Summer entertainment is fun and relaxed — no formal tables or best china. In the summer, paper plates and hands-on eating rule the hot days and long evenings. Cold beer and lemonade are … more

It is with deep heartbreak that I write this obituary upon the untimely passing this week of one of our country’s greatest scholars of the Jewish book, and a longtime dear friend, Rabbi Dr. … more

With the warm weather now upon us, walking tours of New York City’s historic communities beckon to us. This week’s review features one such community, which is dear to me and my … more

If you don’t love the smell, the taste, and even the texture of garlic, then I’m afraid this column is not for you. But if you can’t get enough of this delectable herb, once thought to vanquish … more

As I sit here writing this column, four days before Shabbat Nachamu, I am nostalgic. It’s been 34 years since I was at Grossinger’s, but the memories are more vivid than ever. Each summer, … more

When Bergen-Belsen was liberated on April 15, 1945, the sight that greeted the British soldiers was hellish, even by concentration camp standards. In a desperate attempt to bury the dead before the … more

In Shemot 19:12, in anticipation of Matan Torah, Moshe told the people, “‘Set a boundary around [the mountain], and tell them to be careful not to climb the mountain, or [even] to touch its edge. … more

Shabbat Nachamu’s haftarah is in many ways the most longed-awaited haftarah of the entire year. Until now, the Three Weeks and Tisha B’Av have forced us to focus upon the seemingly endless … more

With summer nearing its end, we are more mindful of the upcoming High Holidays and their themes and observances. However, we first arrive, next week, at what Rabbi Abraham Twerski calls the greatest … more

Someone has suffered the loss of a loved one. We visit the mourner’s home during shiva to offer words of consolation. Upon leaving, a Sephardic custom is to say “Min hashamayim tenuchamu,” may … more