Many years ago, when I was in high school, my mother arranged for me to get a ride to school once a week with one of the teachers. We lived in Manhattan, and as the high school I attended was in … more

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 from Ruth Rabba … more

Shabbat Nitzavim, the concluding parasha of the Jewish calendar year, is an ideal time for in-depth introspection. As we approach Rosh Hashana we reflect on our past shortcomings and intensify … more

Put simply, President Donald Trump’s “deal of the century” is bad news for Israel. Trump claims that his plan offers “the most detailed proposal … more

What is the mainstream expression of Jewish power? When superstars with millions of followers like Kanye West and Kyrie Irving exhibit anti-Semitic behavior, more often than not it revolves … more

How old was Moshe when he fled from Egypt in Chapter 2? Depending which midrash you follow, he was either a teenager, 20, or 40. No matter which approach we follow, he spent at least 40 years in … more

That “No man is an island” and “It takes a village” are just two of the clichés used to convey the realization that people cannot “go at it alone.” But … more

Contrary to popular myth, there is no better or worse way to lose someone close to you, but there is definitely a worst way to find out about it. It had been a long day, and I was finally … more

Sigmund Freud always took a somewhat jaundiced view of the human psyche, but in the wake of the horrors of World War I, it turned even darker. Confronted with mankind’s capacity to destroy … more

Speaking from the heart  By David Seidemann Issue of Sept. 5, 2008 I was watching at 6:47 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 27 when history was made. I remember watching JFK’s funeral on … more