Israel’s Secret Weapon
Six F-15 escorts and eight F-16 fighter bombers roared off the runway from Etzion Air Force Base in southern Israel. The air was thick and tense. Prior to take-off, Lt. General Rafael Eitan briefed the pilots. "The alternative is our destruction," he said, displaying unusual emotion.
Israel's intelligence had recently confirmed that Iraq had intentions of producing weapons in their Osirak nuclear facility. The atomic bombs which the Iraqi reactor would be capable of producing from enriched uranium or plutonium could be as fatal as the one that landed on Hiroshima. Realizing the mortal danger facing the people of Israel, the Israeli government decided to attack. At 3:55 PM, while the country innocently bustled about its daily activities, the fighter jets secretly took off.
It’s all in the head
While Rosh Hashanah is commonly referred to as the “Jewish New Year”, in fact, the precise translation of Rosh Hashanah is actually “Head of the Year”.
We call this holiday “Head of the Year” since these two days stand in the same relationship to the rest of the year as the head does to the body. Just like the head is the source of the life force of the person, and afterwards this life force is distributed to each individual organ of the body, so too Rosh Hashanah has hidden within it all of the life force of the year, and from the holiday it is apportioned to each and every individual day.
Lost in Translation: Returning Home
In the summer of 1945, as World War II neared its end, the Allied powers issued the Potsdam Declaration, demanding Japan’s unconditional surrender. Reporters pressed Japanese Prime Minister Kantaro Suzuki for a response. He chose the word “mokusatsu.”
In Japanese, mokusatsu is a layered term. It can mean “we withhold comment for now,” a cautious way of buying time. But it can also mean “we treat this with silent contempt.”
The Cry of the Shofar
As we celebrate the upcoming Rosh Hashanah, the head of the new year, we reflect on the past year and anticipate the upcoming year ahead.
Out of all the many Mitzvot and customs that are generally observed, what is considered the most important part of the Holiday?
The Mishnah states, " The mitzvah of the day is with the shofar." There is a parable shared by the Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760) describing the significance of the Shofar.
The Butterfly Effect
On December 29, 1972, American meteorologist Edward Lorenz presented a talk entitled "Predictability: Does the Flap of a Butterfly's Wings in Brazil Set a Tornado in Texas?"
The Butterfly Effect concept, highlighting the possibility that small causes may have momentous effects, eventually became a metaphor used in very diverse contexts, many of them outside the realm of science.
A Soldier on the Ukrainian Front
In Nikolayev, Ukraine, a city where streets are nearly empty due to the precarious security situation, over 200 people of all ages joined the Rosh Hashanah prayers and heard shofar.
Local Chabad emissary, Rabbi Shalom Gottlieb, said that the turnout was “beyond expectations” since “the city is embedded in battle and bombings and the streets are empty. People stay barricaded in their homes and don't venture out. We couldn't have dreamed of this.”
Who Sets the Tone for Your Day?
What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
If your answer is checking your phone—notifications, emails, social media, or the news—you’re certainly not alone. Research suggests that 89% of people check their phones within 15 minutes of waking, and for many, the smartphone has become the last thing they see at night and the first thing they see in the morning.
It may seem like a small habit, but it raises a bigger question:
Who gets to set the tone for our day?
Google’s gThanks
A few years ago, Google created an internal tool called gThanks to make it easy for employees—known as Googlers—to compliment one another. Led by Lazlo Bock, then SVP of People, gThanks allows anyone to tag a colleague and post a “kudos” publicly on a shared feed. Unlike sending a private email, these public acknowledgments celebrate contributions for all to see, making both the giver and the receiver feel recognized. Bock even created what he calls “The Wall of Happy” outside his office, where printed kudos from his team are displayed, increasing visibility and reinforcing the company's values.
First Impressions
Research indicates that first impressions are formed within 7 seconds. In fact, experiments conducted by Princeton researchers even suggest that individuals can make accurate judgments of others within as little as 1/10 of a second.
The 7-Second Rule has become a powerful tool for marketers, salespeople and communicators alike. It's about getting your message across quickly and effectively.
Can AI Replace Human Relationships?
Artificial intelligence is changing how we work, communicate, and increasingly, how we relate to one another. But for many young people, AI is becoming more than a tool, it is becoming a source of companionship.
Teens and Gen Z are among the largest users of AI companions. A Common Sense Media study found that 72% of U.S. teens have interacted with an AI companion, with 52% using them regularly. A significant number of young adults are also turning to AI companions, and roughly one in four believe AI partners could eventually replace real-life relationships.
The Secret to a Happy Marriage
What is the secret to building a successful marriage and a meaningful relationship?
Western civilization has developed exponentially over the last few centuries in many areas such as commerce, medicine, science and technology. Despite all the challenges still facing society today, we are living in a relative prosperous era.
A Lesson from Afghanistan
It is difficult to remain apolitical in today’s charged political climate. Every aspect of society seems to have become a partisan issue. While of course it is important to vote based on our values and beliefs, we must be careful not to fall into the partisan political trap.
One of the things the Jewish people have learned throughout our long history is that we can not put our absolute faith in any particular party or politician. We have seen the worst and the best come from all sides of the political spectrum. While we do our best to establish a stable, safe, and prosperous society, we must put our ultimate faith only in G-d that He will take care of all our needs.
Social Media
What common denominator do social media networks and platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter etc. share which make them so appealing to consumers? While they each have their own unique features and applications, they have all tapped into an essential human disposition: the need for connectivity.
G-d created human beings with a natural desire to connect with fellow human beings. This desire is the driving force behind the formations of communities, country clubs, business networks, peer groups and of course families.
Marrying the Warriors
In March of 2024, ten couples, each with a member serving in the Israel Defense Forces, were united in a simultaneous wedding ceremony in Tel Aviv — one of the largest Jewish weddings ever held in Israel. The event, part of Chabad of Savyon’s “Marrying the Warriors” initiative, took place at the Hangar 11 event hall in Tel Aviv Port, with ten wedding canopies and individual officiating Rabbis, and each couple inviting 100 guests. Following the ceremony, a joint celebration included performances by top Israeli artists.
Many of these soldiers had postponed their weddings due to the war. Couples included some with high security clearance and lone soldiers from abroad.
Defund the Police?
Few debates in recent years have been as charged as the debate over policing. Calls to "defund the police" sparked a national conversation about government authority, crime, accountability, and the allocation of public resources. Some argued for redirecting funds toward mental health, education, and addiction treatment. Others insisted that strong police departments are indispensable for protecting innocent people and maintaining public order.
Before weighing in on either side, it's worth asking a more fundamental question: Why does society need a justice system at all?
The King is in the Field
At the start of the pandemic, I received a remarkable email from Brandon Steiner, Founder of Steiner Sports Agency. The message began with these words: “Over the past 7 or so years, I have posted over 2,500 blogs. Last week's blog, 'What if you could talk to G-d? My question for all of you is - if you could have a conversation with G-d, what would you say? What questions would you have?’ had the most responses I have ever had!"
It brought to mind the Midrashic statement, “We are believers, the sons of believers”. This is true at all times but especially pertinent during challenging moments.
But Where is G-d?
Eliot Lasky, who was born to Holocaust survivors, grew up in a traditional Jewish community. At the age of 18, he left school and eventually joined the Rolling Stones on their American tour during the height of the hippie era. In this time, Eliot desired to fit in more than anything else.
As time went on, the allure of his new lifestyle faded, and he found himself grappling with profound philosophical questions about faith and life in general. One question in particular kept recurring in his mind: "How can Judaism be right while the rest of the world is wrong?" Upon seeking advice from a friendly rabbi, he was directed to seek counsel from the Rebbe.
The Justice System
Having an established justice system is a bedrock of any civilized society. Without law and order, the world would be a very chaotic and dangerous place. Our Sages state, “pray for the welfare of the government, for were it not for the fear it inspires, every man would swallow his neighbor alive (Ethics of our Fathers 3:2)”.
A Lesson from Rachel Goldberg-Polin
During her heart-wrenching and emotional eulogy for her son Hersh on September 2, 2024, Rachel Goldberg-Polin expressed her extraordinary faith so profoundly:
"I have had a lot of time during the past 332 days to think about my sweet boy, my Hersh. And one thing I keep thinking about is how, out of all the mothers in the world, G-d chose to give Hersh to me.
A Ray of Faith in Minneapolis
Before being rushed into emergency surgery for a gunshot wound to the stomach, 13-year-old Endre Gunter asked his surgeon to pause.
“Can you say a prayer with me?” he whispered, according to his aunt, Natalie Davis, who shared the moment on a fundraising page for his medical care.
The surgeon later told the family that not only did Endre survive the operation, but that his courage and faith deeply inspired the entire medical team. “That moment of prayer, and Endre’s resilience, will stay with our family forever,” Davis wrote.