Essays
Essays on the Chagim, stories, tributes, and other writings of R' Yaakov Klein
“Set and Setting”: Preparing Ourselves for a Transformative Purim Experience
Hi. I have always found Purim to be an incredibly “noisy” day. It’s so easy to become distracted by everything that needs to get done! I’m wondering if you have any practical advice as to how to truly experience the joy and spirituality of Purim. Thank you! Thank you so much for this important question!…
The Blessing of Authenticity
One of the most magical moments in the parental relationship occurs when the veil of authority lifts, and father and daughter, mother and son can sit with each other as equals – on the floor working on a puzzle in the younger years or over steaming cups of coffee at a café table a decade…
The Eternal Victory of Chanukah
One, less than serious, answer to the question of why we eat an abundance of fried foods during the glorious days of Chanukah is that we do so to counter the Greeks and their worldview. Because the villains of the Chanukah story exalted the human body and the beauty of its form, we eat particularly…
Growing Up
You should see the way his eyes sparkle when he lovingly holds his brand new kippa in his small hands. You should see the smile, wide as the heavens above, that spreads across his face when he kisses his choo-choo-train emblazoned tzitzis that proudly declare in green lettering, “Ani Ben Shalosh!” It’s finally coming, his…
I Am Hopeful
We live in a complex world, a world with many issues that manifest across the experiential spectrum of the human condition. Things seem to be getting worse, devolving into a downward spiral of bad to worse, of crisis to more urgent crisis. But I am hopeful. More than hopeful – I am radically optimistic. The…
LPI Annual Report: 2020-2021
Shalom uveracha friends! It is with a heart filled with gratitude, excitement, and joy that I present to you our very first annual report on the momentous occasion of LPI’s first anniversary. One year ago, on May 14, 2020, we began our unique social media programming with the intention of increasing awareness of, and fostering…
In Our Defense: A Letter to Hashem
Following a long legacy of men of faith who confronted heaven and defended their People in times of crushing despair, I take my position at the stand. It is a delicate craft, this defense, one easily misunderstood. But, at the risk of almost certain misinterpretation, I train my steady gaze on the visage of the…
LPI: Moving In, Not Moving On
People often think that some things go without saying, that not everything needs to be spoken out. There is truth to that. But even those things that don’t need to be spoken out need, from time to time, to be spoken out. Here goes. I walk a very fine line. On the one hand, I…
More Than Just a Segulah
AS I’M SURE everyone knows, this past Thursday was the yahrtzeit of Reb Shayaleh Kerestirer. While I am aware of the possibility that I live in an echo-chamber, it seems that everyone on frum social media was posting about the tzaddik – pictures of candles l’illui nishmaso, stories of his legendary chessed, posters of free…
Infinite Light, Eternal Love: The Inner Dimension of Purim
Believe it or not, it’s that time of year again! Winter will soon be losing its icy grip on the world as the days grow longer and the warmth of spring begins to cautiously emerge. Even the most stubborn snowdrifts will soon be melted away, forgotten by gleeful children whose parents (to their great relief)…