Dovid Saks

Author's posts

It Makes a Difference!

At this time, when our brethren are at war and we are experiencing much uncertainty and upset over the upsurge of antisemitism in the US and around the world, the frequent thought flashing through our minds is, “What can we do?” As Jews, we turn to prayer, we contribute, we contact our relatives and friends …

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Lift Our Eyes!

The approach of sadistic, barbaric and repulsive terror gangs is nothing new. In this week’s Parsha, the Torah relates to us that two angels came to the city of Sedom with the mission of rescuing Avraham’s nephew Lot and his family, and to destroy the utterly wicked cities of Sedom and Amorah. Sedom had an …

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Make The Palace Shine!

This week’s Parsha begins with G-d’s first communication to our forefather Avraham, who was 75 years old at the time. Our sages debate at which age Avraham recognized that there is a Creator. It was either at the tender age of three or when he was 48 years old. During this time, aside from just …

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What Counts!

This week we read about the greatest apocalypse the world experienced, the great flood of Noach that occurred 1656 years after the world was created. What triggered such a disaster? The Torah tells us that the inhabitants of the world became severely immoral. However, it was the rampant stealing which made G-d decide to destroy …

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Who We Are!

A critical moment like this, is an opportune time to pause and appreciate who we truly are. During a conversation with an acquaintance of mine, out of deep frustration and pain over the Hamas murderous and unthinkable atrocities they did to our fellow Jews, he said, Israel should go into Gaza and respond in the …

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Storyteller!

Every so often, a question posed to me is, why do we celebrate Simchas Torah – dancing with the Torah – on the Holiday of Shemini Atzeres? It would seem to be a more befitting time to celebrate with the Torah on the holiday of Shavuos, which marks the time when G-d gave us the …

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Revealed!

The joyous holiday of Succos comes just five days after Yom Kippur, which is observed ten days after Rosh Hashana. There are three tractates of the Babylonian Talmud dedicated to these holidays. Tractate Rosh Hashana deals with the laws concerning Rosh Hashana, such as the Shofar and its sounds, the unique prayers, and how we …

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High-Rise!

Let’s face it, the thought of Yom Kippur gives us a certain pit in our stomach. It’s not only the prospect of the hungry feeling that we’ll experience during the course of the day, it actually comes from our built in spiritual DNA that intuitively knows that Yom Kippur is a sacred day. Recently, in …

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Apple & Honey!

There is known custom to dip a sweet apple into honey during the first night meal of Rosh Hashana. A blessing of Ha’aitz is made over the apple before it is eaten and then the following prayer is recited, “May it be Your will, Hashem, our G-d and the G-d of our forefathers, that You …

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No Summons!

The way our calendar is structured, Rosh Hashana cannot begin on a Sunday, Wednesday or Friday. The Ashkenazic custom is for us to begin reciting the Selichos – penitential prayers – on the Saturday night before Rosh Hashana, provided that Rosh Hashana begins on a Thursday or Shabbos. If Rosh Hashana begins on a Monday …

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