Insight

Spinning the Cosmic Dreidel

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By Devora Kaye In October 1940, Rabbi Chaim Stein z’tzl led a group of students from Telshe on a daring escape from war ravaged Europe on the Trans-Siberian Railroad. The train moved excruciating slow, stopping at every town and village along the way. But the students absorbed in Torah and prayer hardly noticed the days […]

Insight

The Hidden Light

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A group of chassidim once set out on a journey to the Chozeh of Lublin. Yankele, the wagon driver listened closely as the chassidim sitting in his wagon, told wondrous stories of the Chozeh and the miracles he had wrought.  When they reached Lublin, Yankele asked the chassidim to take a kvitl (request for prayer) […]

Insight

The Eternal Spark Within Us

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About a century ago, a poor wandering Rabbi traveled to Milan, Italy on a fundraising mission.  As he walked along the city streets he met a wealthy Jew who invited him to his home for Shabbos. That evening as the Rabbi sat enjoying the meal his interest was piqued by a small broken glass flask […]

Insight

Travel Candles

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Travel Candles It was Zot Chanukah, the zenith of the holiday when all eight flames are kindled to affirm the wonder of Jewish endurance. Judah and Regina Geier, along with their two children Arnold and Ruth, sat silently on a train traveling from Berlin to Holland. They were one of the lucky few who had […]