When CNN gave Elliot Spitzer his own show, many complained engaging the disgraced former governor was a new low in cable news. But by hiring “Reverend” Al Sharpton as their 6pm host, MSNBC has smashed through CNN’s record, establishing a new low which may never be topped. With Sharpton, MSNBC contracted a man who’s incited two anti-Jewish pogroms, bears false witness against innocent people and is linked to the demise of at least eight innocent people. more

At a recent funeral, an elderly mourner collapsed and died at the cemetery. After I somehow revived him with CPR, his first words were, “I’m okay; I’m okay.” I turned to his daughter who was still screaming and I said, “He’s okay.” I then picked up a shovel and continued filling in the grave of the deceased. more

The Talmud says: “One should not extravagantly distribute more than one fifth of one’s income to charity.” Are the sages saying there’s a ceiling cap on tzedakah? Yes they are, because if everyone were to give too much away there would be too many mouths to feed. more

There are no words to explain the horrific tragedy that unfolded in Brooklyn last week, only questions. The positive side of the story is the outpouring of love, concern, and support that a community could exhibit for a child and for his family, in the aftermath of a conclusion no one could anticipate, expect, or face as being the reality. more

To my dear Readers, We, as a nation, are still raw from the tragic and shocking murder of Leiby Kletzky. Many people have asked me questions related to the aftermath. I feel that it is an important issue to address, and apologize for taking a break from my usual light-hearted, tongue-in-cheek tone while I share some of these questions and my answers. more

Sometimes an eloquent quote reflecting an event can take on a life of its own and reflect events not originally intended by its author. Such was the case recently in a quote made by Rabbi Haskel Lookstein reflecting upon the fi re that destroyed his shul, Kehilath Jeshurun of Manhattan. Noting that there were no casualties the rabbi made an interesting , and in retrospect, timely observation in describing the “catastrophic” fire. more

This week on the Jewish calendar, we commemorated the breaching of the Old City walls of Jerusalem by the Roman Tenth Legion on the 17th day of Tammuz in the year 70 C.E., heralding the beginning of the end of the Jewish Second Commonwealth, and the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash. As we gaze upon the ruins of those walls, we will fast, and some of us will even cry, remembering how 2000 years ago, the peaceful streets were filled with the triumphant cheers of Roman legionnaires bent on our destruction. more

Letters to the Editor more

Before its exposition of the holidays and their respective sacrificial offerings, the Torah gives us its only reversal of the most repeated verse in the Torah. Normally it says “And G-d spoke to Moshe saying.” Here it says “And Moshe spoke to G-d saying.” more

I am not going to write about the wars, the troops, the president, Congress, Iraq, Iran, al-Qaeda, global warming, gas prices, hybrid cars and carbon footprints. more