SHABBOS NACHAMU: VAETCHANAN and LAMENTATIONS AT THE CROSS ROADS By: Suri Davis We have the torah portions for the last few weeks, and really now until the end of the Jewish year, through Simchat Torah, where Moshe is standing in front of the Jews, in one of the longest soliloquys.  He is talking to the…

CHOCHMAS NASHIM: CHUKAT:  ARISE O WELL By: Suri Davis   The Jews are arriving at the end of their 40 year journey in the desert.  For almost 40 years now, G-d provided their water, and the Rebbe asks why it is now that the Jews sing the praise of the well.  One answer might be…

CHOCHMAS NASHIM:  ADVOCACY By: Suri Davis   In this week’s Torah portion, G-d wants to destroy the entire nation, He has had enough of their rebellion. Moshe advocates for the people, taking G-d’s frustration, and focusing it on the latest act of rebellion, that of Korach’s and his group. וַיִּפְּל֤וּ עַל־פְּנֵיהֶם֙ וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ אֵ֕ל אֱלֹהֵ֥י הָרוּחֹ֖ת…

CHOCHMAS NASHIM:  SHLACH: PERSPECTIVES AND SOLUTIONS By: Suri Davis   When I was in Central Manhattan high school, I had Mrs. Judith Sokolow as my social studies teacher.  One day she walks in, jumps rope and walks out. Then she had all the students write an eye witness account of what happened. Fascinating to see…

https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1066910/rabbi-ya-akov-trump/the-first-flag/ CHOCHMAS NASHIM: GRAND OLE FLAG By: Suri Davis   In this week’s torah portion, B’haalotchah, there is mention of Israel moving with their flags.  From whence came the flags and for what purpose? Rabbi Yaakov Trump, Morah D’asrah of Young Israel of Lawrence Cedarhurst gave a spirited and poetic class last Sunday on the…

CHOCHMAS NASHIM: FROM BABYLON TO JERUSALEM By: Suri Davis   I was at the Ohel this week and there was an hour fabrengen of the Rebbe’s via video.  It appears that there is a Chabad custom to learn gemarah Sotah from Pesach to Shavuoth.  A call to Rabbi Zalman Wolowik of Chabad Five Towns confirmed…

FOND MEMORIES By: Suri Davis   Bubby made perogen and cheese Danish for Shavuos.  I was a budding lawyer with a new practice, and so I had time to cook and bake with Bubby. Erev Shavuos, I would get to her house at 7a.m., and she already had the mashed potatoes with fried onion filling…

CHOCHMAS NASHIM: THE BLESSING OF TRANQUILITY By: Suri Davis   I have started a new shiur on Shaar Habitachon/Gates of Trust, which meets every Wednesday evening via Zoom for a half hour.  This week, we started discussion on the Five Benefits of Bitachon which help us spiritually, and Five Benefits of Bitachon which help us…

A HALF MILLION ISRAELIS RALLY IN SUPPORT OF JUDICIAL REFORM SHOULD WE? By: Suri Davis   One of the seven Noahide laws is to establish a Judicial system.  We in America idealize our judicial system as a democratic source of communal justice, where two parties appear and there is no bias or favoritism and justice…

CHOCHMAS NASHIM: OURS IS NOT TO QUESTION WHY By: Suri Davis   This week’s two Torah portions are heavy on prohibitions and punishment for said prohibitions/sins. Why is it that the Torah sets forth the punishment for sins, but in only two instances, honoring mom and dad and the mitzvah/commandment of shooing a mother bird…