As Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan assumed near-dictatorial powers following his dubious victory in a constitutional referendum on April 16, Andrew Brunson, a Christian pastor from North … more

Our parish contains a pasuk (verse) that references the mitzvah of brit milah: “And on the eighth day, the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.” (Vayikra 12:3) … more

This week’s column is dedicated to the memory of the Dr. Louis Feldman, noted author, Yeshiva University professor of classics, and renowned scholar of Jewish history specializing in Josephus … more

In September 2000, in the wake of the second intifada, my unit was activated up as part of the massive call-up of reserves that occurred as fighting broke out all over the country. We had no idea how … more

Everyone knows that the Bris Milah, the Covenant of Circumcision, dates back to the covenant forged between G-d and Abraham, covering chapter 17 of Bereshit. … more

The untimely and supernatural death of Aharon’s sons, Nadav and Avihu, is one of the focal points of Shemini, this week’s parasha. Following this narrative passage, we are met with two … more

What brought about the deaths of Aharon’s older sons in this week’s parsha, Shmini? Most discussions analyze the specific nature of the particular service they were performing. Were they … more

At my family’s seder this year, we read, as we always do, from the traditional Sephardic Haggadah, in keeping with the customs of the Jewish communities from Spain and Portugal. Our guests need … more

Judy’s been putting the dishes away, so we’re reprinting her post-Pesach column from 2012. The last of the Pesach dishes, pots and pans, etc., have been stored away. The chametz dishes … more

Sunday is Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. Any serious student of history will recognize that there are moments, all too rare, when a door stands open, waiting for a person, a people, or … more