To the Esteemed members of Ahavas Shalom, I began my association with this great Kehilla one week after its founding in 1999. In 2013 I took on the chairmanship of Beis Medrash Ahavas Shalom, and I am very proud of how our kehilla has grown during these past few years. I have documented this growth [...]
From the Desk of the Chairman We are about to enter our Sukkos, our annual reminder that Hashem runs the world and protects us 24/7. We experience this protection first-hand in our flimsy Sukkos, and then bring that thought back with us into our reinforced concrete homes. Some people in the Holy Land recently declared [...]
Our world is being turned upside down. Regardless of what “side” you are on (e.g. masks, no masks, lockdowns, no lockdowns, etc.), one thing is certain: Hashem is directing this and it is for a reason and the ultimate purpose of this is directly related to the Jews. I have read from a very respected [...]
What a year 5780 has been! I certainly didn’t see this coming, and seemingly no one else did. But one year ago, Hashem knew what was going to be in store for us. If anything, that thought should calm us down, because while we didn’t know what was in store for 5780, and we certainly [...]
Atem nitzaveim hayom kulchem—You are standing here today. When? “Hayom”. When is that? The “BIG” day of Rosh Hashanah. How are we positioned? Standing in a victorious pose, as a group who were just judged favorably. Why were we judged favorably? Because of “ALL of you” - we weren't standing with just the Jews with [...]
As the Rav writes this week, Ki Savo is the parsha of giving thanks. There are so many things to be thankful for, but some are just not so obvious. Hashem has given me health—thank you Hashem! But I can also thank Hashem for being able to thank Him! Just look at the penultimate line [...]
The Rav’s words this week were very moving to me: I urge one and all not to accept the present state as the “new normal”… We are in the midst of a test from Hashem. How we will all react? There are many halachas that are still applicable in todays’ “new normal”, such as to [...]
To my most respected Fellow Members of our beloved Kehilla: Some of you have asked “Where is the chairman? Why isn’t he in shul?” Feel free to stop by my home (Lachish 36/2) for a l’chaim and an answer directly from the chairman. Wishing you all a kesiva v’chasima tova! Lev Seltzer Chairman P.S. Mazel [...]
Purim 5780 was great! But then the “panic” set it. Many of us stayed away from our beloved Beis Medrash due to the fear of the unknown virus. Those who weren’t scared of the virus were scared of the 5000 shekel fines imposed by the government. But five months have passed, and we can look [...]
