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Yisrael Deren

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Feb 28, 2018, 7:40 AM

One Nation under Gd – invisible

As a six-year-old reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, I marveled that even non-Jewish Americans knew what Abraham the first Jew taught - that G-d was “invisible”. Some sixty years later, having...

Feb 11, 2018, 12:09 PM

It’s February and in the United States, that means it’s tax season. Whether you identify with the one percent, the 99% or even the “47” %, this is the time of the year that virtually all of us spend...

Dec 10, 2017, 12:04 PM

Comforted but Not Comfortable

A Thought for The Week: There was a custom – in the pre-translated Chumash days – that on Shabbat afternoon people who could barely read, and certainly understood no Hebrew, would gather in Shul to hear someone repeat (in...

Dec 3, 2017, 8:42 PM

Don’t Let the Turkey Get You Down

Ok, I’ll admit it. Our family didn’t do turkey Thanksgiving. It’s not that we’re not thankful Americans – America has lots to be grateful for, and I have many reasons to be thankful. But less than two months ago was...

Nov 26, 2017, 6:37 AM

The animals in men

Jacob's Dream by Adam Elsheimer (via Wikimedia Commons)

Setting an example for all men, the biblical patriarch, takes steps to protect himself from...himself

Nov 20, 2017, 8:07 AM

Missing in Action

Of all the holidays on the Jewish calendar, why is Rosh Chodesh the only one that gets a special haftorah the day before it happens? There is no such thing as an Erev Chanukah or Erev Purim Haftorah, no such...

Feb 17, 2016, 4:56 AM

Rejoicing with Awe – Dancing with Tears In Moscow

My father was a very quiet person, he spoke rarely and always thoughtfully. The only times he spoke at length and in detail was when he was speaking and teaching Torah. I recall only two exceptions, Pesach nights following...

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About Me

Yisrael Deren serves as Regional Director of Chabad Lubavitch in Connecticut and Senior Rabbi of Chabad of Stamford Born in Davenport Iowa and raised in Pittsburgh to a family of Chabad Lubavitch emissaries.