There is no end to the commentaries on the Book of Esther, and this year’s pick by me that follows is not the last word. However, Rabbi David Fohrman’s teachings are worth your attention and patronage. more

He came to America, unknown and without a job, fleeing the Nazi tyranny in Europe. He was highly educated, deeply religious and heir to a spiritual legacy that was within his lifetime to redefine religious outreach to great heights. more

T he sacred ritual of Birkat HaMazon, benching, the Grace After Meals, is the subject of a new volume entitled, “Birkon Mesorat Harav” (OU Press, Koren Publishers). It centers the … more

Recently I came across an out of print copy of “Karl Marx and the Radical Critique of Judaism” [Littman Library, 1978] by Prof. Dr. Julius Carlebach, himself a victim of National Socialism and whose parents Rabbi Yosef Zvi Carlebach and Charlotte Carlebach were murdered at their hands. This book closely examines Marx’s absolute hatred of the Jewish people and religion, and goes into great detail in explaining the various methods employed by Marx to justify his bigotry in terms of class warfare and economic philosophy. more

This week marks the Sheloshim commemorative of the passing of one of my heroes and a hero of our people, Moshe Arens.  Seven years ago I had the honor to have interviewed him in … more

Rabbi Daniel Rose wrote the following that will serve as the keynote to this week’s essay: “These days of Purim,” the Book of Esther says, “should be remembered and … more

The adage that all beginnings are difficult applies equally to all human endeavors. In the world of Bible commentaries on the Book of Genesis, Bereshis, such beginnings are both literal as well as metaphoric. High quality peshat and derash are not easy to fine. This week’s review will hopefully prove that this year’s newly published works are the exception. more

According to Dr. Rachel Kolander of the Department of Music of Bar Ilan University,”The Hebrew word shirah has three meanings: poetic writing,often incorporating rhyme and having a specific, known meter; musical vocal production, combining acoustic parameters and textual meaning; more

This week’s column is a tribute to our dear neighbor Mordechai Weinberger, zt”l, who passed away last last week. His legacy will surely live on in the Torah teachings of his gifted … more

Ir David, the City of David, the name of the area beyond the southern edge of Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, is fast becoming one of the most visited historic sites in Jerusalem, thus warranting discussion this week upon the annual observance of Yom Yerushalayim. Ir David is the original hill top upon which was established the ancient unified capital of the Jewish nation by King David over 3000 years ago. more