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I’d like to start off our new column with a simple question: Why is the world obsessed with greatness? Why do we idolize superheroes? The reason is actually quite simple. We’re drawn towards greatness because we know that we’re destined for greatness. We identify with the hero of the story because we know that we are capable, and destined, to become the hero of our own story.

During the Sukkos holiday, the Pico-Robertson neighborhood of Los Angeles erupts in joyful celebration. Our 40-plus kosher restaurants all have sukkos attached. There’s a sukkah on top of Ralph’s Supermarket. One could conceivably sukkah-hop to a different hut every five minutes and not exhaust the inventory. Google “Sukkah’s on Fire” to see my music video showcasing an assortment of local sukkos, accompanied by a wacky parody of the Jerry Lee Lewis “Great Balls” classic. The next video in the cue will likely be my brother Yom Tov’s enormous Jerusalem-based sukkah going up in flames. A well-placed security camera caught the tragic conflagration, and his kids mischievously added my song as a soundtrack.

Videocast Featuring Leading Gedolim Garners Provides Unprecedented
Pre-Rosh Hashana Inspiration

“The Chofetz Chaim changed the briyah - He transformed the entire world! The entire agenda of Klal Yisrael changed because of him and today, on his yahrtzeit, it is the time for us to make a decision – the decision to follow in his ways.”

Brooklyn. On Monday, Rosh Chodesh Elul, the ground-breaking stones for Tehillim on a whole new level was sparked and will surely be seen as igniting the Tehillim powers on a whole new light and experience.

My favorite comic strip of the season is Bart Simpson at the blackboard scrawling repeatedly, “I won’t count how many pages are left in the machzor (High Holiday prayer book).” Formal prayer is an acquired taste, and its acquisition is best achieved with frequency and familiarity. Hence the Jewish catch-22: Many Jews only show up to pray on the two days a year when the prayers are by far the most long-winded and daunting.

Gedolei Yisrael Welcome Participation as Daf HaYomi B’Halacha Marches Towards Dirshu World Siyum of Second Machzor of Mishnah Berurah

“It is not enough for a person to do mitzvos, he must LIVE Torah and mitzvos! How does one LIVE Torah? How does one make shemiras haTorah and shemiras hamitzvos the true chiyus of his life? By learning Mishnah Berurah daily. Daily learning of halacha elevates a person by teaching him to live every minute of every day with Hashem and His mitzvos. Through a small investment of time, he can elevate his life to a different plane!”