During my preparations this year, I found myself reflecting on our kitchen and the 44 Pesachs we have spent there. My mental wanderings have, through the years, taken me from believing my kitchen … more

With anticipation growing as Pesach approached, children learned the stories and practiced the rituals that would unfold on their families’ seder tables.  more

The New York Times has rarely been good for the Jews or the Jewish state, despite the paper’s nominally Jewish ownership since 1896. At best, the Times’ coverage of Jews and Israel … more

When a teenager informs his parent that he intends to do something rash, any normal, responsible parent tries to dissuade him. “Don’t do something crazy just because your friends are … more

Five years ago, an 85-year-old survivor of the Holocaust, Mireille Knoll, was brutally murdered in her apartment in Paris by two intruders, one of whom was a neighbor she had known since his … more

I remember when the age at which one could vote or drink was 21. From my perspective when I was a child, and frankly eager to do these things, it seemed to be an injustice to set the … more

The name,“Shabbat HaGadol” has captured the imagination of Torah exegetes since time immemorial. The second Bobover Rebbe, HaRav Ben-Zion Halberstam (1874-1941), begins his analysis of … more

With Pesach near, this week’s essay lists several additional excellent readings themed to the holiday. We begin with one of my favorites, Rabbi Shmuel Goldin’s “Unlocking The … more

One of the most difficult elements of the Torah and the way of life it prescribes is the phenomenon of animal sacrifices — for obvious reasons. First, Jews and Judaism have survived without … more

Ask anyone, “What are the commandments one fulfills on the night of the seder?” The numerous negative commandments related to lack of chametz in the home apply all week long. As for the … more