By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz

When children begin learning the alpeh bais, every time they open a siddur, their excitement is contagious as they would point at the letters they know and call out with great excitement, “Look, an aleph! There’s a bais, and a little yud…”

This Yom Tov season, ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications has all the books you need for your reading pleasure and inspiration.
Here is a look at some of the new volumes that you’ll want to get your hands on:

Prior to his trip to the United Nations with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu this week, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen went on Erev Rosh Hashanah to receive the bracha of Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, Rosh Yeshivas Rashbi.
At around 10:00 AM, Minister Cohen arrived at the residence of the rosh yeshiva on Rechov Ha’admur MiGur in Bnei Brak.
At the outset of the meeting, the rosh yeshiva mentioned a passage from the Yomim Noraim tefillos, where we say, “אתה בחרתנו מכל העמים – You have chosen us from all the nations,” while requesting that the minister emphasize his Jewish identity during his travels around the world.

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Mordechai Zelig Schechter zt”l, mashgiach of Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin in Flatbush, Brooklyn.
Rav Mordechai Zelig had battled difficult illness the last few year with great perseverance and fortitude.
Rav Mordechai Zelig was a son of Rav Aharon Schechter zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin, who was niftar several weeks ago.
Rav Mordechai Zelig was a beloved figure at the yeshiva, a guide and shining example for the bochurim and the yungeleit

גדולי ישראל בהתרת נדריםצילום: שוקי לרר
 
גדולי ישראל בהתרת נדריםצילום: שוקי לרר
 

הגר”ח פיינשטיין בשיחה בבית ה’צילום: באדיבות המצלם
 
הגר”ח פיינשטיין בשיחה בבית ה’צילום: באדיבות המצלם
 

Maran Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, rosh yeshiva of Philadelphia Yeshiva, davened at his yeshiva on both days of Rosh Hashanah, bechasdei Hashem, Matzav.com has learned.
This is a joyous development in light of the rosh yeshiva’s health challenges over the last period and his continuous progression on his recent path of recovery.
Yesterday, the second day of Rosh Hashanah, the rosh yeshiva served as the makreh for tekias shofar, calling out all 100 tekios.
All are asked to continue davening for the complete and total recovery of Rav Shmuel ben Itta Ettil.
{Matzav.com}
 

In a shmuess to talmidim, Rav Moshe Shternbuch, gaavad of the Eidah Hachareidis, discussed the topic of Rosh Hashanah coinciding with Shabbos. He cited the words of the Chasam Sofer, who asserted that in a year when the shofar is not sounded on the first day of Rosh Hashanah due to it being Shabbos, the merit of observing Shabbos properly serves as a protective shield for Klal Yisroel in place of the shofar.

ערב ראש השנה תשפ”ד בבני ברקצילום: שוקי לרר
 
ערב ראש השנה תשפ”ד בבני ברקצילום: שוקי לרר
 

Rav Yisroel Brog, well known rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Tiferes Avigdor in Cleveland, in an edition last year of Sichos Yisroel, which contain thoughts on the weekly parsha, addressed the idea that people nowadays frown upon the concept of punishment and accountability, preferring Easy Street.