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Rabbi Zalmanov's Blog

This Blog consists of Rabbi Eliezer Zalmanov's weekly column, as well as articles that appeared in various publications.
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Joy as a way of life
Judaism places a significant emphasis on joy—not the fleeting excitement of a good day or a lucky break, but an enduring sense of...
Rabbi Eliezer Zalmanov
2 minutes ago3 min read
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Life trumps all
One of the most important lessons in Judaism is that life comes first. Always. The Torah is full of commandments and values, but at its...
Rabbi Eliezer Zalmanov
6 days ago2 min read
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A full immersion
This week’s Torah portion dives deep into the process of purification for a person afflicted with tzara’at, biblical leprosy. One of the...
Rabbi Eliezer Zalmanov
Apr 283 min read
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Why isn't anyone talking about this?
Imagine sitting in a classroom, but instead of PowerPoint slides or textbooks, the teacher is holding live animals. That’s exactly what...
Rabbi Eliezer Zalmanov
Apr 243 min read
11 views
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Celebrate the future
Passover is more than a celebration of past freedoms; it’s also a time for reflection and hope for the future. As we approach the final...
Rabbi Eliezer Zalmanov
Apr 172 min read
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Unleashing faith
One of the most iconic elements of Passover is eating matzah, the simple, unleavened bread. In fact, Passover is the only holiday where...
Rabbi Eliezer Zalmanov
Apr 82 min read
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Education and Sharing Day: Why It Still Matters
In 1978, the U.S. Congress recognized the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s contributions to society by proclaiming his birthday, the 11th of Nissan,...
Rabbi Eliezer Zalmanov
Apr 84 min read
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Getting closer
Many people find the idea of sacrifices puzzling. After all, doesn’t Judaism teach that G-d is beyond physical needs? He doesn’t eat, He...
Rabbi Eliezer Zalmanov
Apr 32 min read
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Mirror image
When the Jewish people were building the Tabernacle in the desert, every little detail had meaning. One part of the story that stands out...
Rabbi Eliezer Zalmanov
Mar 243 min read
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Precious metals
Have you ever wondered why the Torah spends so much time talking about materials—gold, silver, copper—when describing the construction of...
Rabbi Eliezer Zalmanov
Mar 173 min read
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Perfectly imperfect
We all have moments when we feel like we’re not doing enough or that we’re not ready to make a difference. Maybe we think, “I have my own...
Rabbi Eliezer Zalmanov
Mar 103 min read
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It's up to us now
There’s a powerful story in the Talmud about what happened after Moses passed away. During the mourning period for Moses, 3,000 laws of...
Rabbi Eliezer Zalmanov
Feb 243 min read
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Coverage, connection, and continuity
Let’s talk about something beautiful—the Ark of the Covenant. It was the very first piece of furniture G‑d asked the Jewish people to...
Rabbi Eliezer Zalmanov
Feb 182 min read
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Make it last
We all have those moments when we feel inspired. It’s like a light goes on inside us, and we feel connected to something bigger. But as...
Rabbi Eliezer Zalmanov
Feb 173 min read
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The struggle is the point
There’s a fascinating story in the Talmud about the moment Moses ascended to Heaven to receive the Torah on behalf of the Jewish people....
Rabbi Eliezer Zalmanov
Feb 33 min read
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The power of hide and seek
Something we all experience but rarely pause to consider is the balance between clarity and mystery in our lives. This balance isn’t...
Rabbi Eliezer Zalmanov
Jan 213 min read
121 views
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Live free
Although Passover is more than two months away, we are introduced to the holiday for the first time in this week’s Torah portion. So...
Rabbi Eliezer Zalmanov
Jan 213 min read
6 views
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Asking tough questions
Think about a time when life felt really hard. Maybe you lost a job, got sick, or had a big fight with someone you love. It’s normal to...
Rabbi Eliezer Zalmanov
Jan 203 min read
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Mixing religion and state
You’re at work, and your boss asks you to cut a corner on a project to save money. It doesn’t feel right, but it’s just business, right?...
Rabbi Eliezer Zalmanov
Jan 132 min read
15 views
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Compassionate self-care
Life is full of challenges—moments that remind us of how fragile things can feel and how deeply we need one another. Just look at the...
Rabbi Eliezer Zalmanov
Jan 92 min read
5 views
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