Editor's note: Rabbi Sacks, zt’’l, had prepared a full year of Covenant & Conversation for 5781, based on his book Lessons in Leadership. The Office of Rabbi Sacks will continue to distribute these weekly essays so that people all around the world can keep on learning and finding inspiration in his Torah. The Jewish Link is

Widespread Practice Among Sephardim

It is one of the most enchanting Sephardic
practices: palms opening toward Shamayim when reciting Pote’ach Et Yadecha in Ashrei! It is practiced by those who follow Rav Ovadia Yosef (as noted by his grandson Rav Yaakov Sassoon at halachayomit.co.il), Ben Ish

Parshat Shemot

As we have mentioned in the past, the haftarah that is read this week depends on which beit knesset one attends. On those occasions when the minhag of the Ashkenazim and that of the Sepharadim differ, it is primarily over which part of the specific perek or of the perakim is read. On

My mother is Judge Lee First, and the year 2021 will mark 80 years since her arrival in the U.S. from Europe as a child. She arrived here on a famous boat, the Navemar. The story of this journey, well known in its time, deserves to be retold.

My mother spent her early years in Switzerland. Her

I begin this article by asking the reader’s indulgence in two areas. First, this Chinuch Reflection will not focus on any COVID-related issue per se. Even though we are still in the throes of a very challenging situation, I thought it would be best to look at a timeless issue—relevant to today, and to years down the line as well. Second, the beginning of the

Rabbi Gershom Tave continues his series about his new Passaic yeshiva, Da’ehu.

The Whole Child

(Courtesy of Da'ehu)

We are all familiar with Shlomo Hamelech’s quote in Mishlei (22:6) “Educate the child according to his

Many shuls are struggling currently with keeping up viable minyanim during this pandemic era. Attendance is poor at daily minyan, but for many shuls, it has always been an uphill battle. What can we safely say about the minyan challenge? Is this a new phenomenon, and is this a simple fix that can be applied? What follows are some

I’m old enough to recall the pre-eruv days, when we were not permitted to carry items to shul or push baby strollers on Shabbat.

As a youngster, I remember my parents reminding me before Shabbat to empty my jacket and coat pockets, and men making sure to bring anything they needed for shul on Shabbat

Part II

(Note: In my first article on parental authority, I wrote about establishing family values.)

The second necessary component for parental success is influence.

Our job is to become as influential as possible in the minds

I would like to dedicate this article to my brother who passed away last week, and share with you a glimpse and some insight into the legacy of Howard I. Rhine,  חיים ישראל ע''ה.

Howard was 18 years older than me. He started Yeshiva University around the time I was born. Over the

Reviewing: “The Challah Girl” by Bracha K. Sharp. Mosaica Press. 2019. English. Hardcover. 32 pages. ISBN-13: 978-1946351623.

“The Challah Girl” is a heartwarming new picture book by first-time author Bracha K. Sharp. The illustrations are remarkably lovely and

“Everybody who joined the Abraham Accords will see the benefits for their own people,” declared U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. “So I am highly confident that many, many more nations will ultimately choose to do the right thing and recognize Israel as the rightful homeland of the Jewish people.”