Beethoven rose each morning at dawn and made himself coffee. He was fastidious about this: each cup had to be made with exactly 60 beans, which he counted out each time. He would then sit at his desk … more

Three years after his passing, the teachings of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, an educator and member of the British House of Lords, continue to impact people worldwide. Now, the Rabbi Sacks Legacy, set up … more

It was the first Israelite house of worship, the first home Jews made for G-d. But the very idea is fraught with paradox, even contradiction. How can you build a house for G-d? He is bigger than … more

Two words we read towards the end of our parsha, Mishpatim — na’aseh ve-nishma, “We will do and we will hear” — are among the most famous in Judaism. They are what our … more

The Ten Commandments are the most famous religious and moral code in history. Until recently they adorned American courtrooms. They still adorn most synagogue arks. Rembrandt gave them their … more

For the first time since their departure from Egypt, the Israelites do something together. They sing. “Then sang Moses and the children of Israel.” R. Nehemiah in the Talmud Sotah … more

Sometimes others know us better than we know ourselves. In the year 2000, a British Jewish research institute came up with a proposal that Jews in Britain be redefined as an ethnic group and not as a … more

The Torah sometimes says something of fundamental importance in what seems like a minor and incidental comment. There is a fine example of this near the beginning of this parsha. In last … more

This week’s parsha, Shemos, could be entitled “The Birth of a Leader.” We see Moses, adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter, growing up as a prince of Egypt. We see him as a young man, … more

In his introduction to the Rabbinical Council of America’s version of the ArtScroll Siddur, Rabbi Saul Berman has a lovely essay on the opening word of this week’s sedra, Vayigash, … more