He holds a distinguished pulpit in Silver Spring just outside our nation’s capital. Recognized locally as a poseik (decisor) on Jewish law, Rabbi Moshe Walter provides his most fortunate pulpit at the Woodside Synagogue Ahavat Torah a reliable source of Torah and halacha, both practical and theoretical. more

After Moshe breaks the first Luchot (Tablets), he is graced with a unique aura that raises his status in the eyes of the people. First he is forced to take his tent some distance outside of the camp (2000 cubits — see Targum Yonatan) because G-d’s presence leaves from amongst the people (33:7-11). more

Dear Ms. Thompson, The Jan. 27 passing of Pete Seeger got me thinking about you. That may seem a little surprising; there’s no obvious connection between a banjo-strumming American folk singer and a British Oscar-winning actress. So let me explain. more

Remember when coffee was either regular or decaf, water came from the tap, dried fruit strips were called shoe leather and eggs were just eggs? Today we have coffee in every flavor, strength and blended concoction (for as much as $6 a cup), water comes from all over the world (and costs as much as if you had to pay its travel fares), eggs in a variety of sizes can be free-range, brown or organic. more

One of the oft-repeated criticisms of the movement to boycott Israel is that it portrays the Middle East’s only healthy democracy as the ultimate rogue state, ignoring at the same time those authoritarian regimes that violate the most basic human rights on a daily basis. Frankly, that’s why I’m pleased that the boycott I’m writing about here has nothing to do with Israel, the Palestinians, or the Middle East in general. more

The American Jewish Congress’ plan to honor Hillary Clinton at Cipriani, a treif restaurant in Manhattan, is a de facto endorsement of Clinton’s presidential candidacy and a clear example of AJC head Jack Rosen’s determination to exploit the AJC to further progressive political causes. more

He was born 86 years ago on New York’s Lower East Side, the son of Jewish Polish immigrants who arrived on these blessed shores right after World War I. His name was Rabbi Dr. Herbert Bomzer, zt”l, and his first yahrtzeit was recently commemorated with the publication of a collection of Divrei Torah, entitled “Keter Harachzav,” compiled and edited with an eloquent and informed introduction by his grandson, Aryeh Sklar of Cedarhurst. more

Today we will devote our attention to two of the many midrashic passages on our parsha. After describing the clothes of the kohanim, the Torah tells us, “V’zeh Hadavar – and this is what you should do for them, to sanctify them to be kohanim for Me” — bring certain requisite animals as sacrifices. (29:1) more

Sometimes, the experiences that impact us the most are the ones we almost miss. After finishing my regular army service, I was back in yeshiva, having recently begun my studies for the Israeli Rabbinate, on my way to the beit midrash (study hall) when I encountered a student whose face I did not recognize; he appeared to be upset, and looked as though he had been crying. I asked him if he was OK, and he nodded in the affirmative. more

When a story like this comes around, secular media — and some politically-driven Jewish media — are apt to seek an exploitive angle, to “sell papers,” drive web traffic or, ominously, poke fresh holes in our already fragile communal unity. more