By Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz
This week, we begin Sefer Shemos, the Sefer Hageulah. It is the sefer that tells the story of how a broken, enslaved people rose from the depths of despair to stand at Har Sinai to receive the Torah. It carries us from the bitterness of bondage to the ecstasy of redemption, from drowning terror at the YamSuf to the highest spiritual moment in human history.
But Sefer Shemos is not merely a historical account. It teaches us what destroys a nation — and what saves it.
The Alter of Kelm would explain that just as Avrohom, Yitzchok and Yaakov are called the avos because they laid the foundations of Yiddishkeit, so do the parshiyos of Sefer Shemos function as avos, forming the bedrock of our emunah and guiding us how to live as Jews.
How we treat other people defines us. It shapes our souls and announces, louder than any slogan, who we are. When we are attentive to others, when we notice them, value them, and appreciate them, we grow. We become capable of achdus. And through that unity, we become capable of far more than we ever could accomplish alone.
Hashem designed human beings to need one another. A person cannot thrive in isolation. From the moment we enter the world, we survive only through connection. As infants, we are utterly dependent. Even as adults, nearly everything we require to sustain our lives — food, shelter, education, health, security — comes from the labor and kindness of others. Every act of care, every hand extended, is part of the invisible network that sustains us.
Arrogance blinds people to this reality. Those who refuse to acknowledge how much they owe others imagine themselves self-made. It should be obvious that without the contributions of many other people, they would be hungry, lonely, ignorant, and lost. Everything we know, everything we have, exists because someone else cared enough to give. Appreciating even the smallest kindness is part of the lifeblood of community.
A meaningful life cannot be lived alone. Peirud — division — is not merely a social flaw. It is spiritual corrosion. It weakens communities and hollows out the people who cause it.
The Torah is filled with mitzvos that cultivate humility and gratitude, mitzvos that remind us that the world is sustained by kindness and that Hashem showers us with blessing every day. Whatever we pursue in life, we must remember the ultimate goal. Not winning arguments. Not momentary triumphs. But building something enduring. Unity makes our efforts last.
The Torah tells us in Devorim (7:7) that Hashem did not choose us because we were many. We are, in fact, the smallest of the nations. And yet, when we are united, we become greater than the sum of our parts. Our deeds combine. Our merits accumulate. Other nations may be larger, but when we have achdus, no one can overtake us.
We must learn how to move forward together, not as individuals who happen to share a label, but as a people bound by shared purpose. Loving another Jew does not require agreement, and appreciating another Jew does not require seeing the world through the same lens. What matters is the shared neshomah beneath the surface, the spark that unites us despite our differences. When we recognize that spark, unity becomes real, lived, and enduring.
Even before Moshe Rabbeinu was born, this lesson was already being written. Shifra and Puah, his mother and sister, risked their lives to save others. They were renowned for their righteousness and rose to achieve levels of nevuah. Yet, despite their overarching greatness, the Torah refers to them by the names given them for their acts of kindness involving infants. Their identity was chesed. In reward for their chesed, they merited dynasties of Kehunah, Leviyah, and Malchus.
Kindness is greatness.
Moshe Rabbeinu survived because of chesed. A helpless infant, placed in a basket among the reeds, was saved by Basya, the daughter of Paroh. She named him Moshe, “because I drew him from the water.” The Maharal teaches that although Moshe had many names, this is the one by which he is eternally known, because it reflects an act of compassion. The Torah is Toras Chesed. Even Hashem calls Moshe by a name rooted in kindness.
Moshe’s greatness did not come from the palace. It came from his heart. The Torah says, “Vayigdalhayeled— And the youth grew.” How? “Vayeitzeielechovvayarbesivlosam.” He left comfort behind and went out to feel the pain of his brothers. Though raised as royalty, walled off from what was going on, he took it upon himself to leave the blissful comfort of the royal palace to view what was happening in the lives of the lower classes. The suffering that he saw changed him forever.
When he saw a Jew being beaten, he intervened. When he saw a Jew striking another Jew, he recoiled in horror. “Acheinnodahadovor,” he cried. Now I understand. Redemption cannot come where Jews fight one another. Disunity locks the gates of geulah.
That day’s events forced him to leave Mitzrayim. Upon escaping to Midyon, Moshe’s first act was chesed, standing up for vulnerable strangers at a well. That kindness led to his future, his family, and his destiny.
The Sefer Hachareidim writes at the conclusion of the sefer that prior to his passing from this world, Yaakov Avinu called for his sons, the twelve shevotim, and said to them, “Hikovtzuv’shimubnei Yaakov — Gather together the sons of Yaakov.” He then told them that they should rid their hearts of jealousy, hatred, and competition, and view each other as if they are one person with one soul. Yaakov told them that if they could not achieve that unity, the Shechinah would not be able to rest among them.
The Rishonim (Rashi, Rabbeinu Bachya, Ibn Ezra, Rashbam) explain the pesukim (Shemos 29:45–46) which state that Am Yisroel “should know that I, Hashem Elokeihem, took them out of Mitzrayim so that I can dwell among them.” They write that this means that Hashem took us out of Mitzrayimin order for us to build the Mishkon. This denotes that they were unified at the time of YetziasMitzrayim or else they would not have been redeemed, for the Shechinah can only rest among us, and in the Mishkon, where we are united. Had we not been b’achdus, and had there been peirud, Hashem would not have removed us from there.
The pattern repeats throughout history. In every golus and every geulah, chesed and achdus are decisive. They carried us out of Mitzrayim, and they will carry us forward again.
If we remember who we are, if we reach for one another instead of turning away, we can build something radiant and enduring. Even small acts of appreciation — a kind word, a gesture of help — ripple outward, strengthening the bonds that protect and sustain the klal.
Our Torah is Toras Moshe, the inheritance of a gentle shepherd who led with compassion. It must be taught and lived in a way that builds people, not breaks them. Greatness is tied to sensitivity to the klal and to every individual within it. Such sensitivity awakens Heavenly mercy. Greatness is formed through many small acts of kindness born of an appreciation for every person and their needs and emotions.
The Torah says that after the passing of all the shevotim, there arose a “new” Paroh who did not know Yosef. Rashi explains that according to one view, this was not a new king at all. It was the same Paroh, who chose to pretend that Yosef had never existed. Gratitude became inconvenient. History was rewritten.
This tactic is ancient and familiar: Isolate, discredit, demonize.
The newly installed president of Venezuela and other leftists and anti-Semites blamed “the Zionists” for President Trump’s takedown of the dictator Nicolas Maduro. Facts were distorted, history was bent, and Jews were once again cast as convenient villains for events they did not create.
Actions concurrent with the inauguration of New York City’s new mayor were disconcerting to many Jews who are concerned about the direction he will take.
As Shabbos departs and the melavamalka candles flicker, we feel the ache of transition, from light to labor, from holiness to struggle. We sing, “Al tiraavdi Yaakov.” Do not fear. With the voice, restraint, and faith of Yaakov, we can endure.
Together, we hold the key to redemption. We come from different lands, speak different languages, and follow different customs. But beneath it all, we are family. One on one, Jews get along. We must not allow labels to tear us apart.
Where others bring darkness, we must bring light. Where others sow loneliness, we must offer brotherhood. When we are divided, Amaleik gains strength. When we stand k’ishechadb’levechad, no force can overcome us.
We cry together. We rejoice together. We live for one another. We have tasted what redemption feels like.
Let us hold onto that taste. Let us strengthen achdus, deepen love, and remember that we are part of something larger than ourselves so that we can merit the geulah.
Unity does not mean sameness. Achdus does not demand that we think alike, dress alike, or experience life in the same way. Klal Yisroel has always been a tapestry woven from different strands, from the time of the twelve shevotim, each distinct in nature and approach, each bringing a different koach to the same sacred mission. Yehudah’s leadership, Yissochor’s depth, and Zevulun’s support are not competing paths, but complementary ones.
Our diversity is not a sign of weakness. It is a source of strength. A people built from many perspectives is more resilient, more complete, and better able to meet complex challenges. When different strengths stand together, blind spots are covered, balance is created, and the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts. Achdus is not forged by erasing difference, but by weaving difference into a shared purpose.
Loving another Jew does not depend on agreement. Appreciating another Jew does not require us to see the world through identical lenses. It asks only that we recognize the shared shoreshbeneath the surface, the common destiny that binds us together even when our paths look different. We do not have to blur distinctions in order to maintain connection.
When differences are handled gently, they enrich us. When they are handled harshly, they wound. Achdus is sustained not by winning debates, but by preserving dignity. It grows when we listen a little longer, judge a little less, and remember that the person before us is more than a position or a label.
Every Jew carries a cheilekElokamimaal, a spark of the Divine worthy of care and respect. When we speak kindly, when we give the benefit of the doubt, when we assume sincerity even where we disagree, we create an environment in which unity can breathe. Disagreement does not have to fracture us. Handled with warmth, it can deepen understanding.
Achdus is often built quietly, through patience, restraint, and small acts of consideration. It is found in choosing compassion over suspicion and connection over distance. When we relate to one another as people rather than categories, unity becomes not an ideal, but a lived reality.
There are many lessons for us in the parshiyos of Seder Shemos, but the need for achdus to bring about geulah is a primary one, especially during these times of darkening clouds as we pine for the geulah and Moshiach.
We don’t always have to agree, but when we disagree, it needs to be with respect and without hatred, as bnei and bnosTorah and not as people devoid of middos and derecheretz. Let us work to make ourselves worthy of having the Shechinah dwell among us, so that Hakadosh Boruch Hu can feel confident enough to bring us all home, surrounding the Bais Hamikdosh, with the coming of Moshiach, speedily in our day.
{Matzav.com}
After more than forty years on Capitol Hill, Maryland Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer plans to step away from Congress, a decision he is set to make public on Thursday. His departure ends one of the longest tenures in the House, marked by leadership roles at the highest levels of the Democratic caucus and involvement in landmark legislation such as the Affordable Care Act.
Hoyer confirmed his plans in a conversation with The Washington Post, explaining that he did not want to remain in office beyond the point where he felt fully effective. “I did not want to be one of those members who clearly stayed, outstayed his or her ability to do the job,” he told the Post.
At 86, Hoyer has been guarded in recent months about whether he would seek another term. His decision comes amid a broader generational shift among Democrats, with several long-serving lawmakers either drawing primary challenges from younger candidates or opting not to run again. Nancy Pelosi announced in October that she intends to retire when her current term ends.
Hoyer entered Congress in 1981 and steadily climbed the leadership ladder, ultimately becoming the second-ranking Democrat in the House under Speaker Nancy Pelosi. His district spans from suburbs east of Washington, D.C., down into southern Maryland, and has long been considered safely Democratic.
Although Hoyer and Pelosi are now closely associated as a leadership team, their relationship was not always smooth. The two first crossed paths as congressional interns in the 1960s and later became rivals within the party. After Pelosi defeated Hoyer in a 2001 contest for a top leadership slot, the pair eventually forged a durable partnership that guided House Democrats for years.
Within that partnership, the two leaders were seen as complementary figures. Pelosi was widely viewed as an ideological standard-bearer and prolific fundraiser, while Hoyer built a reputation for cultivating relationships, both within his party and with Republicans, skills that made him an effective manager of floor strategy.
Following Democrats’ loss of the House in the 2022 midterms, Hoyer relinquished his leadership post as part of a wider reshuffling but chose to remain in Congress. He later returned to prominence by securing a senior position on the House Appropriations Committee.
In terms of longevity, only two current House members — Republicans Hal Rogers of Kentucky and Chris Smith of New Jersey — have slightly longer records of service, and even they exceed Hoyer’s tenure by only a matter of months.
Reflecting on his career and his rivalry-turned-alliance with Pelosi, Hoyer offered high praise for his longtime colleague, describing her as “tough-as-nails.” He also addressed the leadership ambitions he once held, saying, “Sure, I would have loved to have been speaker. Who wouldn’t love to be speaker? But they’re not deep regrets.”
With Hoyer’s exit, his solidly Democratic seat is expected to draw intense interest. One contender, Harry Jarin, has already entered the race after launching a primary challenge in May that explicitly focused on Hoyer’s age, a sign of the competitive contest likely to unfold once the seat opens.
{Matzav.com}
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A disturbing investigative report has revealed that a Jewish infant from Israel is currently living among ISIS terrorists in Syria after his mother was allegedly drawn into radical Islamist circles, converted to Islam, and left Israel with her husband, who later became involved with the terror organization.
According to the investigation, the woman—an Israeli Jew whose identity has not been released due to privacy concerns—underwent a conversion to Islam in 2013. The process reportedly took place at an office connected to radical Islamic figures on the Har Habayis and was facilitated by Sheikh Rassan Atamneh, one of the founders of the Dar al-Salam Islamic Center in Kafr Qara, who has since passed away.
Following her conversion, the woman married Salah al-Din Mahamid, a young schoolteacher from Kafr Qara. In 2014, shortly after their wedding and while his wife was nearing childbirth, Mahamid was arrested by Israeli authorities on suspicion of involvement with ISIS. At the time, his attorney claimed he was a normative individual from a respected family who had only recently begun working in education. After several days in detention, he was released.
Sometime later, the couple left Israel, traveling through Turkey and eventually entering Syria. According to materials uncovered in the investigation, Mahamid joined ISIS after arriving in Syria. Documents and communications sent from the region reportedly indicated his active involvement with the terror group, along with chilling references to the fate of his family—including the child born to the couple, who is considered fully Jewish according to halacha.
Investigators also located the woman’s certificate of conversion to Islam. Rumors circulating in the Wadi Ara area suggest that Mahamid was killed during fighting in Syria, but repeated efforts to verify these claims and to determine the current status of the woman and her child have so far yielded no definitive information.
“This is one of the most extreme and painful cases we have encountered,” said Elchanan Groner, an activist and reporter for Hakol Hayehudi. “It demonstrates how an ideological process that may begin on the margins can end with joining a murderous terror organization and the complete disappearance of a family.”
The affair was exposed in an investigative report recently broadcast on Channel 14. Additional details are expected to be published regarding the activities of the Islamic center involved and other individuals connected to the case.
The revelations raise serious questions about oversight, responsibility, and the devastating human cost of religious and ideological radicalization—particularly when it places Jewish lives, including that of an innocent child, in grave danger within ISIS-controlled territory in Syria.
{Matzav.com}
Following a recent phone conversation with Colombia’s president, President Trump said preparations are underway for an in-person meeting at the White House, signaling a possible reset in talks after a period of sharp public criticism.
Trump disclosed the call on Wednesday, saying Colombian President Gustavo Petro reached out to discuss ongoing tensions, including disputes related to narcotics trafficking. According to Trump, the exchange struck a constructive tone and opened the door to further dialogue in Washington.
“It was a Great Honor to speak with the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, who called to explain the situation of drugs and other disagreements that we have had,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Trump said the discussion left him optimistic about next steps and confirmed that diplomatic channels are already coordinating the visit. “I appreciated his call and tone, and look forward to meeting him in the near future,” the president added. “Arrangements are being made between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Foreign Minister of Colombia.
“The meeting will take place in the White House in Washington, D.C.”
The planned meeting comes against the backdrop of Trump’s longstanding and blunt accusations against Petro. Trump has previously claimed that the Colombian leader is tied to cocaine production and export operations that funnel drugs into the United States.
Those allegations were reiterated earlier this month following a Jan. 3 military operation aimed at capturing and removing Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro, after which Trump warned that Petro could face scrutiny as well.
“He has cocaine mills, he has factories where he makes cocaine. And yeah, I think I stick by my first statement: He’s making cocaine,” Trump said of Petro, during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago.
Trump went on to claim that drugs originating in Colombia are being trafficked northward. “They’re sending it to the United States. So he does have to watch [him]…,” the president added.
Despite the sharp rhetoric, Trump’s latest remarks suggest that both sides are now moving toward direct engagement, with the White House meeting expected to address the disputes that have fueled tensions between Washington and Bogotá.
{Matzav.com}
A tense incident unfolded Wednesday afternoon at a shopping mall in Beit Shemesh, when a three-year-old girl’s leg became trapped in an escalator at the Kenyon Hashedra.
Emergency crews from the Beit Shemesh fire and rescue station were dispatched after reports that the child’s leg had been caught in the escalator’s mechanical system. Firefighters worked carefully using specialized tools, carrying out a delicate and complex rescue operation.
Within a short time, the teams succeeded in freeing the child safely. Medical personnel examined her at the scene, and authorities confirmed that she was not in any danger.
Fire and rescue officials noted that this was the second such incident at the same mall and on the same escalator within the past month. In light of the recurring accidents, they again emphasized safety guidelines, urging parents not to allow children to use escalators without close adult supervision.
{Matzav.com}
A new analysis of airline water systems is raising concerns about what passengers may be drinking in the air, with researchers advising travelers to avoid tap water on planes and opt instead for sealed bottled beverages.
The review, conducted by the nonprofit Center for Food as Medicine & Longevity, examined more than 35,000 water samples collected over a three-year period from 10 major airlines and 11 regional carriers. Based on its findings, the group also recommends skipping coffee and tea made onboard and avoiding washing hands with aircraft sink water, suggesting the use of hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol instead.
While water quality is not typically top of mind for most travelers, the organization said it remains an “important public health consideration.” The group warned that consuming contaminated aircraft water can expose passengers to pathogens and lead to gastrointestinal illness.
Among the largest U.S. airlines reviewed, Delta and Frontier received the highest marks, each earning an “A” grade. At the other end of the spectrum, American Airlines, JetBlue, and Spirit were all assigned “D” ratings based on the study’s scoring system.
The findings showed that 2.7% of the samples tested positive for total coliform bacteria, a category of microorganisms commonly found in the digestive systems of humans and animals, as well as in soil and vegetation. According to the researchers, such results are used as an indicator of broader contamination risks.
“Testing for coliform bacteria is important because their presence in drinking water indicates that disease-causing organisms (pathogens) could be in the water system,” the Center for Food as Medicine & Longevity said in its report.
The study also detected E. coli on 32 occasions across the 21 airlines evaluated.
U.S. carriers with onboard drinking water systems are subject to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Aircraft Drinking Water Rule, known as the ADWR, which has been in place since 2011. The regulation requires airlines to routinely test for coliform bacteria and potential E. coli contamination, as well as to disinfect and flush each aircraft’s water tanks four times annually. The researchers noted, however, that the EPA rarely issues civil penalties to airlines found to be out of compliance.
Several airlines responded to the report. American Airlines said it is reviewing the findings and emphasized that its water program meets federal standards.
“American’s potable water program is fully in compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Aircraft Drinking Water Rule (ADWR),” the airline told CBS News. “A recent EPA audit showed there were no significant findings with our program, and we have not received any violations for any potable water cabinets or trucks that we use.”
JetBlue said it follows guidance from multiple federal agencies, including the EPA, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Federal Aviation Administration, and noted that it provides bottled water to passengers. Spirit said it maintains a testing and maintenance program that complies with EPA requirements.
“The well-being and comfort of our guests is very important to us,” the company told CBS News in a statement. “Our data shows we have made progress in this area in recent years, and we continue to evaluate and refine our procedures as necessary.”
Southwest Airlines, which received a “C” grade, said it regularly inspects onboard water quality, adheres to EPA standards, and sources water from local municipal systems that already meet public health requirements.
On its website, the Center for Food as Medicine & Longevity describes its mission as “creating a more equitable food system that will improve health outcomes.”
The study ranked airlines using a five-point scale, with deductions for violations such as contaminated water samples.
Major airlines, ranked best to worst:
Delta Air Lines Incorporated (5.00, Grade A)
Frontier Airlines Incorporated (4.80, Grade A)
Alaska Airlines Incorporated (3.85, Grade B)
Allegiant Air Limited Liability Company (3.65, Grade B)
Southwest Airlines Company (3.30, Grade C)
Hawaiian Airlines Incorporated (3.15, Grade C)
United Airlines Incorporated (2.70, Grade C)
Spirit Airlines Incorporated (2.05, Grade D)
JetBlue Airways Corporation (1.80, Grade D)
American Airlines Incorporated (1.75, Grade D)
Regional airlines, ranked best to worst:
GoJet Airlines Limited Liability Company (3.85, Grade B)
Piedmont Airlines Incorporated (3.05, Grade C)
Sun Country Airlines (3.00, Grade C)
Endeavor Air Incorporated (2.95, Grade C)
SkyWest Airlines Incorporated (2.40, Grade D)
Envoy Air Incorporated (2.30, Grade D)
PSA Airlines Incorporated (2.25, Grade D)
Air Wisconsin Airlines Corporation (2.15, Grade D)
Republic Airways Incorporated (2.05, Grade D)
CommuteAir Limited Liability Company (1.60, Grade D)
Mesa Airlines Incorporated (1.35, Grade F)
Airlines for America, the industry trade group, said U.S. carriers comply with federal requirements governing onboard water systems.
“The top priority of the airline industry is the safety of all passengers and crew members,” the group said in a statement to CBS News. “U.S. airlines follow the guidelines of several government agencies — the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) protocols for testing drinking water, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements to routinely check water systems and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements applicable to water systems — to ensure the water onboard an aircraft is safe and reliable for consumption.”
{Matzav.com}
[Video below.] Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky made clear Wednesday that he intends to oppose any effort by the Trump administration to use force in connection with Greenland, saying such a step would not be acceptable under any circumstances. Speaking on CBS Mornings, Paul said he would actively work to prevent a military scenario involving the territory.
During the interview, CBS Mornings co-host Vladimir Duthiers pressed Paul on comments coming from the White House. Duthiers said, “Senator, the president of the United States has said that the United States needs to acquire Greenland for national security reasons.The president’s press secretary says that the president and his team are discussing a range of options. And I’m quoting her here. Caroline Leavitt to CBS news. Utilizing the U.S. military is always an option at the commander in chief’s disposal. That is a close quote from Caroline Leavitt. My question to you, sir, is do you imagine a scenario where young American soldiers, airmen, Guardsmen, Marines are actually training a weapon on a NATO ally of the United States?”
Paul responded by saying that such a situation would be unprecedented and unacceptable. “We’ve never been in a position, to my recollection, or to my knowledge of something like that. What would you say to the president’s team, when they talk about acquiring Greenland, even though Marco Rubio has told, other members of the Gang of Eight that, the president wants to buy Greenland. But using military forces, Caroline Leavitt says, is clearly an option on the table and won’t happen under my watch.”
The senator went on to argue that if the United States were to pursue Greenland at all, it would have to be done through diplomacy and consent, not force. “I will do everything to stop any kind of military takeover of Greenland. What I can tell you, though, is if you want to purchase Greenland, the best way would be to try to have goodwill with the people. So first, it would probably require a vote of the people to be independent of Denmark, which I think the people of Greenland are inclined to do. And then it would have to be some sort of offer of something that makes it better to be part of the United States. We have acquired territory. I mean, half the United States came to us through the Louisiana Purchase. Alaska came to us through a purchase. But you didn’t get to those purchases. Like any deal or diplomacy, by insulting your opponent, you get there by actually, trying to please and get your opponent to agree to this because it would have to be done voluntarily. So I see no scenario in which militarily I or really for that matter, any of my colleagues in the Senate would support a military takeover of Greenland.”
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