The Psychology of Shame: Volume 6, Issue 10, Vayigash

December 27, 2025; 7 Teves, 5786 Sponsored anonymously for the Refuah Shleimah of Yair Nissan Ben Sara

When Yosef sends his brothers back to Canaan to bring Yaakov to him, he tells the brothers, "Do not quarrel on the way." Rashi explains this in several ways including the following: "According to the simple meaning of the verse, we can say that since they were ashamed, he was concerned that they would perhaps quarrel on the way about his being sold, debating with one another, and saying, 'Because of you he was sold. You slandered him and caused us to hate him.'"

This commentary by Rashi shows a deep awareness of how integrity can be undermined...

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To Comfort a Mourner: Volume 6, Issue 9, Mikeitz

December 20, 2025; 30 Kislev, 5786 Sponsored anonymously for the Refuah Shleimah of Yair Nissan Ben Sara

In the early 2000s, a fellow student at Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim in Queens, NY, experienced the loss of his mother, who passed away unexpectedly at a young age. Along with several friends, I traveled from Queens to Brooklyn to pay a Shivah call.

As anticipated, the atmosphere in the Shivah home was deeply somber. Although we endeavored to find the right words of comfort, it became apparent that none of us found the right words to console the bereaved family. After some time, our group approached the mourners, recited “Hamakom Yenacheim Es’chem,” and respectfully departed...

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An LIRR Dilemma: Volume 6, Issue 8, Vayeishev

December 13, 2025; 23 Kislev, 5786 Sponsored anonymously for the Refuah Shleimah of Yair Nissan Ben Sara

Question: I live in Lawrence and attend a Daf Yomi class each morning in Far Rockaway before commuting to Manhattan via the Long Island Railroad (LIRR). The New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) offers a much cheaper "Far Rockaway Ticket" for trips to Manhattan compared to the pricier "Lawrence Ticket," since Far Rockaway falls within New York City while Lawrence is in Nassau County. Because I am present in Far Rockaway each morning, the MTA app allows me to buy the discounted round-trip ticket from there. My question is: On my return home from Manhattan, can I exit the train at Lawrence...

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