Students participating in the IKEA experiment In 2018, furniture company IKEA performed a social experiment called “Bully A Plant- Say No to Bullying”. The experiment, conducted at a school in the United Arab Emirates, showed students how destructive negative comments can be. IKEA set up two identical plants in the school and kept them under identical controlled environments. They each received the same amount of light, nutrition and water. All except for one thing, that is. For 30 days, they invited students to compliment one plant and bully the other.   The students' comments were fed ..read more

Joe Lieberman & John McCain praying at the Kotel in Jerusalem, Israel Last week, the late former senator Joe Lieberman of blessed memory was laid to rest among family, friends, and dignitaries. Among his many accomplishments was making history as the first Jewish candidate to represent a national party platform as Al Gore’s running mate during the 2000 presidential election. However, above all else, Lieberman's legacy is remembered for his proud observance of Judaism and his unwavering commitment to his values.   While addressing diverse audiences across the country, Lieberman would ..read more

Following the miraculous hostage rescue in Rafah over a month ago, a few of the IDF officers who took part in the mission shared their experiences during an impactful media interview:    “Was the risk worth the rescue of two people?” the reporter asked. Commander D doesn't think for long and answers: "We don't look at in terms of a person being worth the life of another, and if two soldiers die the operation is a failure. It's not a zero-sum game. There is something here that's far bigger in its substance. I won't say that we in the unit are worth less, but we've taken on ourselves ..read more

Louis Har reuniting with his family after the miraculous rescue On February 11, 1:49a.m., Israeli special forces undertook a complex and risky hostage rescue operation in Rafah. Israel’s most elite officers used their bodies to shield two hostages as bullets whizzed around them during the dramatic pre-dawn raid that freed the captives. The operation’s success hinged on a synchronized assault, including targeted airstrikes at 1:50 am against Hamas positions to distract Hamas and neutralize threats, facilitating the safe extraction of Luis and Fernando. Miraculously, with G-d’s help, Ferna ..read more

Kivi Bernhard, an international keynote speaker and author of the highly acclaimed "Leopardology: The Hunt For Profit In a Tough Global Economy," received an invitation to deliver the opening address at a prominent Microsoft conference. The event was expected to host hundreds of international figures vital to Microsoft's business, including Bill Gates.   Upon realizing that the conference coincided with Shabbat, Kivi promptly informed the speaker bureau, stating, "I am Jewish, and I don't work on a Saturday." In response, a senior VP from Microsoft contacted Kivi and offered him double o ..read more

Uvda, described by Variety as “the local equivalent to CBS News' 60 Minutes”, ran a segment that featured United Hatzalah members Avi and Avi who had been celebrating Shabbat and the holiday with their families and community when they first heard the news of the horrific attacks on October 7th. Following the Torah's injunction that saving a life supersedes all other laws, they jumped into their ambulance and started heading south.   The country's highest watched current affairs show broadcasted a video showing how thanks to their bravery and heroism, these United Hatzalah volunteers mana ..read more

In a well-known quote from "Fiddler on the Roof," Tevye gazes heavenward and ponders on his many misfortunes, "Dear G-d…I know, I know. We are Your chosen people. But, once in a while, can't You choose someone else?"    For good or for worse, the nations of the world have always been obsessed with the Jewish people. Despite Israel's best efforts to prove that it is just like any other country, the world will always treat Israel differently. Indeed, what does it mean to be the Chosen People?   Yitzchak Rabin, the former Prime Minister of Israel, shared a remarkable experience he ..read more

Israel is ranked as the fourth happiest country in the world, according to the UN-sponsored World Happiness Report. The obvious question arises: how can Israel, the only civilized nation under constant mortal danger, maintain such happiness? Despite ongoing threats from Iran and its terrorist proxies like Hamas and Hezbollah, along with facing global boycotts and condemnations, what are the sources of this happiness?   While happiness can be measured through various metrics, it obviously goes beyond factors like good falafel, a warm climate, or picturesque landscapes.   Studies indi ..read more

Elie Wiesel receiving a blessing from the Rebbe Elie Wiesel, an author, Nobel Prize laureate, and renowned Holocaust survivor, once recounted his visit to Brooklyn in the early '60s to meet with the Rebbe, M.M. Schneerson.   Wiesel posed a poignant question to the Rebbe, asking, "How can you believe in G-d after Auschwitz?" The Rebbe responded by looking at him in silence, his hands resting on the table. After a moment, he shed a tear and softly replied, "In whom do you expect me to believe after Auschwitz? In man?"   The appalling massacres on Simchat Torah, October 7th, and the su ..read more

The Jewish community rallying in a show of solidarity in front of the vandalized shops When news spread of the disturbing acts of anti-Semitic vandalism that took place at Jewish-owned shops in the Golden Horseshoe Shopping Center in Westchester on January 25, 2024, the Jewish community was rightfully shaken, disturbed, and indignant in the face of these shocking events. Over the past few months, we've witnessed the unfortunate rise of anti-Semitism in Israel and around the globe including college campuses and social media. However, when it strikes close to home, its impact is felt more profo ..read more