A Changed Man: Volume 6, Issue 29, Shelach

June 13, 2026; 28 Sivan, 5786 Sponsored anonymously for the Refuah Shleimah of Yair Nissan Ben Sara

Berele was the orphaned son of the great Tzaddik, Reb Tanchum, the flour sifter. After his parents died, the gifted but restless boy ran away from the orphanage, drifted into the streets of Jerusalem, and became the leader of a gang. When he was sent to the harsh Kishle prison, Rav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld refused to give up on him. “It is forbidden to leave him there,” the Rav said, and he raised the money to ransom him.

After a heartfelt conversation with Rav Yosef Chaim, Berele promised to change. He married Yehudis, an orphaned maid who dreamed of having a home of her own. Unfortunately, after a few short months, he fell back into his old behavior—shouting, raging, and at times abusing his wife. Even so, one spark remained: like his father, Berele observed the laws of Passover with deep devotion...

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But I Don't Forgive Them: Volume 6, Issue 28, Beha'aloscha

June 6, 2026; 21 Sivan, 5786 Sponsored anonymously for the Refuah Shleimah of Yair Nissan Ben Sara

QUESTION: Before I go to sleep, I say “Krias Shema al HaMita” (prayer upon going to sleep for the night). I also say the introductory words to the prayer, "I hereby forgive and absolve anyone who has angered or provoked me or sinned against me, physically or financially or by failing to give me due respect, or in any other matter relating to me, involuntarily or willingly, inadvertently or deliberately, whether in word or deed: let no one incur punishment because of me.”  



So what is my question? Before I graduated high school, I had the unfortunate experience of two of my teachers who yelled at me harshly. It left me with a horrible feeling at my graduation and with a very unnerving feeling about my whole education. I feel that they could have made their point without yelling at me. I have tried to forgive them and to move on, but I cannot seem to let go of my resentment. Accordingly, when I say the introductory words of Krias Shema al haMita (“Krias Shema”), I do not feel like I am telling the truth when I declare that I forgive everyone. What should I do?...

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A Midday Snack at the Office: Volume 6, Issue 27, Naso

May 30, 2026; 14 Sivan, 5786 Sponsored anonymously for the Refuah Shleimah of Yair Nissan Ben Sara

QUESTION:

I work in an office that keeps a stocked food pantry so employees stay on-site during lunch and continue working. Although there is plenty of food in the pantry, I prefer scrambled eggs as a midday snack rather than use what is in the pantry. Since there are no cooking appliances, I brought a Betty Crocker appliance from home that I bought at Bingo for $24.99. I did not ask the CEO or HR for permission to cook on the premises. Some coworkers were unhappy about this and suggested that using the office in this way without permission may be dishonest and may even constitute Gezel (theft). What are your thoughts on the matter?

ANSWER:

Using a facility (or your office in your case) without permission or not in conformance with its terms and conditions is a form of trespassing...

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