This past Sunday marked the bicentennial anniversary of the yahrtzeit of the Baal HaTanya, Rabbi Scheneur Zalman. Among his most lasting literary works was the Tanya, perhaps the most definitive foundational work of Chabad chasidus, as well as one of the most influential of Judaism’s literary works of that era. Yet among his interpreters, each saw different teachings and theological meanings in his writings in the Tanya. more

What do a U.S. Senator, a boxer, a Rhodes Scholar and an A Cappella group all have in common? They are a few of the Orthodox Jewish All Stars on the latest production from Jew in the City, and part of a successful mission. more

“In 1959 Shlomo Carlebach released his first album – Haneshoma Loch [Songs of My Soul], -- which was an instant hit [selling 5,000 copies the first week] and completely revolutionized Jewish music. ‘The first record caused a musical furor both in the Jewish and non-Jewish worlds,’ recalls musicologist Velvel Pasternak, the foremost authority on contemporary Jewish music in the United States. ‘Rather than the Eastern European gestalt that had characterized Jewish music up until then and with which American Jewish youth couldn’t identify, Shlomo Carlebach’s music was written in an American idiom. more

Rebbe Levi Yitzchak, the Berditchever Rebbe (1740 – 1809), was a truly powerful personality. Under his leadership, the Jews of Berditchev were so imbued with eagerness to do mitzvoth, that they rose earlier than usual on the day a newborn was to be circumcised. They wanted to perform the mitzvah even before davening. Yet, on one occasion, the bris milah of the rebbe’s own grandson was delayed until late afternoon. Why? more

Local leaders’ often deliver emotional pitches for donations to Tomchei Shabbos, the Five Towns Food Bank and Hatzalah. They say that although there are abundant worthy causes worldwide, it’s our obligation first to provide for our own neighbors. more

If you were to do a literary analysis of the books that have been most popular over the past century you would find that the unifying feature of those books is character development. more

He once worked as a CPA and flirted with law school, and his business is very detail-oriented. Jeff Eisenberg’s trained staff pokes into the cracks between walls, gaps behind furniture and underneath mattresses, in search of bedbugs. “They’re not just found in beds, bedbugs have been around since the beginning of life,” Eisenberg said. “The ancient Egyptians, the Gemara, and Shakespeare wrote about them.” more

When planning a summer trip, Uganda is a less common destination than, say, Florida or Israel. But for Rabbi Dr. Ari Zivotofsky and Dr. Ari Greenspan, a trip visiting Jewish communities throughout East Africa was nothing out of the ordinary. more

David F. Nesenoff: Who is the silent sister? Mazal Alouf-Mizrahi: The silent sister is a name for Margot Frank, Anne Frank’s sister. Many individuals are aware that Anne Frank lived and passed away through her own diary “The Diary of Anne Frank.” Many are unfortunately unaware of her silent sister, her reticent sister. The title itself is another name for Margot herself. more

What was sparked as a childhood dream has blazed into history as the Lakeview Fire Department welcomes its first Orthodox Jewish fire chief. more