Keep Your Word
Keep Your Word I was receiving people at the Zer home in Bnei Brak. From the morning hours, the masses were swarming to the house. People were asked to shorten their visits as much as possible, so that everyone else in line could have their turn. But an elderly couple insisted on a long time […]
Dreams of Improvement
Dreams of Improvement Often, a person is given Heavenly signals in the form of dreams. Their purpose is to strengthen his Avodat Hashem. He must listen to his messages and reinforce his Torah and mitzvah observance. A woman once told me that she dreamed that all her teeth had fallen out. Since this type of […]
Setting Times for Torah Study
“Behold, days are coming – the word of the L-rd Hashem/Elokim – when I will send hunger into the land, not a hunger for bread nor a thirst for water, but to hear the words of Hashem” (Amos 8:11) “For he scorned the word of Hashem” (Bamidbar 15:31) Rabbi Nehorai explains: Whoever has the ability […]
Jewish Joy
Jewish Joy I was once invited to the wedding ceremony of a wealthy philanthropist in New York. Huge amounts of money were poured into making this celebration a memorable affair. But, unfortunately, due to the sorry state of tzeniut, I was required to keep my eyes closed during the entire chuppah. It was clear to […]
A Touching Incident
A Touching Incident I was once hospitalized and was severely limited in my movements. I needed physical help to perform various activities. At all times, I had someone at my side: a family member, a disciple, or my devoted secretary. But one time, just when my secretary was in the next room engrossed in prayer, […]
A Picture of Shame
A Picture of Shame A woman once came to ask my advice concerning a specific matter. She brought along pictures of her family. She laid them before me on the table. To my sorrow, they depicted a lifestyle far from Torah and mitzvot. I immediately ordered her to remove the photographs and rebuked her for […]
Modesty – A Prospect of Pride
Modesty – A Prospect of Pride A non-observant woman once told me that she had dreamed a bad dream and was warned to be stringent in matters of tzeniut. I further inspired her with words of our Sages regarding the advantages of tzeniut, a most appropriate virtue for the Jewish daughter. I encouraged her to […]
A Close Call
A Close Call A woman once asked me for my blessing. She skipped into my office in a state of cheer and lightheartedness. Her happy-go-lucky, carefree deportment gave me pause to suspect her entire lifestyle. I suspected her level of tzeniut as I observed her blithe, relaxed attitude. This woman sat herself down opposite me. […]
Modesty – Protection from Foreign Elements
Modesty – Protection from Foreign Elements I was once visited by a young man and woman who were engaged to be married. I knew these people were used to mingling with other lightheaded youth. They would often have drinking parties with shady characters. I warned them to stop participating in such revelry. I went so […]
Hands Off!
Hands Off! I had occasion to meet with a venerated queen. As we were being introduced, she stuck out her hand in order to shake mine, as is accepted throughout the gentile world. But tzeniut and halachah dictate that a man may not have physical contact with a strange woman. I politely declined her outstretched […]
The Partition Preserves Proper Prayer
The Partition Preserves Proper Prayer On a visit in Paris, I was asked to speak in the local Beit Hakeneset on Shabbat, after Shacharit. As I entered the synagogue, I discovered women with uncovered hair sitting among the men, as everyone waited for services to begin. Under no circumstances would I pray in such a […]
Covering All Bases
Covering All Bases A woman named Devorah once related to me a dream which repeated itself on the eve of Yom Kippur. In the first dream, her tooth fell out, and then she was notified that her aunt was destined to die very soon. In the second dream, she was notified that her uncle would […]
