If the story of Pinchas and Zimri played out in our world today, it would not be Pinchas who is universally heralded and Zimri who is thrown under the bus for being an arrogant and abrasive antagonist. The story is pretty simple. Zimri, a leader of the tribe of Shimon, consorts with a Midianite woman in public. According to the Talmud (Sanhedrin 82), he mocked Moshe — if a Midianite (Zipporah) was permissible to Moshe, why was a Midianite prohibited to Zimri? more

What do you do when someone you love does something you hate? This week, this month, this year, has seen a terrible polarization in Israeli society. Jewish men purporting to represent what Judaism is meant to be, describing themselves as “religious” or “ultra-orthodox,” spitting on other Jews, throwing chairs and hurling derogatory slurs (often worse, in the eyes of Jewish tradition) at other Jews, rallies in New York declaring the Jewish world in a state of catastrophe, a Rosh yeshiva — himself a candidate for Chief Rabbi of the State of Israel — insulted, threatened and even spit upon at a Jewish wedding by other Jews, and now the Chief Rabbi of the State of Israel recusing himself from rabbinical duties in the midst of an Israeli police investigation into financial and sexual improprieties that may involve him; does it get any worse? more

Being environmentally friendly doesn’t have to take a break during the summer vacation season, as many destinations offer fun family frivolity while contributing to saving the environment. Yet, in some circles these days, having a large family is considered a crime against humanity, especially when it comes to family vacations. The idea that having children is bad for the environment isn’t as new as many people think. more

It’s a familiar pattern. The citizens of a Middle Eastern state explode with frustration against their corrupt, repressive government. They gather for noisy, impassioned demonstrations in their capital city. The authorities react violently. Images of middle-aged women and wheelchair-bound individuals being tear-gassed, clubbed, and sprayed with water cannon race across social media platforms like wildfire. The protests then spread to other cities. The authorities step up their repression. more

My mother, Roslyn Weintrob, Rachel Leah bat Tzvi Hirsch, whose 21st yahrzeit we marked on Wednesday, was an eishet chayil who not only worked to build a strong family steeped in Jewish values, but was also determined to do more than her fair share of tikkun olam. more

Leibel Zisman was a survivor, of Kovno, of Auschwitz, of slave labor. He was a refugee from murder, genocide, and unbridled anti-Semitism. He was a Chabad chasid who was destined to survive all the difficulties of life to arrive at these blessed shores, learn English, receive a college degree, teach math, go into business, marry, establish a family, and spend the rest of his life helping others and making the giving of charity the hallmark of his life’s work. more

Now that the summer is officially upon us, our children will be scattering all over the world in the coming weeks. I am sharing some points I believe are worth noting when anticipating many summer activities we and/or our children might engage in. The first set of points concern safety concerns many of us are aware of, along with some reminders I think of every summer on account of sundry items that have caught my attention over the years. Please forgive me if I am saying things to you that you already know. When it comes to safety, a friendly reminder is appropriate. This is essentially the same note as last year with a few added comments. more

If you ever get a chance to look at the front grill of a Fisker Karma, the first model luxury electric car made by Fisker Automotive, you will notice that it seems to be laughing as if it were saying, “Ha, ha, I got your money!” Despite that, the Fisker Karma is a beautiful looking hybrid sports sedan, which is about to meet a very ugly end. more

Summer is my favorite season and swimming (ok, sitting by the pool) is my favorite pastime. One person who really enjoys the pool and the yard today is my husband Jerry. My idea of a great yard is a clean pool, lush landscaping, nice furniture to sit on, lay out in the sun on, and a nice dining set to sit around when we barbecue. My husband Jerry, unfortunately had different ideas. more

Only a British born and bred rabbi — Rabbi Jonathan Sacks — could have authored the following theologically-based teaching: “To paraphrase Shakespeare, ‘The influence we have lives after us; the power is oft interred with our bones.’ Much of Judaism is an extended essay on the supremacy of prophets over kings, right over might, teaching rather than coercion, influence in place of power..." more