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

Sometimes, the most powerful experiences are the ones you least expect. Such was the case on a recent trip to Poland. Tucked in between our visits to the Lodz Ghetto in the morning and the Warsaw … more

This is the story of the making of the book, “Search Engine: Finding Meaning in Jewish Texts.” I don’t normally talk about myself but I find it hard to refuse a request from … more

Years ago, after a very month in Lebanon, someone higher up decided our unit needed a break. Every unit maintains a daily events log (yoman iruim). Every patrol, ambush, search and seize, and … more

Of all Jewish desserts, there is none more iconic than the black-and-white cookie. It comes in all shapes and sizes, but if you’re looking for authenticity, only the round one counts. If you … more

They used to call them “pea-soupers:” dense, choking fogs caused by smoke from burning coal that frequently enveloped London until the middle of the last century, leaving a person … more

One of the most prominent segments of our parasha is known as Parashat HaMoadim, the Section of the Festivals. Its 44 verses comprise the 23rd chapter of Vayikra and serve as an encyclopedic … more

Our parasha, Behar, begins with the famous words: “And the L-rd spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying” (Vayikra 25:1). They are immediately followed by a verse focusing on the mitzvah … more

Something remarkable happens in this week’s parsha, Nitzavim, that changed the very terms of Jewish existence, and has life-changing implications for all of us. Moses renewed the … more

Treating the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians as a zero-sum game guarantees that peace can’t be made. The only way to create mutual understanding, and hopefully, a path towards … more