With the warm weather now upon us, walking tours of New York City’s historic communities beckon to us. This week’s review features one such community, which is dear to me and my … more

Grenade! The very mention of the word can send shudders down the spine of even the most battle-hardened soldier. The instinct is to run. But on the first of Av, during the 2006 war in Lebanon, … more

A much neglected book was recently brought to my attention by my friend, Yitzy Gruen of Brooklyn’s famed Judaica Place on Avenue M, published by the OU, entitled “Missing the Point: What’s Wrong with the Orthodox Jewish Community and How to Fix It.” Its author is Rabbi Dr. Gidon Rothstein of Riverdale. more

We live in interesting times that witness murder as state policy and also brazen and often violent religious intolerance. These are also times, by contrast, of religious tolerance in many quarters … more

“Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.” The origin of this verse, inscribed on the world-famous American icon, the Liberty Bell in … more

The Kosher Bookworm By Alan Jay Gerber Issue of February 12, 2010/ 28 Shvat 5770 There is no shortage of topical Jewish articles on various subjects; high-quality articles are another story. … more

In the name of full disclosure let it be noted at the outset that the author of the book under review this week, Yankie Schwartz, was a former student of mine at the Chofetz Chaim High School in … more

This year’s annual Torah cycle witnesses the publication of three new variant commentaries on the Vayikra (the Book of Leviticus), each timed to the annual reading of this centerpiece of the Chumash. more

Just in time for Purim, Megillat Esther Mesorat HaRav, published by OU Press and Koren Publishers, is a welcome addition to the literature about Megillat Esther. The book contains, alongside the text … more

In an eloquent and scholarly essay by Rabbi Moshe Walter, “The recitation of L’Dovid Hashem during the month of Elul,” in “The Making of a Minhag” (Feldheim, 2018), we … more