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…
Category: Lenore Davis
A Bissel Torah: Vayetzei: Gratitude
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…
A Bissel Torah: Chayei Sarah: Pittsburgh on MY Mind
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
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: VAYEIRA: I HAD ONE OF THE WINNING TICKETS
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
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
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…
A Bissel Torah: Bereishit All Over Again
A BISSEL TORAH: BEREISHIT ALL OVER AGAIN By: Suri Davis Aspirations. When each of the 12 tribes were born, they were named as follows: Reuben “because G-d saw my affliction, for now my husband will love me; Simon “because G-d has heard that I am unloved, He has given me this one also; Levi:…
A BISSEL TORAH: VAYELECH: IT’S ALL GOOD: POWER AND SERENA WILLIAMS
A BISSEL TORAH: VAYELECH: IT’S ALL GOOD: POWER AND SERENA WILLIAMS By: Suri Davis How would you feel giving the keys of a brand new Bentley to your 16 year old son, knowing that the very next day he would trash it, and be hurt? When my two year old gashed his chin and…
Rosh Hashana: Let’s Make a Deal
ROSH HASHANAH: LET’S MAKE A DEAL Suri Davis Many years ago, a friend told me something that I keep in my back pocket: “Don’t compare your insides to other people’s outsides, i.e., we put our best foot forward when we leave our homes, and we look at others and imagine that they have a…