By Rabbi Dov Fischer
It is a question that Orthodoxy laity often ask: “Why can’t Young Israel and OU just merge? Why the double overhead?”  I even am asked this by people who miraculously comprehend the electoral landscape of a country that has at least nine different Orthodox-associated political parties (Bayit Yehudi, Ichud Leumi, Otzma Yehudit, New Right, Zehut, United Torah Judaism, Shas, Yachad (Rav Eli Yishai), and the Rabbi Nachman Party) running for Knesset and competing against each other.

By Rabbi Moshe Meir Weiss
Let us continue our crash course on the art of prayer.  The posuk says, “Va’ani sifilasi lacha Hashem eis ratzon – And I let my prayer come before You at a time of favor.”  This posuk clues us in on a great secret:  That we can carve out for ourselves a favorable time for our supplications.  The key to success in this area is to preface our prayers with the performance of a mitzvah.  When doing so, Hashem is happy with us because of our mitzvah and therefore He looks more favorably at the request which follows it.

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
Back in the day when we were fighting for the life and freedom of Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin, there were those who castigated us for our crusade. They said that he is a criminal, and he was indeed eventually found guilty in a court of law. “He is a felon,” they wrote. “How can you defend him? He’s a crook. Shame on you.”
We are not into conspiracy theories, but as we were following the story from the beginning, we saw that the hand of justice can at times be crooked. It can be used by people with an agenda to destroy someone who crossed them in one way or another.

By Rabbi Moshe Meir Weiss
Last week, we introduced the theme that the national Jewish profession is prayer. As Rashi puts it, it’s our umnos, our craft. As such, we will now embark on a crash course on many of the skills necessary to become a professional davener to Hashem.

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
At the conclusion of Parshas Balak, we learn that following his failed bid to curse the Jewish people, as Bilam departed, he connived for Moav’s young women to entice the Bnei Yisroel to sin. A leader of shevet Shimon was sinning with the daughter of a leading Midyanite in front of the Jewish people. Nobody knew what to do.
Hashem announced that He would send a plague as punishment for the ongoing decadence, when Pinchos arose from the crowd.

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
Bolok, the king of Tzipor, saw what the approaching nation of Israel had done to its enemies and those who stood in its path as it headed to the Holy Land, and he became worried. Bolok did not want to face the same end as his neighbors, who had not prepared for the invasion. He noted that the Jews had defeated mighty nations, which left him with only one possible avenue of victory. He would have to curse them.

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
I have been to Europe not more than 2 or 3 times in my life. While there is the urge to visit London and Paris and take in Prague and the other prominent cities of Europe, when I have a chance to travel somewhere of that distance, I choose to go to Eretz Yisroel.
I have a difficult time going for enjoyment to countries where my forefathers were tortured and killed in every brutal way known to man. I cannot enjoy myself on land soaked with Jewish blood. If that makes me small-minded or a myopic golus Yid, so be it. I can handle worse epithets.

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
This week, in Parshas Shelach, we study the tragic episode of the meraglim sent by Moshe to spy on the land of Eretz Yisroel. The Jews wanted to send spies to the Promised Land to ascertain whether it would be difficult to take it over. Moshe acquiesced and chose twelve leaders of Klal Yisroel for the mission, one from each tribe. Ten of those men went on to err terribly. The Jews were severely punished for the actions and words of the errant messengers, and though there was a certain measure of forgiveness, we have suffered throughout the ages because of the incident.
There are many timeless lessons embedded in the story.

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
The weekly news cycle, which includes the events and stories that recently transpired, captivates the country and molds people’s opinions. It informs, educates, saddens and gladdens those who follow the fast-moving train. But for those who are sensitive enough to perceive that the rapid flow of news contains relevant messages with lessons for personal growth, the daily flow can also inspire.

Dear Matzav Readers,
It’s with great pain and sorrow that I’m forced to share with you a tragedy that took place this past Shavuos.
Please note: If you’re reading this letter on Matzav, it’s not considered Loshen Hora in any shape or form as I was actually advised by Gedolim to share this information with the public and that I have an obligation to do so.
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