By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
The emotional meetings between the brothers and Yosef reach a crescendo in Parshas Vayigash. The brothers came several times to Mitzrayim in search of food, each time harassed by the Egyptian viceroy. Finally, after the man told them that he intended to jail Binyomin on trumped up charges, Yehudah confronts the ruler and tells him that the charade must come to an end.

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
As the winter begins to set in, bringing with it early nights and cold weather, Chanukah arrives, warming our hearts and souls, and bringing much light to a dark world. How blessed we are!
As we light the menorah each day, we endeavor to perform the mitzvah in the best possible way, going beyond the exact strictures of halacha to fulfill the obligation with all the many hiddurim. We seek to light with olive oil and the best type of wicks. Every member of the family is provided with a menorah on which to light, increasing the lights every day of the chag.

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
The Yom Tov of Chanukah is almost upon us; beginning this Sunday evening. A fuller understanding of the special days helps us appreciate and enjoy them better. The basic story of the miracles we commemorate during these days are well known; we’ve been hearing them for as long as we can remember.
Although the eight-day celebration was established by Chazal of that period and the Yom Tov has the status of a mitzvah miderabonon, there is no shortage of oblique references to Chanukah in the Torah.

By Rabbi Steven Pruzansky
   A few weeks ago, I mentioned to a noted Israeli politician a conundrum that Orthodox rabbis face these days:  how can we show our love for every Jew, all our brothers and sisters of all levels of observance or non-obervance, and simultaneously uphold and defend the integrity of the Torah? It is an uneasy balance. Oftentimes, maintaining the Torah’s integrity and defending its moral system is perceived by offenders as unconscionable assaults on their dignity and humanity.

By Rav Y. Reuven Rubin, England 

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
Ever since Yaakov’s showdown with Eisov, that saga has been providing Yaakov’s progeny with a prototype for dealing with an enemy in his various guises. Sometimes the enemy presents himself as a friend, sometimes as a brother or a protector, and sometimes as a concerned colleague or the government. Other times, the evil one is apparent in his hatred and enmity.
Sometimes, we hold ourselves back or have permitted the yeitzer hora to control our actions. Yaakov provides guidance for us in such instances as well.

Dear Editor,
Perhaps you’ve seen the video. May you’re lucky enough to have not.
The clip shows a dog being walked down to a chupah at a wedding, ostensibly held last night, with a song – a non-Jewish one – with the lyrics “Who let the dogs out?” playing in the background as the hound made its way down the aisle.
Have we no limits anymore? Does everything go these days? Are we not embarrassed?
We hopefully have kashrus supervision (do we?) at our weddings, simchos, and events. Do we supervise anything else? Do we care about what we represent? Do we care about what goes on at our most sacred times?

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
People are funny. Despite the best efforts of those who think they are in charge, time after time, the people show that they can’t always be misled, pushed around, taken advantage of, and taken for granted. Every once in a while, we are reminded of this.
There were several examples last week, though I won’t cite them all. I’m sure you can think of others on your own. We shall concentrate on the Democrat losses.
Those who get their news from the mainstream media and sites were fed a daily diet against the former president and in favor of the current occupant of the White House. They were led to believe that President Biden’s agenda is far-reaching and wildly popular, as it addressed the country’s pressing needs.

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
In this week’s parsha, we learn of the birth of twin boys, Yaakov and Eisov, born to Yitzchok and Rivka after many years of tefillah. Until their bar mitzvah, they appeared to be equal. They were both destined for greatness and each one could have played the role as the progenitor of our people, following Avrohom and Yitzchok.
That began to change as they grew older. As the posuk says, “Vayigdelu hane’arim vayehi Eisov ish yodeia tzayid, v’Yaakov ish tom yosheiv ohalim – When the boys grew up, Eisov was drawn to hunting and Yaakov was a pure man who sat in the tents [and studied Torah].”

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
Every generation has its tests. Every generation is confronted with challenges unique to its period. Every generation thinks that the things it has to deal with are tougher than anything their forbears were forced to confront. Many of the challenges we are currently faced with involve matters of self-control and discipline in a time of plenty and easy access.
Not that long ago, nobody dreamt of communal wealth to the extent that we have today. There were some people who were blessed with wealth, but almost everyone was living paycheck to paycheck. Life was much simpler back then, as were the temptations and the ability to deal with them.