Diversity is woven into the very fabric of the universe. Every individual possesses a unique fingerprint; no two zebra stripes are identical, and even two snowflakes drifting side by side are truly distinct.
As succinctly stated in the Talmud, "No two minds are alike, [just as] no two faces are alike (Berachot 58a)."
The Litmus Test of True Holiness
It was the morning of Yom Kippur in the Belarusian town of Liadi, and the synagogue was packed. The Alter Rebbe (1745–1812), founder of the Chabad movement, stood at the front of the room wrapped in his tallit and white kittel, leading the congregation. His melody and intensity swept the room into another dimension—a palpable atmosphere of awe and transcendent holiness.
Then, without warning, he stopped.
Sandy Koufax, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg & Yom Kippur
October 6, 1965, the first game of the '65 World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers versus the Minnesota Twins. It's Yom Kippur night at Metropolitan Stadium, 47,797 in attendance. Sandy Koufax, lead pitcher of the LA Dodgers, refuses to play.
Koufax's refusal to pitch on Yom Kippur gained him the respect and admiration of many Jews. His courage gave many Jews the strength to not be ashamed of their Judaism.
Napoleon's March
Napoleon's March is remarkable for its joyous, rhythmic character. It was played in 1812 by the armies of Napoleon when they crossed the border near Prussia in their invasion of Russia. Napoleon insisted his soldiers sing this march as they went out to battle, for he wished to boost their morale and instill within them a sense of confidence that they would win the war. Indeed, Napoleon's army did initially encounter great success in conquering much of Europe until their eventual defeat at the hands of the Russian army.
Bridging Heaven & Earth
The story is told of a famous child psychologist who spent many hours constructing a new driveway at his home. Just after he smoothed the surface of the freshly poured concrete, his small children chased a ball across the driveway, leaving deep footprints.
The man yelled after them with a torrent of angry words. His shocked wife said, "You're a psychologist who's supposed to love children."
The fuming man shouted, "I love children in the abstract, not in the concrete!”
Coming Home: A 9/11 Story
Despite the horrific devastation of September 11, 2001, glimmers of light and small miracles emerged—quiet reminders that no matter how dark or challenging a situation may seem, purpose can always be found.
On the morning of 9/11, just one week before Rosh Hashanah, Rabbi Leivi Sudak, a Chabad emissary in the U.K., boarded a flight from London to New York.