As we enter Adar I, with Purim five weeks away, I’m pleased to present   excerpts from an online interview with Dr. Erica Brown, author of “Esther: Power, Fate, and Fragility in … more

T he best-known pasuk in our parasha, Terumah, is this: “And they shall make Me a sanctuary (mikdash) and I will dwell in their midst.” It is followed by many verses that specify every … more

In one of the opening statements of his essay “The Lonely Man of Faith,” Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik writes, “The nature of the dilemma can be stated in a three-word sentence. I am … more

There is a well-known joke that is told about the Jews, which I find particularly sad. The joke tells of a group of explorers who find a Jew who has been stranded on a desert island for years. As he … more

As soon as we read the opening lines of Terumah we begin the massive shift from the intense drama of the Exodus with its signs and wonders and epic events, to the long, detailed narrative of how the … more

If some of us lacked focus before Oct. 7, Hamas’ atrocities in Israel and the worldwide displays of Jew-hatred that followed have clarified our priorities. In Long Island’s special … more

The Mothers of IDF Soldiers group led a demonstration last week of army mothers, reservists in the Israel Defense Forces, bereaved families and others outside the US embassy in Jerusalem. They … more

The most rushed meal in America has to be the weekday breakfast. Instant drinks, instant oatmeal, cold cereal and toaster pastries are not on any list of the best way to start the day, and we have … more

The International Court of Justice has delivered its interim judgment on the South African government’s “genocide” charge against Israel. Even this political body appointed by the … more

For the 1,000 Black pastors who have joined a movement to pressure President Joe Biden to force a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas, the issue is solidarity with the … more