Ah, Saudi Arabia! The country that spawned 15 of the 19 terrorists that executed the atrocities of Sept. 11, 2001. The country we in America are told is an ally, even though, when it comes to values, we have virtually nothing in common with the reactionary oil billionaires running the place. more

During the 16-day government shutdown, the press was full of reports of the battle going on within the Republican Party. Those reports may be understated. The centrist and the liberal Republicans want revenge. Even as the Obamacare website, and the broken promise of being able to keep ones healthcare, is threatening to give the GOP everything they lost in the shutdown and more, even though it was the tea party activists who gave the GOP its house majority, the “establishment” money men of the Republican Party are preparing to attack conservative lawmakers “from sea to shining sea.” more

This week’s portion, Toldot, leaves us wondering about the wisdom of Yitzchak’s behavior in one of the more challenging series of events in his life. There is, again, a famine in Canaan (Israel), and Yitzchak journeys to the coastal region of Gerar (probably today’s Gaza strip), to the king Avimelech. Yitzchak, despite the famine, was very successful, with crops yielding 100 fold the normal yield, and he becomes a very wealthy man (26:13-14) which, of course, makes the local Philistines very jealous. more

My best teachers taught that when a question bothers you, seek from everywhere you can until you find a satisfactory answer. This is one of the reasons why I have found real Chumash questions to be much better answered when learning what all the commentaries say, rather than just reading Rashi or Ramban. more

Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks of the United Kingdom has been appointed to a dual professorship at New York University and Yeshiva University. A world-renowned scholar, philosopher, religious leader, prolific author and a leading moral voice, Rabbi Lord Sacks served as Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth from September 1991 until September 2013, only the sixth incumbent of the position since it was formalized in 1845. more

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano said on Monday that he believes the Federal Emergency Management Agency should assist houses of worship damaged by Hurricane Sandy. Republican Mangano, seeking re-election next Tuesday, addressed a crowd of Jewish community, synagogue and day school lay leaders at the Orthodox Union’s Manhattan offices. more

With more than 275 vendors displaying their wares at this week’s KosherFest in the Meadowlands, there were plenty of tasty takeaways. But one vendor, instead of marketing a food item or service, was drawing a jocular crowd with “kosher” diapers, a product just now breaking into kosher supermarkets and convenience stores in frum neighborhoods. more

Yeshiva Shor Yoshuv in Lawrence, a hub of aid after Sandy to those devastated by the hurricane, filled with an overflow crowd of more than 2,000 men, women and children this past Sunday for a Tehillim (psalms) rally to thank G-d for surviving the storm. “The power of Tefila (prayer) from tinokos shel bais Raban (Torah-learning children) is very special,” explained Achiezer’s Eli Weiss, who organized the event. “The schools and shuls did a tremendous job of promoting and encouraging attendance and involvement and we owe them a great debt of gratitude for contributing to the success that B’H it was.” more

Thursday, Oct. 10 Lunch & Learn With Rabbi Shalom Axelrod of Young Israel of Woodmere. Weekly at Traditions Restaurant, 302 Central Avenue, off Rockaway Blvd., Lawrence. 12:30-1:30 pm. Buy a $12 lunch, eat and learn. Alan Stern 516-398-3094. more

Sometimes, you can’t change the world, and to make sure the world doesn’t change you, difficult and often painful decisions are necessary. In the Israeli army, there are certain rules and codes you learn quickly, that most soldiers instinctively understand. No normal soldier steals weapons and you don’t ever take personal belongings from anyone, especially from the guys in your own unit. more