Of Moshe than we have encountered before. Instead of the brave advocate of the Jewish people and undaunted servant of Hashem, we are met with a morose and despondent Moshe on the cusp of complete … more

One of my uncles, who was quite overweight, was told by his doctor that he must go on a strict diet. The doctor prescribed to help him in his weight loss program. Several months passed and my uncle … more

Many people feel the need to be noticed. They dye their hair neon green, or they wear immodest clothing, or they say things that are intended to shock. They will do anything to keep the limelight … more

Our parasha, Naso, is the source of Birkat Kohanim, one of the most stirring acts in our prayer experience. Nearly anyone who has witnessed this tefilah senses its drama and … more

The conclusion of parshat Bamidbar leads into parshat Naso with the description of the specific and detailed jobs of each family of Levi — Kehat’s job was to carry the most important … more

M any years ago I read a story regarding Rav Yitzchak Eisenbach from Jerusalem. As a young boy, Yitzele was walking to the Kotel through the Jaffa gate one Shabbat afternoon, in a section of the … more

Years ago, after a very month in Lebanon, someone higher up decided our unit needed a break. Every unit maintains a daily events log (yoman iruim). Every patrol, ambush, search and seize, and … more

The shalosh regalim are the crown jewels of the Jewish year. Pesach commemorates the Exodus, Shavuot celebrates the giving of the Torah, and Sukkot is the festival that memorializes Hashem’s … more

In his essay “The Community” (Tradition, 17:2), Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik underscored the dignity of each individual: “To recognize a person is not just to identify him … more

When I was in ninth grade, our teacher, Rabbi Cohen, trained our class to respond to the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” with the answer, “an eved Hashem” … more