In his essay "Megillat Ruth and the Story of Yehuda and Tamar: A Study in Biblical Contrast,” Rabbi Alex Israel of the Pardes Institute quotes the following the following… more

Whenever I would hear that someone is a rawtarian, I assumed they were limited to eating carrots and celery sticks or other fruits and vegetables. I love the flavors of fruits and vegetables, but all … more

Well, it is almost here, Pesach that is. This week’s essay lists several additional excellent readings themed to the holiday. We begin with one of my favorites, Rabbi Shmuel Goldin’s … more

“On the first day you shall take the fruit of hadar trees, branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the L-rd your G-d seven … more

The party is over. Life as I knew it over the past 13 days is done! Jerry has landed, back from the Holy Land. Gone are the days when I went to bed and woke up in the morning to find everything … more

At the recent wedding of the daughter of very old friends, I was enjoying the palpable joy at the tisch when the father of the bride asked me to lead Maariv.  I had a moment of angst as I … more

Minnesota Democratic leaders upset at her public anti-Semitic statements are working to recruit candidates to run against Rep. Ilhan Omar in next year’s primary election. The Hill … more

As Israelis took refuge in bomb shelters (again), and Palestinians celebrated in the streets as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad rockets flew overhead, one of the oldest synagogues in … more

Reading through the narrative portion of Parshat Korach, one finds a number of groups complaining against Moshe and Aharon. The first is Korach, the second is Datan and Aviram’s group, the … more

With Rosh Hashana just a few days away the concepts dealing with Jewish spirituality become ever more the major focus of our faith and of its observance. A new book by Rabbi Yakov Nagen was recently … more