Fwd: Best Practices for Hosting Single Men and Women on Shabbat; From Siege to Strength; Is Snow Muktzah?

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From: Shabbat Shalom <shabbatshalom@ounetwork.org>
Date: Thu, Jan 8, 2026, 5:03 PM
Subject: Best Practices for Hosting Single Men and Women on Shabbat; From Siege to Strength; Is Snow Muktzah?
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Plus: Are you allowed to brush your hair or sheital on Shabbat? PARSHAT SHEMOT January 9-10, 2026 / 21 Tevet 5786  FEATURED Top 5 Best Practices for Hosting Single Men and Women on Shabbat Kol Echad Learn practical tips for inclusively hosting single, divorced, and widowed guests for Shabbat meals – from inviting early to thoughtful seating and respectful conversation. Read More  AROUND THE OU Teach Coalition We Must Choose to Act As antisemitism rises and Jewish life faces increasing pressure, Sydney Altfield, national director of Teach Coalition, argues that strong Jewish education is essential. For the first time, a federal policy offers a clear path to significantly reducing Jewish day school tuition costs and changing what affordability means for families long term. Read in the Jerusalem Post OU Women's Initiative From Siege to Strength The OU Women's Initiative recently featured "From Siege to Strength: Standing Together with Klal Yisrael," an inspiring shiur delivered by Ditza Or, mother of former hostage Avinatan Or. Watch Now NCSY Combatting Antisemitism in Public Schools Rabbi Derek Gormin, managing director of public school educational excellence for NCSY's Jewish Student Union, appeared on Fox News to discuss the current climate of antisemitism and how we can actively combat it. Watch on YouTube OU-JLIC JLIC Hosts First Miluim Wellness Retreat More than 90 JLIC-affiliated soldiers serving in miluim (reserve duty) and their families recently took part in JLIC's first Miluim Wellness Retreat in Neve Ilan. The weekend featured therapeutic art workshops, couples and group sessions, and additional supportive programming, all designed to give back to the chayalim who have given so much of themselves. Read More  UPCOMING EVENTS OU Israel and Institutional Advancement Protecting Your Legacy Through Estate Planning Wednesday, January 14, at 1:00 pm, in Jerusalem Register Now OU Women's Initiative Torat Imecha Nach Yomi Third Cycle Siyum From Sunday, February 1, through Sunday, March 8, at various locations in the U.S. and Israel Learn More Savitsky Communal Growth Initiative The Savitsky Home Relocation Fair Sunday, February 22, at 9:00 am EST – Virtual Register Now  TORAH Rabbi Moshe Hauer, zt"l Overcoming the Great Conspiracy Theory of Antisemitism Antisemitism has never been just about physical attacks on Jews. It is the great conspiracy theory, in which a narrative is generated about the Jewish people portraying us as all-powerful and utterly disloyal, a combination of factors that create a climate of hatred and resentment towards us. Read More L'Kadsho Lighting Candles After Shkiyah If it's after shkiyah and you still haven't lit, can you ask your non-Jewish neighbor to light the candles for you? Should you make a bracha on electric lights? Find out with Rabbi Akiva Willig! Plus… Rav Doniel Schreiber on Kiddush, Rabbi Shmuel Silber on bishul, and more! Lighting Candles After Shkiyah - Learn Now More on L'Kadsho Rabbi Menachem Genack Hineini Why did God say Moshe's name twice when calling him from the burning bush? How does this serve as a paradigm for all of Moshe's future prophecy? Read in Hebrew Rebbetzin Dr. Adina Shmidman Rooted Before Redemption The name "Yaakov" describes a people under pressure – inward, constrained, focused on survival. The name "Yisrael" describes a people able to move beyond survival into growth and outward impact – visible, confident, and generative. The order is deliberate. Read More Rabbi Aaron Goldscheider Taking Our Time Sanctification of the new moon being the first commandment given to the Jews in Egypt was God's way of conveying that they, and not Pharaoh, were now the masters of their own time. Read More All Torah What Every Jewish Leader Needs to Hear Rabbi Binyomin Weinrib explains that by speaking from a burning bush that was not consumed by flames, Hashem was conveying a powerful and important message to Moshe Rabbeinu. Watch This Week's Featured Clip Join the All Torah Clips WhatsApp Community Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, zt"l Leadership and the People The sedra of Shemot paints a portrait of the life of Moses, culminating in the moment at which God appears to him in the burning bush. It is a key text of the Torah view of leadership, and every detail is significant. Read More Rabbi Jack Abramowitz All You Need Is Love God decided that love was something we needed. But how did He come up with this? Find out in this real-life Q&A! Read More Rabbi Ari Enkin Fulfilling the Wishes of the Deceased Is there an obligation to fulfill someone's final wishes? If so, why? Which wishes shouldn't be fulfilled? Find out in this installment of "Dalet Amot of Halacha!" Read More Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb The Road to Resilience Those of you who have come to know me during my current stage of life will be surprised to learn that I once had athletic ambitions. But I did. Read More Halacha Yomis Is Snow Muktzah? Most poskim hold that rain water is not muktzah. Does snow that fell on Shabbos have the same status as rain? Read More