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

The solemnity of the Yamim Nora'im, the High Holidays, now turns to Z’man Simchatei'nu, the season of joy. This joy is reflected in several literary suggestions for the next two … more

Last week’s essay on Israel Starck’s Holocaust memoir, “A Boy Named 68818,” gave voice to his daughter’s take on the purpose and goals that she intended for this gifted … more

Rabbi Moshe Taragin, in an interesting essay entitled, “A Desert Gift” [vbm.org/Shavuot], writes an interesting thesis on the importance of the venue of the desert for the revelation at Mt. Sinai. One series of very perceptive observations caught my attention and I wish to share them with you. Quoting from the Midrash Bamidbar 1:1, Rabi Taragin cites the following: “Whoever does not transform himself into hefker as a desert cannot acquire the inner wisdom of Torah.” more

I have to thank my long time friend, Danny Levine, proprietor of America’s oldest family-owned Jewish book store, J. Levine and Co., for bringing to my attention the recently released “Derashot Ledorot: A Commentary for the Ages, Exodus” [Maggid Books, 2013] by Rabbi Norman Lamm. This second volume Bible sermons is a most eloquent work going back to over a half century of Rabbi Lamm’s rabbinical career at Manhattan’s The Jewish Center. more

Teshuva and Yomim Noraim, The Noraos Harav (vol. 16) Suggested reading for Yom Kippur Reviewed by Alan Jay Gerber Issue of Oct. 3, 2008 As we are now in the midst of the yemei … more

This week’s essay will focus upon some timely observations and precious words to learn and study for the remainder of the month of Elul. Rabbi Avi Shafran is perhaps one of the most perceptive observers of the Jewish scene today and the following observation by him deserves your attention: “For those who take this time of the Jewish year seriously — and all of us should — Elul’s days can be daunting...." more

Years ago, when Debra Blank was teaching rabbinical students at the Jewish Theological Seminary, she noticed many of them used ArtScroll prayer books,” an article in the Forward noted last … more

This week’s essay is devoted to one short chapter in the life and rich legacy of Rabbi Shlomo Goren, when the fate of Jerusalem was determined as the Jewish state … more

The Koren Sacks Rosh HaShana Mahzor provides a lucid translation of the text and an eloquent introduction and translation by Rabbi Johnathan Sacks, whose commentary for the first day of the … more