By Alan Jay Gerber Issue of May 1, 2009 / 7 Iyar 5769 There is almost never a day when the State of  Israel does not draw some attention somewhere in the world. This has become the norm. … more

Reviewed by Alan Jay Gerber Issue of April 24, 2009 / 30 Nissan 5769 “Honor your mother and father.” This commandment from G-d is given to us as a Divine mandate for all time. Rabbi … more

By Alan Jay Gerber Issue of April 10, 2009 / 16 Nissan 5769 With the Pesach holiday now in full swing, the classical Jewish “bridge of time,” the Omer season, is upon us. Rabbi Paul … more

A timely review of an untimely event, Bircat HaChama Reviewed by Alan Jay Gerber Issue of April 3, 2009 / 9 Nissan 5769 Our rabbis are sermonizing about an event that’s soon to … more

By Alan Jay Gerber Issue of March 27, 2009 / 2 Nissan 5769 In his introduction to “Haggadah and History” (Jewish Publications Society, 1975), historian Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi noted the … more

Reviewed by Alan Jay Gerber Issue of March 20, 2009 / 24 Adar 5769 Recently I came across a very astute observation that will serve as the theme and tone for the Bookworm essays for the coming … more

A review of a nation we are commanded to hate By Alan Jay Gerber Issue of March 6, 2009 / 10 Adar 5769 Rav Kook in his “Midbar Shiur” teaches that the Jewish people have two … more

A review of seasonal literature to learn from Reviewed by Alan Jay Gerber Issue of Feb. 27, 2009 / 3 Adar 5769 With Shabbos Shekalim and Rosh Chodesh Adar now behind us, our minds, … more

A timely review on the 200th birthday of the 16th President Reviewed by Alan Jay Gerber Issue of Feb. 13, 2009 / 19 Shevat 5769 Throughout history, heads of state, whether elected, … more

By Alan Jay Gerber Issue of Jan. 30, 2009 / 5 Shevat 5769 December 31, 4 Tevet, marked the shloshim of Rabbi Emanuel Rackman z”l, a very talented and learned rabbi who represented a modern … more