by Elisheva bas Chana Melaveh Malkah Everyone has at least one mitzvah that is special to them. My special mitzvah is Shabbos. There are so many aspects of Shabbos, but there is one that does not receive the attention it deserves. Melaveh Malkah, and the seudah that follows, is such a beautiful and meaningful tradition. We sit down to this special meal at a table set beautifully, with Shabbos candles and our polished silverware. Melaveh Malkah means "Escort the Queen." The Qu

by Rami ben Ze'ev At the End of the Path, the Beginning of the Journey Ten years. Ten years of opening the Holy Zohar each day and walking, step by step, through its mysteries. Ten years of rising in the morning or settling in the evening with the same purpose: to learn, to reflect, to question, and to draw a little closer to the hidden light contained within the words of Torah. When I began this journey, I did not know where it would lead. Like every traveller standing at th

by Elisheva bas Chana Shabbos Sometimes there is not enough time—like today—but there are always a few minutes to spare to write a message, especially for Shabbos. Shabbos is an important mitzvah for all of us, but it is also a mitzvah specifically associated with women: lighting the candles, and experiencing the beauty and peace that come when we enter Shabbos. A sanctuary in time, a vessel we create by keeping Shabbos holy, turning it into a dwelling place for HaShem. With

The Bet HaMikdash Below and the Bet HaMikdash Above - Harnessing our energy and composing ourselves when fulfilling the mitzvot (From the teachings of Maran Rabbeinu Ovadia Yosef ztvk”l)(written by his grandson HaRav Yaakov Sasson Shlit”a)(translated by our dear friend Rav Daniel Levy Shlit”a, Leeds, United Kingdom) From Christina Mattison Ebert’s D’rash Designs series The Parashah states, “Speak to Aharon and say to him, when you light the lamps, the seven lamps shall illumi

by Rami ben Ze'ev The Antidote to Anxiety Trusting the One Who Walks Beside Us Earlier, I came across a post: “One cause of anxiety and anguish is low self-esteem. When one feels worthless or unremarkable, depression is not far off.” There is certainly truth in that observation. A person who sees little value in themselves can become overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy, fear, and despair. Yet it reminded me of a lesson taught to me years ago by my Rabbi, a lesson that has r

by Elisheva bas Chana Chabad, And New Beginnings It is not easy to sum up Chabad philosophy in one sentence. The acronym Chabad is "Chochmah, Binah, Daas," which translates into wisdom, understanding, and knowledge of HaShem's presence within a reality that arises from the merger of the two. To observe Torah, we do not really need Chabad. Taking into account that the entire pillar on which Judaism is built is the knowledge of HaShem, having emunah is important, but this does

by Rami ben Ze'ev The Foundation Beneath the Home In modern discussions about society, much is said about the importance of the nuclear family. Politicians speak of it. Social commentators defend it. Researchers point to its benefits for children and communities. By the nuclear family, they usually mean a husband, a wife, and their children living together as a single household. There is certainly wisdom in recognising the value of a stable home. Judaism has always regarded m

by Rami ben Ze'ev Reports from Israel indicate that Israeli singer, composer, and pianist Yonatan Razel suffered a stroke and was hospitalised at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. His family has asked the public to pray for him using the name Yonatan Adi ben Chaya Rachel. More recent reports state that he is conscious and receiving treatment, while prayers continue throughout Israel and the Jewish world for his recovery. For many people, Yonatan’s music has never been

Trademark Alert: Questions Every Business Should Ask Before Hiring a Trademark Attorney Businesses seeking trademark protection in the United States should carefully understand exactly who is responsible for their application, who receives communications from the USPTO, and who bears responsibility when critical deadlines are missed. Our experience with trademark attorney Katrina Fama, MarkATLaw.com, Michael Beck and Trademark Counsels raises serious questions that, in our vi