By Matis Friedman Issue of Sept. 12, 2008 Recently I picked up some new suits from being checked for Shatnez (wool and linen interwoven) and came away with quite a story. When dropping … more

Not being ‘cross’ By Rabbi Avi Billet Issue of Sept. 12, 2008 Chapter 22 has a unique list of seemingly random commandments: You may not forego returning a lost object you come … more

Loving the ‘ger’ By Rabbi Avi Billet Issue of August 22, 2008 The Torah commands us to love three entities: G-d, our neighbor, and the “ger.” The term “ger” is usually … more

Enjoy, enjoy! By Rabbi Avi Billet Issue of August 15, 2008 The Talmud (Taanit 30b) quotes the Mishnah when it says there were no holidays (literally "good days") on the Jewish calendar … more

By Rabbi Avi Billet Issue of August 8, 2008 This optimistic/pessimistic outlook is an embodiment of what Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik would call a “dialectic.” Tisha B’Av is the … more

Tzlafchad’s daughters In memory of Aharon Hakohen, who loved everyone and pursued peace between people, whose yahrzeit is this Shabbos, the first day of Av. By Rabbi Avi Billet Issue … more

Shabbos meals- no children allowed...? By Rabbi Avi Billet The best thing about Shabbos, a friend of mine says, is that it guarantees him two or three meals a week with his family. He can … more

An unlikely reunion by Rabbi Avi Billet In light of last week's challenging "exchange" of soldiers Goldwasser and Regev for, among others, a murderer who does not deserve the treatment he … more