For several decades, Israel’s enemies have actively and willfully defamed the Jewish state by comparing its actions to the atrocities committed by the worst villains in recent … more

In one of his Yom Kippur addresses, Rabbi Joseph Hertz expressed that “Avinu Malkeinu Chatanu L’fanekha” is the prayer most reflective of our Yom Kippur goals. In it, we recognize a few very important truths about our relationship with G-d, and about ourselves. more

Yom HaKippurim: The day of atonement. That is how we usually translate it, but is that what it really means? I heard a remarkable story this summer, in the midst of all the fighting in Gaza, … more

“This day G-d commands you to fulfill [all the laws], and you should do them with all your heart, and with all your soul.” (26:16) The Midrash Tanaim jumps on the classic interpretation (see also Tanchuma 1) that when Moshe says “This day” with reference to mitzvah observance, he is noting that any demonstration of following the Torah creates a visual for G-d as if the Jewish people have accepted the Torah on that day. more

Teaching in the old city of Jerusalem, one develops a certain awareness of the different types of people who can wander in off the street. Many of the people who frequent the old alleyways and ancient stones of Jerusalem are incredible people with incredible stories. But every once in a while you can get real characters walking through your door. more

I remember the look of shock on his face like it was yesterday. It was, I believe, the summer of 1984, and we were on patrol in Beirut. Technically, the Lebanese stores were off limits to us and we weren’t even supposed to go into them, but it was a really hot day, and we were really thirsty, so, using “initiative in the field,” a couple of us went in to a market to get a couple of six-packs of Coke for the guys. more

From the one time in Re’eh to the three times in Shoftim to the five times in Ki Tetze, the Torah tells us nine times to eradicate evil – “Uvi’arta hara” – from either amongst you, or amongst all of Israel. It would seem that in most of these cases, as well as others in our parsha, the Torah is advocating for a death penalty kind of punishment for those who are either guilty of a crime, or are in violation of a mitzvah. more

On July 25, Brett Stevens (not to be confused with Bret Stephens) wrote on amerika.org that the Israel-Hamas conflict shows the true nature of liberalism. more

Court: A place and a system any healthy society needs, but no one really wants to visit. Just like a judge: Someone you want as a friend, but not someone you want to meet at work all too often. A date in court is not something most people look forward to, and the feelings such a visit generates range from frustration and trepidation, all the way to outright fear and terror. more

The instructions given to the generation entering the land of Canaan are clear: “Do away with all the places where the nations whom you are driving out worship their gods, [whether they are,] on the high mountains, on the hills, or under any luxuriant tree. You must tear down their altars, break up their sacred pillars, burn their Asherah trees, and chop down the statues of their gods, obliterating their names from that place.” more