So I board a Southwest Airlines plane in West Palm Beach to return to Long Island. Before we even pull away from the gate the pilot announces that due to lightening the ground crew cannot be outside and therefore there would be a delay. After one hour the pilot informs us that there is good news and bad news. The good news is that the lightning has stopped. more

The longtime Chabad shaliach to Mineola, Rabbi Anchelle Perl, is no stranger to contemporary events, often using them as a tool to promote Jewish observance. Following the cremation of British pop singer Amy Winehouse on July 26, Rabbi Perl used the news story to explain the halachic ban on cremation. “Cremation puts the traditional Jewish burial in grave danger,” Rabbi Perl said. “I have recently received too many calls to help stop a cremation.” more

Dear Aviva, My wife and I were planning on sending our son to an out-of-town yeshiva for ninth grade this September. He has always been socially anxious and has trouble making friends. We thought that going away would help him refine himself. He was not thrilled with the idea when we registered him, but now he expresses that he really doesn’t want to go. We don’t know what to do, because we think that he would benefit from having to make friends but we don’t want to have to fight him so much. He’s starting to cry to us almost everyday. What’s your take? -Freshie Father more

The recent visit to Cape Canaveral to witness the launch of the last space shuttle by a group of very talented students of Yeshiva Katana of Inwood and the publication of a new book dealing with that very subject will serve as the focus of this week’s review. In his new book, “Intergalactic Judaism” [Urim Publications, 2011] by Rabbi David Lister of the United Kingdom, the subject of the Jewish take on space travel and related activities and studies is dealt with in depth. more

In the history of mankind, rulers have often had the power over who will live and who will die. In some cases, one’s prison sentence might be linked indefinitely to the grudge of the ruling power, and reprieve might come about upon the latter’s death. Much would depend on the nature of the crime of which the individual stood accused, while in many cases, there may not have been a crime committed at all. more

When CNN gave Elliot Spitzer his own show, many complained engaging the disgraced former governor was a new low in cable news. But by hiring “Reverend” Al Sharpton as their 6pm host, MSNBC has smashed through CNN’s record, establishing a new low which may never be topped. With Sharpton, MSNBC contracted a man who’s incited two anti-Jewish pogroms, bears false witness against innocent people and is linked to the demise of at least eight innocent people. more

Calendar for the week of July 29, 2011 more

Words for the Kletzky family and community from local rabbinic leaders more

At a recent funeral, an elderly mourner collapsed and died at the cemetery. After I somehow revived him with CPR, his first words were, “I’m okay; I’m okay.” I turned to his daughter who was still screaming and I said, “He’s okay.” I then picked up a shovel and continued filling in the grave of the deceased. more

The Talmud says: “One should not extravagantly distribute more than one fifth of one’s income to charity.” Are the sages saying there’s a ceiling cap on tzedakah? Yes they are, because if everyone were to give too much away there would be too many mouths to feed. more