With the advent of the month of Tammuz now almost a week behind us, it is time to consider some of the better quality literature that will surely help us to understand the themes that make this season the most somber on the Jewish calendar. more

Bilaam desperately wants to go with King Balak’s men to fulfill what he believes is his destiny to curse the Jewish people. Knowing of his own relationship with G-d, however, he will not accept the job until he is given permission from G-d. He makes this quite clear to Balak’s first agents. more

In the battles that round out the end of Parshat Chukat, Moshe and the Israelites defeat Sichon and Og, and their respective nations. Before the battle with Og, Moshe is told by G-d not to fear for “I have given him into your hands.” (21:34) more

Sunday June 19th, 2011, two weeks ago, witnessed yet another sad episode in the struggle for the soul of America. more

This week, ten boats carrying approximately 600 anti-Israel activists will be approaching the waters surrounding the Gaza Strip. It is not known whether there will be some sort of confrontation as there was last year when a fl otilla, run by Turkish terrorists, attacked members of the IDF as they attempted to board the ship and turn it around. more

Cold; so cold it cuts through the rags that were once clothes, straight to the bone.Cold; so cold it cuts through the rags that were once clothes, straight to the bone. There was a time this cold so occupied your very being you could concentrate on nothing else. But that was long ago. Darkness; so dark it sometimes seems more than the mere absence of light; it seems almost tangible. You vaguely recall a time when you were obsessed with determining exactly where you were, pacing in the darkness to examine your environs. You figured out you were in some sort of a concrete cell, perhaps six feet square, but not much more than that. You used to wonder what color the walls were, never having been allowed to see them, but that curiosity has long ago been replaced with more basic needs. more

Letters to the Editor more

Dear Aviva, I feel very silly writing about this and don’t know if you will even publish it, but I have a sheitel problem. I’ve had the same one since I got married 6 years ago. It’s outdated, stretched and not even my color anymore. Plus, I never liked the cut. But I can’t afford a new one, and I literally cry almost every morning when I put it on to leave for work. I think I’ve scared my husband. And then I feel guilty for being petty. Not to mention the guilt of starting to hate the mitzvah of covering my hair. more

The headlines are blaring and talk radio is shouting of the recent conversion of noted award winning playwright and author David Mamet from political liberal to activist conservative, a rare commodity among the Hollywood elite. more

Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank likes to write about subjects for which he has a very strong opinion, but very little knowledge. Milbank’s June 17th column, “Joe Lieberman joining Glenn Beck: a shanda” proves Milbank would not know a shanda if one jumped up, kissed him on the lips and wished him a Gut Shabbos. more