Imagine that you live in a country that has just elected Adolf Hitler as its head of state. Your name is Rabbi Jehiel Jacob Weinberg, rabbi, and a leading authority on Jewish law who is revered by many for your wisdom, knowledge and compassion. more

Among American Jewry’s premier biographers, Rabbi Aaron Rakeffet-Rothkoff’s name stands out as one of the most scholarly, accurate and honest in both intent and content. more

The accurate portrayal of history can be a daunting task. This is especially so when the subject is faith based and dependent upon sacred literature as the source of events and personalities which are central to a faith’s historical core. more

I am happy to note and bring to your attention the latest volume in the Mitoch HaOhel series of essays by the staff of Yeshiva University, “From Within the Tent: The Haftarot,” published by Maggid / Koren Books. This comprehensive 700-page work contains a series of scholarly essays on every haftarah on the Jewish calendar, written exclusively by a distinguished group of rabbis and professors from Yeshiva University. What makes this particular work most relevant to our community is an essay written by Woodmere resident Rabbi Dr. Edward Reichman, dealing with some unique medical aspects relating to this coming week’s haftarah for Parshat Vayera. more

Being an avid reader of Jerusalem Post for most of my adult life, I have come to both admire and anticipate the writings of Dr. Reuven Hammer. His take on religious affairs, especially his analysis of the Chumash, holiday laws and customs, as well as current events, are both well written and reflect a very sober and unique theological perspective. more

Rabbi Shlomo of Kartin said: “If you want to raise a man from mud and filth, do not think it is enough to keep standing on top and reaching down to him a helping hand. You must go all the way down yourself, down into mud and filth. Then take hold of him with strong hands, and pull him and yourself out into the light.” more

The adage that all beginnings are difficult applies equally to all human endeavors. In the world of Bible commentaries on the Book of Genesis, Bereshis, such beginnings are both literal as well as metaphoric. High quality peshat and derash are not easy to fine. This week’s review will hopefully prove that this year’s newly published works are the exception. more

Judaica Press has recently reissued the classic, “The Practical Guide To Teshuvah” by Rabbi Shaul Wagschal as an apt companion to Rabbi Wegbreit’s sefer. more

In his preface to this week’s review selection, “The Power of Aleinu” by Rabbi Asher Baruch Wegbreit [Judaica Press, 2011], Rabbi Yisrael Reisman stated that, “It is the custom of Klal Yisrael to recite Aleinu in the middle of the Shemonah Esrei on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. more

The very word itself, teshuvah, brings to mind the very essence of the element and experience of spiritual return. Teshuvah is the experience of returning, not to the good old days, but rather to a new world experience, one that is G-d centered and ordered. more