Moses’ long and tempestuous career is about to end. With words of blessing and encouragement he hands on the mantle of leadership to his successor Joshua, saying “I am 120 years old … more

I still don’t know how he made it into Infantry Officer’s course, but I do know how difficult it was for him. Overweight, and far from being an athlete, the physical challenges … more

Do you ever hear voices? I do, especially at this time of year. During these ten-days of teshuvah, between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, Jews become more contemplative, serious, and given to … more

The Netaneh Tokef prayer is one of the most emotionally expressive tefilot in the machzorim, so much so that one of its passages brings many of us to tears each time it is recited: On Rosh … more

This week’s parsha, Nitzavim, raises a question that goes to the heart of Judaism, but which was not asked for many centuries until raised by a great Spanish scholar of the fifteenth … more

Chapter 28 in last week’s parsha of Ki Tavo is one of the most difficult and harrowing chapters in the entire Torah. Yet, along with chapter 30 in this … more

When I prepare a speech lately, or sit down to write a column such as this, I can’t help but think about a particular set of political principles. The principles I ponder are the principles … more

Parashat Nitzavim, the concluding Torah portion of 5782 and the prelude to Rosh Hashana, promises that Hashem will gather us unto Him, regardless of how far away we may be: Even if your exiles … more

Our parasha, Ki Tavo, contains a statement that poses a distinct exegetical challenge: “This day (hayom hazeh), Hashem, your G-d, is commanding you to fulfill these statutes (chukim) and … more

We all have our secret lives. I don’t mean to say that each of us has a sinister side, which we wickedly act out in some deep, dark, private world. What I do mean is that we all act … more