BSD VAYECHI: THE EDUCATION PETITION By: Suri Stern When I was in Stern College many moons ago, I volunteered in the N.Y.U. Emergency Room.  One evening a young woman, very young, came in with her bleeding baby.  I tried to ask her questions regarding her baby, and she couldn’t understand me, because she spoke only…

A BISSEL TORAH:  PARSHAT VAYIGASH:  APPROACHING WITH CONFIDENCE By:  Suri Davis In last week’s torah portion, Joseph was told that the sons of Jacob had an additional brother and Joseph demanded that, if they wanted more food, they had to bring Benjamin.  Jacob refused, until it was clear that they would all starve, unless Jacob…

A BISSEL TORAH: MIKETZ: THE MODERN LAMENTATION By: Suri Davis A couple of weeks ago, in the New York Times Book Review section, the cover had a review of five books written about Judaism in America.  The reviewer was Gal Beckerman, and the article, entitled, LAMENTATIONS, was riveting. On the heels of increasing anti-semitism in…

By: Suri Davis   Jewish History, Chabad.org Alexander in Jerusalem (313 BCE) On Kislev 21 of the year 3448 from creation (313 BCE), there occurred the historic meeting between Shimon HaTzaddik and Alexander (‘the Great”) of Macedonia. The Samarians, bitter enemies of the Jews, had convinced Alexander that the Jews’ refusal to place his image in…

A BISSEL TORAH, VAYETZEI: GRATITUDE By: Suri Davis   Birth & Passing of R. Dovber of Lubavitch (1773; 1827) Kislev 9 is both the birthday and day of passing of Rabbi DovBer of Lubavitch, son of and successor to the founder of Chabad Chassidism, Rabbi Schneur Zalman·of Liadi. Rabbi DovBer was known for his unique style of…

CHAYEI SARA: PITTSBURGH ON MY MIND By: Suri Davis   Why is this Torah portion named the life of Sarah, when it actually describes life after Sarah dies?  The Lubavitcher sichahs on this parshah elucidate that after Sarah died, her values lived on as revealed in this week’s torah portion. First, her son Isaac, the…

PITTSBURGH ON MY MIND By: Suri Davis   Eleven people were shot to death on Shabbos in a shul in Pittsburgh while they were davening.  Others were injured. I am an estate attorney.  I plan for death.  I probate wills after death.  Dealing with death is a part of my daily practice.  I truly understand…

A BISSEL TORAH: VAYEIRAH: I HAD ONE OF THE WINNING TICKETS By:  Suri Davis   When I told my children last Shabbos that I had purchased a ticket in the $1.6BB lottery, they laughed and said, what does it matter Ema, you love work anyway.  Yes it’s true.  My office is a few blocks away…

A BISSEL TORAH:  LECH LICHAH By: Suri Davis     In the 14th chapter of Genesis, we read that Avram waged a war on behalf of Lot.  In that battle, he captured King Sodom’s people.  King Sodom offered Avram to trade the captives for possessions or war booty.  Avram refused with these words, 22/23, I…

BOOK REVIEW: FLOWERS IN THE DESERT Author:  Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky Review by:  Suri Davis   I placed a new coffe table book in my home right before the holidays, and figured in between my preparing meals, I would sit with it and read it.  I had to fight for the book.  It turned out to…