This Blog consists of Rabbi Eliezer Zalmanov's weekly column, as well as articles that appeared in various publications.
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We tend to think adulthood begins when society finally trusts us with something big: voting, driving, paying taxes, joining the military, and so on. Different cultures pick different milestones: 16, 18, 21. It’s all about when you're old enough to do things. Judaism flips the script. At thirteen, long before society considers someone fully mature, Jewish tradition says: You’re responsible. Not for taxes or mortgages, but for your values, for your decisions, for who you choose

There’s something about the afternoon that everyone can relate to. It’s when the coffee wears off, the to-do list is still long, and the day hasn’t gone quite as planned. It’s not morning optimism or evening peace, it’s that messy, middle stretch where life really happens. In Jewish tradition, that “middle of the day” has its own prayer: Mincha, the afternoon prayer. The Torah tells us that Isaac “went out to meditate in the field toward evening,” and our sages explain that t

Abraham, the first Jew, is sitting outside his tent recovering from his circumcision when G-d Himself appears to him. He experiences a private, divine revelation; an extraordinary moment in history. But suddenly, Abraham notices three strangers walking nearby, and without hesitation, he turns away from his encounter with G-d to go greet them, offer them food, water, and rest. The Talmud draws a surprising conclusion from this story: “Welcoming guests is greater than receiving

There’s a fascinating part of this week’s Torah portion that, at first glance, might sound strange and maybe even unfair. G-d tells Abraham that his descendants will be strangers in a foreign land, enslaved and mistreated for hundreds of years. But then He adds, “Afterward they will leave with great wealth.” Now, imagine you’re one of those descendants, a slave in Egypt. You’ve suffered for generations. You’re told that freedom is coming soon, but first you have to wait a lit

We’ve all been there. Your basement starts leaking during a storm. You rush to move boxes, grab towels, set up a fan, doing whatever you can to keep the water out. It’s stressful, but you’re focused: protect the house, protect the family. Then you notice your neighbor’s basement light is still on, and water is pouring into his place too. You hesitate; you’ve got your own mess to deal with. But deep down, you know that you can’t just worry about your own home when the guy next

There are few sights more powerful than a homecoming. Parents finally holding their children after years of captivity. Families who refused to give up hope, even when the world seemed dark. These moments have brought us all to tears—and to our feet. After everything we’ve been through, seeing even one person come home feels like a miracle. But we also know deep down that this isn’t the end of the story. There are still families mourning, still hearts that need healing, and st

As we approach Simchat Torah this year, my heart feels like a mosaic of emotions—joy, grief, gratitude, fear, and hope—all at once. I think many of us feel that way right now. On one hand, there is the indescribable relief of parents finally embracing their children after twenty-four long months of captivity. The images of the reunions coming through this morning alone can move us to tears of joy. Yet, in the same moment, we ache for the now-former hostages and all they’ve en

There’s something about joy that’s contagious. Think about the last time you saw someone really, genuinely happy; not just smiling...

When Yom Kippur ends, most of us feel done. We’ve fasted, spent some time in synagogue, maybe even whispered a promise to change...

We live in a world that can often feel upside down. Sometimes the things that should bother us become normalized, while values that truly...

There’s something special about moments when everyone shows up. Think about a wedding, a graduation, or even a sports championship. The...

This week’s Torah portion says something fascinating: “All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you.” On the surface, it...

We may not wake up in the morning thinking we’re headed into battle, but in a sense, we are. Every day comes with its own challenges: the...

You walk into a room, and everyone turns their head. Not because of what you’re wearing or how much you make, but because of the quiet...

There’s something about Jerusalem that tugs at every Jewish heart. Even Jews who have never stepped foot in Israel feel a connection to...

If you’ve ever been told to “tone it down,” “keep it quiet,” or “maybe don’t mention you’re Jewish right now,” you know the subtle...

It’s hard not to feel disoriented these days. Antisemitism isn’t hiding anymore; it’s loud, public, and in some of the most “respectable”...

This Shabbat, the one before Tisha B’Av, is called Shabbat Chazon, which means “the Shabbat of Vision.” It gets its name from the opening...

Ever feel like life is just too much sometimes? Work is stressful. Bills pile up. Relationships can be complicated. The news is...

We all wonder at some point: What am I doing here? What is my purpose? It’s a legitimate human question, and the answer isn’t always...