At one time or another, we’ve all heard a Jewish comedian tell an anti-Semitic joke — and we cringe. While such jokes are often funny, they also perpetuate anti-Semitic stereotypes we … more

At a synagogue vigil in London on Monday evening for the victims of the Oct. 7 Hamas pogrom, Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he stood in solidarity with Israel. Hamas, he said, … more

The overriding Jewish value of prolonging life By Leon Zacharowicz Issue of July 3, 2009 / 11 Tammuz 5769 The recent article about an ordained Orthodox rabbi employed by a hospice ( … more

Not that anyone is counting, but this is my 180th article for this fine newspaper. In article 88, I described a wedding I attended in Williamsburg. When I went out to make a phone call, I observed a … more

There are seven instances in the Torah when a tally of army-aged males is given to us. Twice they are rounded to “600,000 foot soldiers” (Shmot 12:37 and Bamidbar 11:21). more

In what will be one of this season’s most popular commentaries, Rabbi Moshe Weinberger of Congregation Aish Kodesh in Woodmere has written a translation of Rav Avraham Yitzchak Kook’s “Orot Teshuvah.” Entitled “Song of Teshuvah Volume One” [Penina – Urim Press, 2011] this new work is the result of over seven years of a shiur that Rabbi Weinberger gave on Friday mornings at his shul. more

Considering that America was the home of the cocoa bean, chocolate arrived relatively late to the American colonies, in about 1775. Not long after in 1765, Dr. James Baker and John Hannon set up a chocolate factory. It is claimed to be the first chocolate factory in the United States.  Today it is known as Baker’s German Sweet Chocolate. more

This week’s review will focus on a very interesting anthology of rabbinic insights and practical advice for daily living. It was compiled by a Woodmere native, born and bred on the South Shore. more

On Nov. 18, 1995, Itzhak Perlman, the violinist, came on stage to give a concert at Lincoln Center in New York City. Anyone who has ever been to a Perlman concert, knows that getting on stage is no small achievement for him, having been stricken with polio as a child, with braces on both legs and walking with the aid of two crutches. more

Learning by example and anecdote is a surefire way to get a lesson’s message through. In his just-completed series of commentary on the Chumash, “Unlocking The Torah Text: An … more