By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
Life is full of twists and turns. We think everything is set and that our lives will proceed according to one plan, and then things switch. We lose our job, the kollel is no longer satisfying, we receive an offer from an out-of-town community, someone gets sick r”l, and so on.
There are so many variables in life for which we cannot plan. How we deal with them determines whether we will succeed. We can either throw up our hands in desperation, filled with misery and gloom, or we can accept that everything that happens to us is from Hashem and realize that it is up to us to accept the change and make the best of it.

Dear Matzav Inbox,

Dear Matzav Inbox,
I feel obligated to voice my dismay regarding the troubling obsession with politics that has unfortunately grown into our frum communities. It is nothing short of pathetic.
From every corner, I hear endless discussions about the latest political skirmishes, alliances, candidates, and strategies, as if these matters hold the ultimate significance in our lives. Trump, Harris, Walz, etc. nationally. Wieder, Menashe Miller, Lichtenstein, Schnall. etc. locally.

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
The first parsha of the Torah, which discusses the creation of the world and its beginning years, represents potential and the future. On Shabbos Bereishis, we begin the weekly cycle of Torah study—a new beginning, brimming with promise for the coming year.

Dear Matzav Inbox,
Why isn’t anyone addressing the real parnassah crisis in our community? While the world around us sees bustling shuls, full grocery carts, and well-dressed families, the truth that’s swept under the rug is that for most of us, it’s a daily struggle to keep our heads above water.

By Rabbi Moshe Dov Heber
In the weeks leading up to Simchas Torah, there was much discussion about how to have Simchas Torah this year, and how to balance celebrating the day properly, yet recognizing that it was the anniversary of a terrible tragedy and the beginning of a war that has impacted Klal Yisroel in so many ways.
Last year, in Yeshiva Ateres Shmuel of Waterbury, where many community members daven along with the Yeshiva and Kollel, the Simchas Torah was very moving. Levi, then a bochur in the Yeshiva, had been called up to service in the IDF, and as he left, the kehilla gathered around him singing and davening with the fear of the unknown on everyone’s faces.

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
The Jewish world has undergone a tremendous change since Sukkos ended last year. It was as if once the Yom Tov that celebrates Hashem’s protection of the Jewish people in the midbar and throughout the ages ended, Hashem, for reasons unknown to us, removed His protection for ten hours and a terrible massacre resulted.
By the time it was over, 1,200 of our brothers and sisters were killed, bombed, burned, and mutilated in a historically horrific manner. Over three thousand were wounded and 251 were taken hostage.

Dear Editor,
Thank you for this opportunity to respond to the letter that appeared yesterday about daled minim Shuks.
There was a total misrepresentation of what the Shuk is all about.
I write today with a sense of urgency to defend the beauty, purity, and undeniable impact of the daled minim Shuks.
Yesterday’s letter claimed that the Shuk might not be the best environment for our children, that it presents a negative influence.
Let me tell you, with over 20 years of direct involvement in the Shuk in Lakewood, NJ, this couldn’t be further from the truth!

By Hillel Fuld
I really don’t think you understand the absolute miracles we witnessed last night here in Israel.
In fact, I’m sure you don’t.
Let’s break this down.
Israel has three air defense systems, each one a technological wonder—and that’s not just me saying it. That’s Dr. Gold, who basically invented the Iron Dome. The level of sophistication in the Iron Dome is simply unparalleled.
But the Iron Dome only knows how to detonate short-range rockets or missiles within a 70 km range, give or take.
Then Israel has the David’s Sling system. That one knows how to deal with mid-range missiles up to approximately 300 km.

By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
It is interesting that although Rosh Hashanah is included in the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah, we don’t mention teshuvah in our tefillos and don’t recite the viduy as we do during the rest of the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah. Why?
We are all familiar with the Medrash (Shir Hashirim Rabbah 5:2), which states that Hakadosh Boruch Hu proclaims to Klal Yisroel to open within themselves an entrance for teshuvah the size of a needle’s eye, and He will open for them gateways wide enough for wagons to pass through.