By Rabbi Pinchos Lipshutz
Life is tough, the news is tough, and the economy is tough. It’s tough all around. We have faith that Hakadosh Boruch Hu is causing everything to happen, often for reasons we cannot yet understand.

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
At the beginning of this week’s parsha, Hashem tells Avrom to leave his home and birthplace and go to “ha’aretz asher areka – the land that I will show you.” Many reasons are given for why Hashem did not tell Avrom where he was headed. Rashi (Bereishis 12:1) suggests, “Lo gila lo hamakom miyad, Hashem did not initially reveal the land he was headed to, kedei lechaveva be’einov, in order to make it more beloved in his eyes.”
Imagine an elderly couple setting out on a life-transforming, camel-back expedition over hills and valleys, loaded down with their possessions, livestock and followers, and having no idea where they were headed. ­­­­

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
This week we are introduced once again to Noach, the grandfather of all of mankind. The Torah describes him as a “tzaddik tomim,” totally righteous in deed and thought. He lived in a time when all living beings had become corrupt and immoral.
It is interesting that the pesukim (6:11-12) that describe the depraved situation of the world at that time state, “Vatishocheis ha’aretz lifnei Ha’Elokim vatimolei ha’aretz chomos – The world became corrupt before Hashem and was full of thievery. Vayar Hashem es ha’aretz vehinei nishchosah – And Hashem saw the earth and behold it was corrupted.”

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
We are meant to be joyous on every Yom Tov, but the Yom Tov of Sukkos has the special distinction of being referred to as Zeman Simchoseinu, our time of happiness. Why is Sukkos distinct in its added measures of simcha?
Tishrei is the most special month on the Jewish calendar, beginning with Rosh Hashanah, continuing with the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah, Yom Kippur, Sukkos and Hoshanah Rabbah, and concluding with Shemini Atzeres. Each Yom Tov has its own halachos, cherished minhagim, and segulos, accomplishing different things for the Jewish people.

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
There are various reactions to the sound of the shofar’s cry. The sensitive soul hears several messages as the plaintive sound forms a song like no other. It is a tune of triumph mixed with recollection and tones of introspection.
The Rambam, who compiled and clarified so many of the halachos that govern our lives, heard a unique message in the sound of the shofar and, deviating from his usual practice, provided a reason for the mitzvah.

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
Did you ever wonder from where we derive that Elul is an auspicious time to do teshuvah? The Vilna Gaon writes that Elul is a month of rachamim. We can always repent for our sins, but during Elul Hashem is more forgiving and accepts our teshuvah easier. How do we know that?

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
Quite often, the news has the ability to provide lessons for us in our daily lives.
For the past two decades, Joe Biden, as head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, vice president and as president, has been agitating for a US withdrawal from Afghanistan. For most of that time, he did not have the ability to carry through on his desire, as the people with the real power ignored him.

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
Many contend that the United States is currently being led by a president who is out of touch. He is not in control, is often dishonest, breaks campaign promises, doesn’t follow the will of the people, makes wrong decisions, and knowingly skirts the constitution.
A Covid-inspired nationwide ban on evicting renters who have not paid their rent expired July 31st. The Supreme Court ruled that the ban exceeded the government’s power and could not be renewed without an act by Congress, but the progressives couldn’t muster enough votes to enact such a law, so last week President Biden was pressured into announcing a new, albeit narrower, eviction ban.

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
Last week, I went away with my wife for a few days. We were in an elevator in a hotel on the West Coast and a well-dressed man stepped in.
“Hi,” I said. “How’s it going?”
He said it was going great.
When I noticed that he was wearing a carnation in his lapel, I said, “Going to a wedding?”
He smiled broadly and said, “Yes. In fact, my daughter is getting married soon on the beach.”
I offered my congratulations and asked him if he was from the area.
“In fact, no,” he responded. “I live right outside of Philadelphia. Where are you from?”

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
The way we observe the restrictions of the nine-day period is fast becoming one of the great dichotomies of religious Jewish life. We know that this is a period of mourning. We know that we are not supposed to wear fresh garments. We know that there are no major simchos during this period, no music, no meat, nothing that would take our minds off of the great suffering our people have endured throughout our history. Yet, although we are well-intentioned and observe every halacha, kallah k’chamurah, when it comes to the Nine Days, the observances don’t always impact us. They become more of an inconvenience than a way to force us to introspect.