Mendy Kaminker

New York

Editorial Director at Chabad.org

Rabbi @ Chabad of Hackensack; team member @chabad.org.

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Articles

An Enormous Hug: Witnessing Miracles, Recognizing Kindness

5 days ago | chabad.org | Mendy Kaminker

We are living through extraordinary times. This week, something happened that’s hard to put into words. It was historic, emotional, and filled with a sense of open Divine kindness. It felt like a giant hug from G‑d Himself. The miracles have been clear and undeniable. First, Israel launched a bold and successful strike deep within enemy territory, targeting sites connected to one of the gravest threats facing the world. The precision, timing, and outcome of this mission left many stunned.
Do You Have Friends and Family in Israel? Here's What You Can Do For Them

1 week ago | chabad.org | Mendy Kaminker

With my parents, sisters, a brother, and so many friends in Israel, whenever there is an alert for an incoming missile attack in Israel, I am glued to the screen. I get real-life, second-by-second updates. “Boom!” “Loud booms!” “Very close to us” and so on. It's nerve-wracking. We all pray. We all hope. And we want to do something. So here are six things you can do anytime you hear about a siren in Israel: 1. Pray Say a chapter of Psalms. This one is pretty simple.
What You Can Do When a Loved One Is Dodging Rockets

1 week ago | chabad.org | Mendy Kaminker

With my parents, sisters, a brother, and so many friends in Israel, whenever there is an alert for an incoming missile attack in Israel, I am glued to the screen. I get real-life, second-by-second updates. “Boom!” “Loud booms!” “Very close to us” and so on. It's nerve-wracking. We all pray. We all hope. And we want to do something. So here are six things you can do anytime you hear about a siren in Israel: 1. Pray Say a chapter of Psalms. This one is pretty simple.
Jewish women and girls: the world needs your light

2 weeks ago | njjewishnews.timesofisrael.com | Mendy Kaminker

As a married man, I can confidently declare that women are better than men in many aspects (my wife told me to write this! LOL, just kidding). When it comes to doing mitzvot, there is one mitzvah that highlights the power of the Jewish woman like no other: the mitzvah of lighting the Shabbat and holiday candles. Since one of the main themes in this week’s parsha is candle lighting (in the holy temple), let’s use this opportunity to discuss this special mitzvah.
12 Reasons Why Sending Your Children to Jewish Summer Camp Is the Most Important Thing You Can Do This Summer

2 weeks ago | chabad.org | Mendy Kaminker |Mordechai Lightstone |Jay Litvin |Chana Weisberg

As the summer approaches and school ends, a world of seemingly limitless possibilities for enrichment, education and entertainment present themselves for our children. Unique among the options, however, are the opportunities afforded by attending a Jewish summer camp. In recent years, countless studies have shown that the informal, experiential education provided by summer camp is critical to forming lasting Jewish bonds and beacons of Jewish identity for young children.
The Blogs: Warren Buffett Recommends: Celebrate Shavuot!

4 weeks ago | blogs.timesofisrael.com | Mendy Kaminker

Shavuot is coming, and according to Warren Buffett, we should celebrate this holiday in the most magnificent way possible. Before Berkshire Hathaway’s attorneys come knocking, let me clarify: as far as I know, Warren Buffett never actually said anything about Shavuot. Plus, because he is not Jewish, he might not even know about this holiday. But my original statement still stands. Mr. Buffett is one of the wealthiest people on the planet.
What’s your (true) occupation?

1 month ago | njjewishnews.timesofisrael.com | Mendy Kaminker

I once knew a man who became depressed after retiring. I knew another who launched a business the moment he retired. He could not imagine not working. And I knew a third who worked until his final breath, because the thought of stopping terrified him. What did they all have in common? Their work was not just something they did. It was who they were. So the idea of not working felt like a loss of identity. Can you relate?
The Blogs: Your Job = Your Identity?

1 month ago | blogs.timesofisrael.com | Mendy Kaminker

I once knew a man who became depressed after retiring. I knew another who launched a business the moment he retired. He could not imagine not working. And I knew a third who worked until his final breath, because the thought of stopping terrified him. What did they all have in common? Their work was not just something they did. It was who they were. So the idea of not working felt like a loss of identity. Can you relate? I am not here to give a lecture on why work should not define you.
The rabbi in the iconic picture

1 month ago | njjewishnews.timesofisrael.com | Mendy Kaminker

America has the flag-raising at Iwo Jima. China has the lone man before the tank. And if you ask me, Chabad has this: a rabbi wrapping tefillin with a Jewish inmate behind bars. I first saw this picture when I was a child, and it never left me. At the time, I didn’t know who the rabbi was or where the photo was taken — just that it was in a prison — but something about it captivated me. Like every iconic image, different people see different things.
The Blogs: "This guy voted for ____ don't let him the Chabad House!"

1 month ago | blogs.timesofisrael.com | Mendy Kaminker

With all the political tension and heated debate in the U.S. (or should I say, all over the world?), I sometimes worry that someone might come up to me and say:“Rabbi, this guy voted for ______. I don’t think we should let him into our Chabad House!”Thank G-d, that hasn’t happened. But in our polarizing climate, I pray it never does. So let me preempt that with a powerful teaching from the Rebbe, based on this week’s Parsha. The Rebbe focused on a curious process from biblical times.