By Mayer Fertig Issue of September 3, 2010/ 24 Elul 5770 History books are usually boring and historical figures are usually dead. "The Prime Ministers: An Intimate Narrative of Israeli … more

Calendar for the week of June 10, 2011 more

Sound of a shofar stirs a soul Honey activates taste buds Verbalized wishes for a sweet New year Health happiness success blessings more

When one reads through Shmot Chapter 12, it becomes quite clear that blood will play a significant role in bringing about the salvation of the Hebrew slaves at the midnight hour when Egypt will be struck its most devastating blow. more

While a guest at Rabbi Berel Wein and Rebbetzin Jackie Wein, A”H for Shavuot in 1985, I had the pleasure of enjoying the most delicious homemade challah. more

Rabbi Elimelech Ashkenazi, z”l, thought to be the last surviving student of the founder of Daf Yomi, Rabbi Meir Shapiro of Chachmei Lublin, passed away at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York earlier this week. He was 96. more

This week’s parasha (Torah portion) contains a verse that seems to defy all manner of understanding: “Now Joseph’s brothers saw that their father had died…” (Sefer Bereishit 50:15, this and all Tanach and Rashi translations, The Judaica Press Complete Tanach). What can the Torah possibly mean when it tells us this? more

The Jewish Star invites you to write about your community, your school, your shul, any topic that ties to the Jewish community. Get a byline, see your name in print and enhance your resume. more

Most people don’t remember much from when they were 5 years old, but Joel Block has an indelible memory of the day in 1965 when his father and grandfather were killed in a plane crash. “I was at a Coney Island JCC day care,” said Block, who grew up in the Sea Gate section of Brooklyn, “and a woman named Lottie took special care of me. She drove me home on a school bus. I didn’t appreciate that until later [in life]. I realized the power we have to be helpful in people’s lives when they need it.” more

The opening of our parsha contains narrative that seems inconsistent — “Yaakov” lives in Egypt, but the days of “Yisrael” are getting closer to his death. After asking Yosef to swear that the burial will not take place in Egypt and will take place in his family burial plot, “Yisrael” bows at the head of the bed. Time passes, and Yosef is told (by—?), “Your father is sick.” So he takes “his two sons with him, Ephraim and Menashe.” Someone (who?) tells “Yaakov,” “Your son Yosef is here.” So “Yisrael” strengthens himself and sits on the bed. more