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The True Source of Joy On a steamy Bnei Brak night, I find myself on Rechov Admorei Alexander. Across the street from the headquarters of the Alexander chasidus stands an extension built onto an apartment building, where the Rebbe holds kabbalas kahal. Even at this late hour, a line of people is waiting for a turn to see the Rebbe—to […]

Sixty Years and Two Minutes A candid far-ranging conversation with Rav Yisroel Bunim Schreiber, Rosh Yeshivas Nesiv Daas uring the recent visit of the gedolim on behalf of Keren Olam HaTorah, a fascinating scene unfolded, one that is still talked about in the halls of Lakewood’s batei midrash. A young Lakewood bachur wanted to know every machlokes between Rabbah and […]

Moshe Caller // The Marcal Group, Medcal, Slendid I was a typical teenager, not very interested in learning. I went to four high schools. I was blessed to be a baal kishron, and my father is a big talmid chacham, so I always respected Torah even if it wasn’t my goal. I couldn’t see myself living as an am haaretz. I enjoyed hanging […]

Disclosure in Dearborn An estate dusts off some disturbing history In the rather highly unlikely event you were around in 1919 and were in the market for an automobile, and preferred a Ford to a Studebaker or Nash, when you took possession of your horseless carriage, the dealer would have given you a copy of The Dearborn Independent. […]

A World Transformed When I arrive at the apartment of Rav Avraham Salim, he opens the door himself. The rav is 88 years old, the rosh yeshivah of Yeshivat Me’or HaTorah and a member of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah. Yet there is no assistant waiting outside, no secretary ushering visitors in, no reception room or entourage. Just the […]

No Shortcuts The SUV pulled up a few minutes early. The driver climbed out, lifted the stroller into the trunk, buckled the car seats into place, and tightened each strap with practiced hands. He wore a dark suit despite the Florida heat, a black kippah resting on neatly combed hair, the first threads of gray showing at […]

Shloma Baum // FieldOne I was born and raised in Williamsburg. I’m one of six children, two brothers and three sisters. I learned in Satmar cheder and Satmar yeshivah in Kiryas Yoel. After I got married, I learned in kollel for about six years. I always had an interest in opening things up and understanding how they work. I […]

Provocation, Politics and Prudence Israel needs to preserve its dignity Has Mike Huckabee, who has called attacks on Arabs in Yehudah and Shomron “Jewish terrorism,” thrown Israel under the bus? The answer to the first question, I believe, is Itamar Ben-Gvir. No, I don’t think Mr. Ben-Gvir, Israel’s national security minister, is the monster many in the media have […]

A Calming Voice in Turbulent Times A Visit with Rav Mordechai Shmuel Edelstein, Rav of the Naavat Yosef neighborhood in Bnei Brak This summer, I had the privilege of meeting with one of the revered gedolim of Eretz Yisrael, Rav Mordechai Shmuel Edelstein, in his study near his shul in Bnei Brak. In addition to his own stature in Torah learning, […]

A Sea at the Table Reflecting on the extraordinary meeting between the gedolim and President Trump in the Oval Office, and on how it came about It’s always challenging to tell a story like this without sounding as though I’m tooting my own horn. Yehalelcha zar v’lo picha—other people should praise you, not your own mouth. So let me start […]