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 taking a … more

The verse in Yeshayahu 54:9 twice contains a curious phrase. “For this is to Me [as] the waters of Noah, as I swore that the waters of Noah shall never again pass over the earth, so have I … more

We encounter the following pasuk toward the end of our parasha, Noach: “These are the generations of Terah, Terah was the father of Abraham, Nahor and Haran” (Bereishit 11:27). If you … more

After catering several events surrounding my daughter’s wedding, from her shower to her rehearsal dinner for 125, I decided I would self-cater parts of any simcha I would be blessed to host. … more

You know the scene from the movie “Back To The Future” where the lady is holding a can with a rattling coin, calling: “Save the clock tower! Save the clock tower!” Well, I … more

During the New York City mayoral election of 1969, the incumbent mayor, John V. Lindsay, found himself in an electoral jam for re-election. Having just lost … more

Thursday, Oct. 12, is a big day. Besides being Shemini Atzeret, multiple sources confirm that President Trump will deliver a speech outlining his policy on Iran. As part of that speech the … more

After she finished reading Dara Horn’s novel “The World to Come,” my wife said to me, “The last chapter is amazing.” I am more of a non-fiction reader, but on her advice … more

There is a powerful story I heard many years ago but never shared publicly, considering it too fantastic to possibly be true. But having recently read an accounting of it in Yitta Halberstam’s … more

While Shemini Atzeret occurs at the end of Succot, it is, as Midrash Bereshit Rabbah notes, a chag bifnei atzmo (festival in its own right) rather than a part of Succot. (100:7) This is clearly … more