In the first verse of our third Haftarah of Consolation this Shabbat (Isaiah 54:11-55:5), Israel still sees itself storm-tossed in exile. Jerusalem has not been comforted. Israel had not taken … more

I am sure that you have a most favorite activity — and a least favorite. I know that I do. My most favorite activity is visiting Israel. One of the experiences I especially cherish … more

In 2006, the Goodman family’s son Yosef was killed in a tragic training accident when his parachute failed to open properly. Incredibly, having become entangled with his officer’s chute, Yosef z”l bravely chose to cut himself loose rather than cost his officer’s life. A few days later, sitting in the Goodman home, I learned just how special Yosef Goodman really was. more

There are two times in Sefer Bereishit when we encounter the phrase, “Va’ye’he acharei hadevarim ha’aleh” (“And it came to pass after these matters”), toward … more

T wo things dominated the news last week: Charlottesville, and the solar eclipse that crossed the United States, with the umbra spanning 16 states. Each of these stories delivered a different … more

My wife and I first lived in Queens and there we befriended a couple — the husband worked for the district attorney. One Shabbos he told us about a “Yom Kippur moment” he … more

The battle is waged against Amalek, and as it finishes, we are told that “Yehoshua weakened Amalek and his people with the sword." The Torah’s word for weakened is vayachalosh, but its translation is not so clear. more

When we consider the story of the binding of Yitzchak, one of the characters, who played a significant role until this tale is conspicuously missing from the narrative. That person, of course, is … more

A friend of mine once shared part of the process he used to interview prospective students at his high school. The boys were invited to a full day of interviews, tests and experiences. In the … more

Parshat Naso contains the laws relating to the Nazirite, an individual who undertook to observe special rules of holiness and abstinence: not to drink wine or other intoxicants … more