It’s a letter that might have changed the course of European history, had the letter ever been sent. In early June 1944, on the eve of the D-Day landings, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill drafted an intensely angry letter to General Charles de Gaulle, leader of the French forces. Churchill was furious. De Gaulle had refused to publicly support the D-Day invasion and had prevented French officers from participating in the operation. An exasperated Churchill, fuming in

Several years ago, the Guggenheim Museum in New York unveiled one of the most talked-about exhibits in its history. It wasn't a painting and it wasn't a sculpture. It was a toilet. Not a replica, or a conceptual display, but an actual, fully-functioning public toilet that museum visitors were invited to use. There was just one catch. "America” (the title of the art piece) wasn't like any other toilet. It was carved from 18-karat solid gold and valued at more than $2 million,

While America prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, it is worth remembering that the independence of the American colonies was far from guaranteed. What began with the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, would not conclude until more than eight years later with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. Growing up in Boston, the Revolutionary War was never relegated to the historic past. Battlefields, monuments, and memorials around my hometown served as const

When BRS had the privilege of hosting former hostage Bar Kupershtein earlier this year, the event was filled with gratitude, celebration, and inspiration. But little did anyone know that night what ripple effects Bar's words would have. Bar spoke about his mother, Julie who, after Bar was kidnapped, decided to focus her efforts not only on the media and political pressure, but also on inspiring people worldwide to increase prayers and good deeds in Bar’s merit. One of her re

Several years ago, after giving a class about David Ben Gurion and Chaim Weitzman, I was approached by a few people in the community. The individuals who approached me were highly accomplished and educated. They were highly successful professionals, yet during the class they realized something was missing. Despite many years of Jewish education, they felt woefully lacking in their understanding of modern Jewish History, of the seminal events and dates that have shaped the

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American spends nearly six hours a day in leisure, almost half of which is spent watching television. By the end of the week, this adds up to nearly twenty hours, half of a full-time job, just sitting in front of a screen. Pew Research adds that even working parents spend about twelve hours a week watching TV, while those without children average closer to seventeen. Yes, we work very hard during the day and we com

Ed Jackson, a former British Rugby player, not only has an impressive professional resume, but has climbed some of the world’s highest mountains. Over the past few years, he has climbed Mount Snowdon, the highest peak in England and Wales, he’s conquered the Matterhorn, one of the most iconic and challenging mountains in the Alps, and has scaled the most extreme mountains in the world, from Pakistan, Switzerland to Nepal. For anyone else, these grueling climbs would be in

We all know that feeling. The email you’re afraid to open, the message you haven’t responded to, the conversation you keep replaying in your head, unsure how it will go. That quiet sense of unease is more than just a passing moment, it reflects something deeper about how much we crave stability. In fact, a study published this week found something striking: the average respondent earning about $79,000 a year said they would willingly give up nearly $57,000 of that income jus

When Rabbi Jonathan Sacks zt”l recommended a book as “an astonishingly inspiring book” and “one of the most inspirations books I have ever read,” it’s hard not to take notice. A few years ago, I listened to a podcast where Rabbi Sacks zt”l was interviewed by popular media host Tim Ferriss. Tim asked Rabbi Sacks to explain why “The Choice” by Edith Eger was so meaningful to him and is the book that he gifted more than any other. Rabbi Sacks went on to describe with great

Whether celebratory or tragic, we all have our own list of “where were you when” moments, times when we remember with perfect clarity where we were and what we were doing as truly landmark events unfolded around us. Growing up, my mother would often tell us where she was and what she was doing when she heard that President John F. Kennedy had been shot. The milkman had just made his delivery when the news broke. He sat together with my grandmother at her kitchen table, and

Running the Miami Half Marathon this past January as part of Chai Lifeline’s Team Lifeline was a uniquely special experience. Most races are about personal goals, finishing, improving a time, or setting a new personal record. But, this race was different. Every runner on Team Lifeline was running for something far bigger than ourselves. We were running to support and give strength to children and families facing challenges no one should have to face alone. And somewhere ar

I have the most beautiful memories of Pesach from my childhood. The smell of my Bubby’s kitchen. The beautifully set Seder table. The quiet maneuvering among cousins to see who would sit next to whom. Some of my most cherished childhood memories are from Pesach. Each year we would go to my Bubby and Zaide’s house. I remember the excitement and anticipation as the holiday approached. All of my cousins, aunts, and uncles would gather together. Without exaggeration, those were

This week, after years of mystery and speculation, the identity of the street artist known as Banksy was finally revealed. Identified as Robin Gunningham, a man in his early 50s from Bristol, England, he is an unlikely success story. Known for some high-profile art stunts, including partially shredding his best known work “Girl with Balloon” during an auction in 2018, Banksy’s works are some of the most expensive to come out of England this century. (“Girl with Balloon” sold

For years, Tim Ferriss has been one of the most influential voices in the modern self-improvement movement. His bestselling book “The 4-Hour Workweek” helped launch an entire culture built around optimization: productivity hacks, performance routines, morning rituals, and the constant pursuit of becoming better. Ferriss built a career studying elite performers and asking a simple question: What habits make extraordinary people successful? His podcast has featured world-class

R’ Shlomo Freifeld, the renowned founder of the Shor Yoshuv Yeshiva, once shared a story about the day his life changed. I think back in my own experience to when I finally began to make something of my life, and I can identify the day. In those days I was in yeshivah surrounded by a group of brilliant near-geniuses. These were my friends, my associates, my role models, and I tried to pattern myself after them. And then one day, I sat down in a room by myself, put my he

“Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse.” That is how Auggie Pullman introduces his face to the reader in Wonder. Auggie Pullman, a fictional ten-year-old boy, is just like anyone you know. He sees what you see, hears what you hear, eats ice cream, rides his bike, plays ball, and has a great sense of humor. But the moment older people look at him they avert their eyes, and little kids get scared and start screaming or saying something nasty and hurtful. Auggie, it

Before beginning to train for a marathon, I met my running coach at a local Dunkin Donuts for some advice and guidance. As he sat down, he placed two hundred dollars in cash on the table and said, “Here, this is for you.” I must say it was a pretty strange sight to to watch so much cash slide across the table toward me. Curious as to the direction this was going, I listened as my coach explained that we were about to play a game. The cash represented my overall wellbeing,

At first, I was convinced my driver was drunk. I couldn’t understand why he was driving so strangely, why the car felt off, and why everything seemed just a bit… wrong. I wondered if it was me, jet lag after a long flight, and my head not quite on straight. Something was deeply disorienting. And then I remembered: I was in London where they drive on the other side of the car and the other side of the street! I had traveled to London for just a few hours to attend the wedding

Communities aren’t defined only by what they offer, but by how they make people feel. Long before a derasha is heard, a class is taught, or a program begins, something far more subtle happens: a first impression is formed. A look, a smile, or a moment of acknowledgment can determine whether someone feels they belong or whether they quietly slip back out the door. Strengthening Jewish life often leads us to focus on programming, education, and inspiration. Yet one of the most

Since the opening of Esti’s Playground, I often find myself walking past it, drawn in by the unmistakable sounds of children laughing, playing, and simply being children. For me, there is something deeply moving about those sounds, something that makes me pause and take it in. This is not just any playground. It is a meaningful and sacred space. A place where children can explore and play, where values can be learned, where families gather, and where community is alive. At th