Benyamin Vineburg

In the past year…I’ve lost those I’ve loved and gained those worth loving. I’ve admitted mistakes and made better choices. I’ve lost focus and adjusted my vision. I’ve lost myself and now endeavor to be more authentic. To those I’ve wronged, I’m so deeply and terribly sorry and ask that you forgive me. Know that…

Words are powerful. Words are the tools with which the Creator fashioned the world. Words have the power to create, the power to change, and the power to destroy. Words matter. It is by no coincidence that the famed Jewish scholar, the Chofetz Chaim, so deliberately infused the importance of the Torah laws of Loshon…

One of the greatest challenges in life is remaining calm and collected in the face of insults and criticism. Naturally all of us deeply desire to be liked, respected and well thought of and even the slightest bruise to our egos leave us emotionally wounded. But why? How can facts, often twisted or out of…

Ask any faithful person to scientifically prove the existence of God and they will be hard pressed to do so – however ask them to deny their faith that God exists and they will fight you vehemently. I’m reminded of the scene in my father’s favorite Christmas movie, The Santa Claus. Tim Allen (Santa) is…

By Rabbi Ben Vineburg Countless works could and have been written about the person that was Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907-1972). Heschel, the wondrous pillar of truth, descended from Chassidic nobility , a civil rights icon and now prince of contemporary Jewish philosophy has sealed his legacy as arguably the most in-tune voice of the…

The Kitzur Shulchan Aruch states in Siman 192:9: “If a close relative of the patient dies, he should not be told about it, lest he become distressed.” Halacha (Jewish law) dictates that the life of a sick person is so important that one must not share with them most upsetting news, such as death of…

My father often tells me that being a rabbi requires a bit of improvisation called “sacred theater.” Clergy-members are often called upon to create meaningful interactions with their faithful amidst certain circumstances and sometimes there isn’t a liturgical or customary outlet to provide people with what they truly need. Prayer, in my experience, is often…