New year resolutions. That’s high on everyone’s list of priorities these days. As Yom Kippur approaches and we feverishly search for more mitzvos to do, more merits to accrue, more ways to show Hashem we’ll be better this year, we make kabbalos—pledges to grow in certain areas of our lives. For some, the kabbalah will be not to speak lashon hara for a specific two-hour slot daily; for others it may be to bentch from a bentcher; still others may choose to learn something extra each day.

If you’ve chosen that third option, you may be faced with another dilemma: what exactly should you learn? Of course the choices are endless, but here’s a new and excellent idea you might want to consider: What’s the Halachah? by Rav Zev Smith and Rabbi Dovid Kaiser.

Rav Zev Smith is well-known as a popular maggid shiur and speaker on halachic issues. He has thousands of recorded shiurim in circulation on a wide range of interesting and relevant, day-to-day topics. Now, for the first time, some of the best of these shiurim have been adapted into written format, in a way that’s easy to learn.

Covering topics relevant to each month of the year, What’s the Halachah? explores dozens of intriguing questions in halachah, such as: May an ebay seller set his auction to conclude on Shabbos? Should a person worry against ayin hara? May one listen to krias haTorah or Megillas Esther being read over the telephone?

As Torah Jews, we know that halachah dictates our every action in life. Let’s resolve to grow in our halachic observance this year. By using What’s the Halachah? as a guide, we can take real steps toward understanding the vastness and the beauty of the world of halachah!

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“The Heavenly City… those books are incredible! You have to read them…”

As a kid, I’d heard this sentiment expressed by many adults, and as a dedicated bookworm, I made it my business to track down these “incredible” books so I could read them for myself. Young as I was, though, I didn’t appreciate what I was reading. The era spoken of in these books in such glowing tones kind of went over my immature head as I chugged through the stories, searching for the action, the adventure, the excitement.

Now, as an adult, I finally see what all those people were enthusing over when they described The Heavenly City books. The time period the books describe—Eretz Yisrael during the early 1900s, when the Old Yishuv had just been established, and Rav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld was rav—is so beautiful, and written about so well, you can’t help but be moved by it.

Popular author and educator Rebbetzin Sarah Feldbrand was also taken by all she had read about the holiness of this era, and it was this fascination that eventually led her to writing Courtyard of Dreams, a historical novel for teens set in Yerushalayim during the days of the Old Yishuv.

And what a detailed depiction of life at that time this book gives us! Although the main characters are fictitious, numerous famous historical figures, such as Rav Shmuel Salant, Rav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld, the Lelover Rebbe, and Dr. Moshe Wallach, are woven into the plot, complete with many of the true stories told about them. Readers will be enthralled both by the exciting storyline of the book and by the real challenges and triumphs of this special time period. And as this book was written with teens in mind, it can really be appreciated by the younger generation—although trust us, this is a book adults will be drawn to, as well!

For an inspirational and particularly enjoyable read, you’ll want to pick up a copy of Courtyard of Dreams today!

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Are you overwhelmed? Stressed out? Feeling that you have so much to do but no time to do it all? We have the solution for you!

The Balabusta’s Daily Organizer: the ideal planner and calendar for the busy Jewish housewife.

For nearly ten years now, frum women of every type and stripe have come to know and love this amazing organizer, which, though slim and handy, somehow has everything in it. It includes a weekly calendar, complete with Jewish and secular dates and all the Yamim Tovim and (l’havdil) legal holidays, menu planning lists, to-do lists, grocery lists, candle-lighting times in many Jewish communities, tips, and so much more. Little wonder that so many of you have been waiting on pins and needles for this 2017-2018 edition to be released!

Available now in two convenient sizes—desktop and pocket—so no matter how you prefer your organizer to be, whether hidden away in your pocketbook or in full view on your desk, you’ve got it.

As you know, there is a time and a place for everything. You just need The Balabusta’s Daily Organizer to help you schedule all your daily activities into your busy life—and then you’ll have found what the time and place is for each thing!

Click here to purchase desktop edition online.

Click here to purchase pocket edition online.

When I was a kid in elementary school, I had a classmate named Pessy who was convinced there was nothing special about her. She couldn’t sing, dance, or act to save her life; she was all left thumbs when it came to artwork; and her grades were pretty average. The thing was, Pessy had a heart of gold. People loved her, and I think a lot had to do with the fact that she was so unpretentious. She was a magnet for little kids—with their highly tuned sensors, they obviously picked up on her “gutskeit” and were drawn to her.

Reading I’m So Special…and So Are You! made me think of Pessy. In this book, Yitz, like Pessy, thinks there is nothing special about him, though he wishes with all his heart that there would be. As different events play out in the story, and we see how very special Yitz really is, Yitz too begins to realize that being great has nothing to do with the talents Hashem gives a person. Rather, it’s the choices a person makes, his actions and his words, that make a person either a hero or the opposite.

This is a lesson we all try so hard to inculcate in our children. With low self-esteem so rampant in our society, and parents doing everything in their power to enhance their children’s perception of themselves, here is a beautiful story that really conveys to kids what we want them to know: that they’re special just by being their wonderful selves!

A super book to give to those super little people in your life!

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The email I received left me open-mouthed. It was from an acquaintance of mine who is familiar with our new children’s book, Manny in a Pickle.

Did you hear in the news about the man in Wendy’s who threw his salad at the waitress and said he wished he had a knife or gun to finish her off –because his salad didn’t have enough cucumbers???  (He was charged with several crimes.)  I think the world at large could use a dose of Manny too!! 

How right she is, I mused. Look what happens when we don’t teach our kids to accept disappointments and “no’s” when they’re young—they can become overgrown kids who are still unable to go through life’s ups and downs like mentchen.

This is exactly the message brought out in Manny in a Pickle. But don’t expect to be hit over the head with the lesson in this book—the book is way too much fun for that! Instead, readers will absorb the crucial lesson simply by enjoying the whimsical story and extraordinarily creative illustrations.

This is a book we guarantee you’ll be reading to your kids again…and again…and again—it’s really that good! And of course you’ll have the added benefit of your kids deciding firmly, after hearing this story, that they do not want to grow up to be another Manny!

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“It’s not fair!”

Is this a common refrain among your children? Do you find yourself grimacing when, once again, one child gives you a whole earful about how many more chores she has than her sister, and why did you ask her to set the table and not someone else, etc., etc., etc.?

Don’t worry—you’re in good company! The “It’s not fair!” complaint has got to be one of the most popular ones among kids, and that’s exactly what the story All Aboard to Fairville, written up in beloved author Rachel Stein’s newest anthology for young readers, addresses.

In this fun book specifically intended for 2^nd to 4^th graders, kids will meet lots of friends with issues and complaints just like their own—and they’ll see how these characters work to solve those issues and stop those kvetches, too! Written in large font, and with plenty of terrific illustrations, the book is perfect for kids who have just learned to read and now want to enjoy the skill, too.

So go ahead—introduce your kids to Shifra, Avigayil, Eli, Noach, and all the others in All Aboard to Fairville and Other Stories, and let their reading pleasure begin!

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You know those ads that you sometimes see in the Classifieds section of local frum publications: I may have scratched your Honda Accord on Monday, August 14, in such-and-such shopping plaza. Please call me at… When I read those ads, I can’t help but feel all warm inside. Ah… Who is like the Jewish Nation?!

But then sometimes I wonder: was that person obligated to do what he did? Was it a beyond-the-letter-of-the-law kind of thing for him to pay for the opportunity to perhaps be apprehended by the Accord owner, or was he halachically mechuyav to do it?

Rav Yisroel Belsky zt”l would get these types of questions all the time, and in Living with Honesty, readers are treated to a smorgasbord of such real-life questions that were actually presented to him—and his clear responses to these intricate—and fascinating!—she’eilos.

Are you allowed to copy a CD for your own use? What about taking time for personal matters at work? If your friend works in a restaurant and gives you free food—is that allowed? You’ll find Rav Belsky’s responses to all these questions and dozens more, in this beautiful book by noted author Rabbi Moishe Dovid Lebovits (himself one of Rabbi Belsky’s close talmidim).

The “honesty issues” facing our society these days are numerous; it is incumbent upon us all to find out the actual halachos governing these areas, such as dina d’malchusa dina, chillul Hashem, and geneivas da’as, and act accordingly. What better way to do so than by using Living with Honesty as a guide?

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Don’t you just love how the biggest guilt-chargers can be your own kids? The kid misbehaves, leaving you no choice but to give a punishment/consequence—and then she turns the whole thing on its head by complaining how unfair it is, and how when she’s a mommy, she will NEVER do this to her children. (Did we say that to our own parents? No, it can’t be…we were angels as children, weren’t we?)

Well, in When I Am a Mommy, an absolutely adorable book for young children, the author turns thattypical response of children on its head, raising lots of thought-provoking questions for kids to mull over instead of firing the next complaint at their parents.

When I Am a Mommy will make both parents and children laugh and think. Truly, this is a book that will be much beloved and appreciated by all!

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They came in droves. Hundreds of Lakewood residents converged upon Bais Faiga that night, the night of the city’s major Lev L’Achim asifah, anticipating the mega dose of chizuk and inspiration they’d no doubt be receiving from the event—and eagerly awaiting the appearance of Rav Uri Zohar shlit”a, the backbone of Lev L’Achim.

Rav Uri’s name is synonymous with Lev L’Achim, and there’s no question what a powerful force he is for the important organization, but although he is the undisputed “leader of the teshuvah movement in Eretz Yisrael,” as he’s been branded, Rav Uri is a tremendous talmid chacham and gadol in his own right. Over 80 years old bli ayin hara, he sits and learns the entire day, and most of the night too, peeling himself away from his Gemara only when absolutely necessary, like when his presence is needed at kiruv events and the like.

Seeing the venerable rav, with his flowing white beard and penetrating gaze, you’d be hard-pressed to imagine there was ever a time when he wasn’t poring over his sefarim. But of course, Rav Uri hasn’t become the father of ba’alei teshuvah without good reason: for the first 40 years of his life, Rav Uri knew next to nothing about Torah. To the contrary, he was the epitome of modern, non-Torah-observant Israeli society! When it came to secular success, he was it: he was the top comedian, television and radio talk show host, social satirist, actor, and film producer on the Israeli scene. Yet when he learned the truths of the Torah, he left all of that behind and made the monumental decision to become frum, much to the shock and dismay of his thousands of fans.

It’s been more than 40 years since, and he’s never once looked back.

Many have wondered how Rav Uri did it. How does an individual who has reached the pinnacle of fame and fortune, just throw it all out the window and embrace a lifestyle so alien from that which he’d always known? In answer to this question, Rav Uri chronicled all of his observations, thoughts, and views on his journey, emerging with his masterpiece, My Friends, We Were Robbed.

Originally published decades ago, this eye-opening book is now back in print, with a stunning, brand new layout and cover, and one very significant addition: the actual story of Rav Uri’s life, as told to beloved author Nachman Seltzer.

If you have a hard time understanding how Rav Uri made his decision, this book will explain all of that to you. Read Uri Zohar’s fascinating teshuvah story, and join him on his journey of logic and reason. You’ll discover—as he did—the deep and irrefutable truths of your very own heritage.

For when it comes to real success in life, only the Torah is it—and as Torah Jews, we are all the lucky “one-in-a-millions” who actually have a part of this.

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Have you ever wanted something so badly that you managed to rationalize and convince yourself, as well as those around you, that it was worth giving up on other things in order to have it? Even if those “other things” just happen to be non-negotiables, like a stable marriage and a happy spouse and children?

If so, you’ve walked in Minny Spivak’s shoes.

As assistant editor-in-chief of Lev Magazine, Minny has climbed many rungs of her personal ladder to success—and she has no desire whatsoever to stop the climb just yet.  Why should she? She’s bringing in enough income to support her husband in kollel, he’s learning well, the kids are content and well-adjusted…right? RIGHT?

Or maybe not…

Join Minny in Chutes and Ladders, as she learns some tough truths about life—oftentimes the hard way… Bursting with signature Yael Mermelstein wit, humor, and depth, this book explores some very familiar-sounding characters and their very real life issues, in a way that will captivate you from the first page until the last!

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