CKJ

[Daniel Kraus @rabbidkraus]

The miracle of 78 and 94 years.

Hallel this morning at @CongregationKJ led by the indefatigable Rabbi Haskel Lookstein.

From generation to generation. Strength, continuity, purpose.

Yom HaAtzmaut Sameach 🇮🇱

[CKJ @CongregationKJ]

🔀 this. ☮️

[Daniel Kraus @rabbidkraus]

The Spaces in Between

We live in an age of astonishing speed. Technology has compressed time, erased waiting, and trained us to move instantly from one moment to the next. Artificial intelligence now completes tasks in seconds that once required hours of thought. Efficiency has soared, but something quieter has been lost. We rarely pause. We barely reflect. Life streams forward without interruption.

Yet pauses matter. Breaks in the rhythm of life give us space to think, to process, to feel. They allow us to savor blessing and to sit honestly with pain. Without them, even the most powerful moments blur and fade.

Parshat BeShalach brings us to one of the most transcendent moments in Jewish history: Keriat Yam Suf. Trapped between the sea and the Egyptian army, Bnei Yisrael experienced not only salvation, but revelation. The sea split, the threat vanished, and the people erupted in song. Shirat HaYam has echoed through Jewish prayer ever since.

But the Torah records the song in an unusual way. In the Torah, the shira is written as blocks of text interrupted by deliberate empty spaces. Words appear, then silence. Song, then pause.

The message is subtle and profound. Words alone cannot hold transcendence. Even the greatest spiritual moments require space around them. Meaning deepens not only in what is said, but in what is left unsaid. The silence is not absence. It is where understanding settles.

Some moments in life resist description. They are not meant to be captured, shared, or uploaded. They ask us simply to be present. To breathe. To notice what opens inside us when we stop rushing past it.

As the world accelerates, the Torah reminds us to slow down. To honor the pauses. To protect the spaces between the words. That is where depth forms. That is where gratitude grows. That is where we truly cross the sea.

[CKJ @CongregationKJ]

amazing @rabbidkraus

[Daniel Kraus @rabbidkraus]

President @JMilei sharing a Torah insight from this weeks Torah portion, Parshat Bo at World Economic Forum #WEF2026 @wef

Torah on the world stage.

Ancient wisdom spoken into modern power.

Global shifts indeed. What a time to be alive.

[Daniel Kraus @rabbidkraus]

These are the 20 hostages who are coming back home alive 🎗️

Sukkot is the only holiday referred to as
זמן שמחתינו — the time of our joy.

This year, it looks like it may truly fulfill its name.

[Daniel Kraus @rabbidkraus]

Yesterday we lost 10 precious souls in Israel💔

They woke up in the morning and by night they were gone—families torn apart, worlds broken.

And yet, the Jewish ppl don’t give up

When our enemies try to destroy us, we rise & live with even greater purpose

Am Yisrael Chai 🇮🇱

[CKJ @CongregationKJ]

today 👇

[Daniel Kraus @rabbidkraus]

🗓️Tonight is the 23rd of Sivan. Why does it matter?

B/c on this very date, in the Book of Esther, the Jews of ancient Persia (modern-day Iran) were granted the right to defend themselves from genocide.

Sound familiar?

History doesn’t repeat itself. It echoes.

#AmYisraelChai

[Daniel Kraus @rabbidkraus]

What an honor to have Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, former Chief Rabbi of Israel, pray at @CongregationKJ this morning on the powerful convergence of Erev Yom HaZikaron and Rosh Chodesh.

A moment of memory, renewal, and unity.

[Daniel Kraus @rabbidkraus]

“we will flood the streets of Crown Heights” deliberately echoes Hamas’ “Al Aqsa Flood” from 10/7

This is not rhetoric.

This must be stopped before it’s too late.

CH is protected by the watchful 👁️ of the Rebbe — but it’s up to our law enforcement to act swiftly & decisively.

[Howard Blas @howardblas]

Thanks @rabbichaim & @CongregationKJ for keeping awareness of the hostages alive. Has been chilling surrounded by these faces practicing in sanctuary w/a bar mitzvah student. Today was different. Imagine our delight when we discovered 2 of these “faces” were just released!

[CKJ @CongregationKJ]

We are very much looking forward!

[Daniel Kraus @rabbidkraus]

looking forward to welcoming one of the fiercest pro-Israel voices out there, my friend @AviMayer to the UES this Shabbat.

Join us to hear his presentations at @CongregationKJ

[Daniel Kraus @rabbidkraus]

It was great to welcome @EylonALevy to @CongregationKJ tonight in partnership with the @israeliamerican

Eylon is a warrior who defends Israel and the Jewish people daily. We are lucky to have him on our team.

[CKJ @CongregationKJ]

we can’t wait to welcome @RitchieTorres

[Daniel Kraus @rabbidkraus]

Excited to welcome one of Israel's most steadfast defenders to @CongregationKJ this week.

He isn't Jewish, has no sizable Jewish constituency & yet is one of the most outspoken pro-Israel voices in Congress💪

@RitchieTorresis we applaud you and all your efforts on behalf of 🇮🇱

[Daniel Kraus @rabbidkraus]

A beautiful #Thanksgiving prayer authored by Rabbi Joseph Lookstein z"l of @CongregationKJ in 1940.

Take a moment to read it, perhaps even use it at your meals. 

We look forward to the day when we can be thankful for the release of all the hostages and for permanent peace. ☮️

[Ambassador Gilad Erdan גלעד ארדן @giladerdan1]

New moral stain for the UN ‼️

When President Raisi of Iran, the “Butcher of Tehran,” began his speech, I waved a picture of Mahsa Amini, the innocent Iranian woman who was brutally murdered by the regime one year ago for not wearing a hijab “properly.”

Meanwhile, outside the UN hundreds of Iranians were protesting, begging for help from the international community. I will never stop fighting for the truth and I will always expose the UN’s moral distortions.

Those who roll out the red carpet for murderers and antisemites must be held accountable for their actions!

[(((Chaim Steinmetz)) @rabbichaim]

I joined Rabbi Angela Buchdahl of Central Synagogue and Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove of Park Avenue Synagogue in a wide-ranging discussion about what the holidays mean, the challenges of preparing sermons, the moments that are most meaningful, and more.
https://t.co/wOFw3HGTbc

[JBS @JBSTVORG]

TONIGHT at 9 ET on JBS: This esteemed panel of Rabbis #AngelaBuchdahl of the Reform @CenSynNYC
@RabbiCosgrove of the Conservative @ParkAvenueSyn
& @rabbichaim of the Modern Orthodox @CongregationKJ discuss the moments they find most meaningful in preparing for the high holidays.

[NYPD Crime Stoppers @NYPDTips]

WANTED for a Crimianl Mischief the Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun Synagogue #Manhattan @NYPD19pct on 8/12/23 @ 7:00PM .  . The individual then wrote anti-Semitic graffiti with a marker on a display screen attached to the Synagogue Reward up to $3500 Call 1-800-577-TIPS

[Keith Powers @KeithPowersNYC]

Just left @CongregationKJ to check in after last night’s attack.

Thankfully, the graffiti is removed & investigation underway. Thanks to the security at KJ and @NYPD19Pct for their efforts.

The Upper East Side stands together against hateful attacks.

[CKJ @CongregationKJ]

Drive safely!

[Daniel Kraus @rabbidkraus]

On our way to JCAB join the community as @RavElie is installed as the 66th president of the New York Board of Rabbis. ���🎖️

[(((Chaim Steinmetz)) @rabbichaim]

These fighters gave up their lives to build a better Jewish future, where other young Jews can walk proudly and without apology wherever they go. https://t.co/HvvG9VmEdZ