How well do the MIschel brothers know each other?

Rabbi Elie Mischel is the rabbi of Congregation Suburban Torah in Livingston, New Jersey

My brother’s favorite song:

“L’maan Shemo” by Chaim David

Favorite food:

potato kugel and vanilla froyo

Biggest fear:

not having fish for Shabbos

How my brother unwinds:

He sits in his backyard, drinks arak, and talks to Hashem and Ora, his wife.

My brother’s greatest strength:

Judah connects deeply and in a real way with any person he meets.

When the going gets tough, my brother:

faces challenges with emunah and simchah.

My parents are proud of my brother because:

Judah is committed to chesed and ahavas Yisrael, even when it’s not convenient.

Best perk of being my brother:

Judah loves feeding my addiction to Rav Avraham Zvi Kluger seforim — he schleps books across the ocean for me — but I think this is more of a perk for me than for him.

My brother knows me so well that:

When I turned forty last year, a messenger arrived on my birthday with a delivery of forty Tofutti Cuties from Judah. It was a favorite parve treat of ours growing up, perfect for after Shabbos meat meals!

Rabbi Judah Mischel is the executive director of Camp HASC and a mashpiah with OU-NCSY. He lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh in Israel

My brother’s favorite song: 

"Meshorer HaTeshuvah” by Shlomo Katz

Favorite food:

Butter Pecan Tofutti (which we call Better Pecan Tofutti)

Biggest fear:

driving to a chuppah where he is mesader kiddushin — without Waze.

How my brother unwinds:

Shoes and socks off, in his study reading thousand-page books about John Adams

My brother’s greatest strength:

Emotional intelligence, intellectual honesty, and authenticity in speaking openly about real life challenges and struggles.

When the going gets tough, my brother:

throws himself into learning and finds chizuk in limud haTorah

My parents are proud of my brother because:

Elie quit his successful job as a lawyer and became a full-time rabbi.

Best perk of being my brother:

Elie has the zechus of storing my daughters’ clothing orders and our Amazon boxes in his basement — until this summer when they plan to make Aliyah!

My brother knows me so well that:

When I stay at their home, there is strong coffee waiting for me, chalav Yisrael milk in the fridge, and a freezer full of ice cream ready to go.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 854)