Those who are nostalgic for the heyday of neoconservatism might want to know that on Wednesday, former President George W. Bush was scheduled to host a video discussion with Ukrainian President … more

The warlords who have brought untold misery to Sudan since it achieved its independence from the United Kingdom in 1956 are hardly loosening their grip. Over the last week, Africa’s … more

A sentence, taken from a lengthy article published by the Korean Central News Agency, perfectly encapsulates the Py-ongyang regime’s raison d’état: “We should … more

The opening chapter of Sefer Shemos records a dramatic change: “There arose a new king over Egypt.” With the new king we commence new themes, new thoughts, new challenges. The … more

Heads we win, tails we lose By Rabbi Avi Billet Issue of Sept. 19, 2008 When my oldest child began to talk, she was two months shy of her second birthday. It occurred to me that I could … more

When one reads through Shmot Chapter 12, it becomes quite clear that blood will play a significant role in bringing about the salvation of the Hebrew slaves at the midnight hour when Egypt will be struck its most devastating blow. more

While a guest at Rabbi Berel Wein and Rebbetzin Jackie Wein, A”H for Shavuot in 1985, I had the pleasure of enjoying the most delicious homemade challah. more

This week’s parasha (Torah portion) contains a verse that seems to defy all manner of understanding: “Now Joseph’s brothers saw that their father had died…” (Sefer Bereishit 50:15, this and all Tanach and Rashi translations, The Judaica Press Complete Tanach). What can the Torah possibly mean when it tells us this? more

The opening of our parsha contains narrative that seems inconsistent — “Yaakov” lives in Egypt, but the days of “Yisrael” are getting closer to his death. After asking Yosef to swear that the burial will not take place in Egypt and will take place in his family burial plot, “Yisrael” bows at the head of the bed. Time passes, and Yosef is told (by—?), “Your father is sick.” So he takes “his two sons with him, Ephraim and Menashe.” Someone (who?) tells “Yaakov,” “Your son Yosef is here.” So “Yisrael” strengthens himself and sits on the bed. more

That there is widespread anxiety over the Obama administration’s Middle East policies is hardly a secret. It is not the so-called “Israel Lobby” that is the ultimate authority for Washington’s stance in the region, it is presidents and their appointees who make policies. And under Obama, the U.S. has pushed policies that directly clash with the long-established positions of pro-Israel groups. more