Audio from Yoni and Ariel's Wedding

FNQ Exclusive

As promised  here are a few audio clips from the holy wedding of Yoni and Ariel Miller that can only be found at this site.  For those who had the honor of being there it will give you a chance to relive some of the highlights.  And for those who could not make it you will get a glimpse of the awesome simcha of this event.  Enjoy!!!!!!! My plan is that this blog will return to its regular schedule next week.  (Questions of the week, Thought of the week and parsha thought.)   There will also be a new parsha shiur recording (of a shiur of mine) that I will try to put up every week.

Chosson's Tish - lot's of good cheer.  (l'chaims taking place left and right)

Im Eshkachech - a beautuiful rendition by Shlomo Katz with a Torah from the mesader kiddushin

Divrei Bracha from Rav Steinberg - a beautiful thought about this holy moment.

Divrei Bracha from Rav Machlis - holy words about the chosen and kalla.

Sheva Brachot 

Yoni's Eishet Chayil - a nigun composed special for the wedding (sorry for the low quality of the recording)

Almost MAZAL TOV to Yoni and Ariel - Exclusive coverage on FNQ

FNQ Announcement

At 6:30 tonight Jerusalem time my younger brother will enter into holy matrimony with Ariel (for a little longer) Abrams.

Come back later in the week for exclusive video and audio coverage of this event that will only be available at this website.  (great for those who couldn't make it to this awesome simcha.)

MAZAL TOV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Machloket – a different perspective

FNQ – parsha thought

It would be easy to read this week's sad story of the rebellion of Korach and conclude that one should never be involved in any form of machloket (argument) . After all look what happened to Korach and his people, would you want to be swallowed up by the ground? But I believe that machloket is a very mixed bag and not totally negative. I would like a share a few thoughts on this topic and provide a balance for the profoundly negative and one sided portrayal of machloket that we find in the parsha.

The death of the righteous

FNQ – special

I was privileged last night to participate in the funeral of Rabbi Mordechai Eliahu zt'l. Rabbi Eliahu served as one of the primary poskim and leaders in both spiritual and mundane matters for a large segment of the religious community in Israel. Although I was unable to hear any of the eulogies due to the throngs of people, just to be there and take part in the national mourning of this great loss was meaningful. I would like to share a few thoughts on the significance of losing a great tzadik and leader.

Perfection

FNQ – 5 q's of the week

In honor of the incredible achievement of the Phillies own Roy Haladay who pitched a perfect game yesterday, I wanted to pose some questions on the concept of perfection, as it pertains to our lives.

 In baseball, perfection is easy to define (perfect game = a pitcher who pitches a game without giving up a hit or a walk and there are no errors in the game). In baseball, perfection is also incredibly difficult to achieve (only 20 in the history of baseball!!!).

 In life though, perfection is very difficult to define and perhaps impossible to achieve. As Jews, we have one source to look to for the nature of perfection, that source is G-d. We know that He is perfect and we know a little about Him. In a certain way, the commandment to be like G-d is a command to be perfect, or at least to attempt to become perfect. Here are a few questions to ponder on the topic of perfection.

Come back later in the week for my imperfect thoughts on the topic of perfection. 

Mazel Tov to the Bodner and Pearlman families on the birth of a baby boy

FNQ - announcement

We would like to wish a big mazel tov to Rachel, Eli and Shaya Bodner (sister in law, brother in law and nephew of mine) on the birth of a new son.  Aviva and I are sad that we won't be there for the festivities, though we certainly expect to participate virtually in some fashion or another (I hear America is very high tech so I am sure you can figure something out dad).  The baby looks very cute and it appears that the red genes will live on.  Kein Yirbu.

You should be zocheh legadel oto l'torah l'chupa u'lemaasim tovim.

Manager's Note:  Due to the large number of smachot in my family (Baruch Hashem) I will have to request a small donation if you would like me to announce your simcha.  Cash or credit accepted :)

Binyamin - always looking for a good question 

Good Shabbos

Parsha

FNQ - parsha thought

This shabbos I will be in Modiim where I will G-d willing be serving as a rabbininc intern over the next year.  I am speaking friday night between kabalat Shabbat and Maariv.  This is the thought I plan to share (in Hebrew). 

When Shavuot exits the stage the Jewish people clear their collective calender from holidays for quite some time. No other part in the year has such a long stretch of time with no joyous days. Not only are there no joyous days but the only moadim (unique days in our calender) over the next 4 months are the two fasts of the 17^th of Tammuz and the 9^th of Av. Shavuot leaves us and all that lies us ahead is destruction and mourning. Not only is our calender empty after Shavuot but the portions we read in the Torah also are far from uplifting. This stretch of parshiyot are the amongst the most depressing string of stories in all of Tanach. Things go from bad to worse as we begin this week with the complainers, followed by the sad tale of the spies, the rebellion of Korach, the death of Miriam and the disgrace of the Moabite women. But I believe that in a short paragraph in this week's parsha is contained a life line and a powerful message than can guide us through these and all difficult days.