Tishrei: A Time to Examine Your Deeds and Your Portfolio

Posted on: September 4th, 2012

Spiritual accounting is similar to the financial accounting. In order to be an effective investor, it’s a good idea to sit down once a year with your financial adviser and ask a few questions.

Branding Sold America on Obama like a Can of Soda

Posted on: September 3rd, 2012

Obama did not have an aspirational candidacy, he had an aspirational brand. A brand that people wanted to be a part of, because it made them feel good about themselves.

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1500-Year-Old Jewish Town Discovered

Posted on: September 3rd, 2012

After more than 100 years of archeological research in Israel, I’m always surprised there’s still so much more to discover.  Sadly, today most such discoveries are driven by construction work. The Israeli Antiquities Authority announced today that a 6th century Jewish town was discovered north of Beersheba, during work on the southern extension of Route 6. The [...]

Metzitza B’Peh: Infant Russian Roulette

Posted on: September 3rd, 2012

I would be opposed to the government legislating against doing MbP. That it is considered so vital by so large a segment of Jewry combined by the low probability of a child ever contracting herpes moves me to oppose it. In this case I do feel that banning the procedure would be an unconstitutional impediment to freedom of religion. But that is not the law being proposed.

Do we ‘have Israel’s back’?

Posted on: September 3rd, 2012

In March, President Obama said "when the chips are down, I have Israel’s back," but U.S. actions since have shown otherwise.

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Migron Headache

Posted on: September 2nd, 2012

How can it be that in this clear time of Redemption, when millions of Jews have returned to the Land of Israel from the four corners of the world, in the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy that crises and setbacks like the evacuation of Migron still occur?

Postcard from Mount Tabor

Posted on: September 2nd, 2012

Mount Tabor, standing 575 meters above sea level at the eastern end of the Jezreel Valley, is the site of the battle fought by Deborah and Barak against the Canaanite king Sisera, according to the Bible. Now it is the site of two monestaries, with three Bedouin villages nestled at its base.

Keeping the Faith

Posted on: September 2nd, 2012

An increasing number of Orthodox Jews are questioning their faith and educators don't know how to respond.

What No Parent Wants to Watch

Posted on: September 2nd, 2012

I clicked on the link and came to a YouTube video called "Dignified Transfer." I watched every second of it. Tears began to fall just as the plane came into view the first time.

Rachel Corrie and Evergreen State

Posted on: September 2nd, 2012

Evergreen State College, where Rachel Corrie attended college, is a paradigm of the progressive cause-based model of education and has produced a high number of the anti-Israel International Solidarity Movement's activists.

Why Is Romney So Feverish on Israel When Most Jews Will Vote Obama?

Posted on: August 31st, 2012

It appears that Romney is not playing for the Jews. He has much more serious worries.

Flying Back to the US? Better Ask your Accountant First, You Could Get Arrested

Posted on: August 31st, 2012

U.S. taxpayers traveling to the United States with unpaid U.S. tax assessments can be detained at the border, questioned, and flagged for follow-up enforcement. If a taxpayer has an unpaid tax liability and is subject to a resulting Notice of Federal Tax Lien, the IRS may submit identifying taxpayer information to the Treasury Enforcement Communications System (TECS), a database maintained by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The Winds of Mysticism

Posted on: August 31st, 2012

The mysticism of Sephardim and Chasidus seems to be making in-roads. Especially with mainstream rabbinic figures supporting it. I sure hope this is only a passing fad.

Party of Trolls: How Race Dominates U.S. Politics

Posted on: August 31st, 2012

Poverty is complicated. So are jobs and wars. Race however is simple. There are bad people and there are good people. The oppressed and the oppressors. And that paradigm, that one talking point that they store up and unleash at every occasion is the sum total of their contribution to every debate under the sun.

Saturday Night Fever

Posted on: August 31st, 2012

There is an old aphorism which claims that two things in life are certain: death and taxes. To this, Rabbi Kook would add a third certainty — t’shuva.

U.N. Head Rejects Calls for Israel’s Annihilation

Posted on: August 30th, 2012

Honestly, that message could have been delivered from New York.

One Judaism, Two Perspectives on Dressing Modesty

Posted on: August 30th, 2012

Modern Orthodox and Chassidic cultural norms may differ, but members of both communities have a respect for Halachah and desire to serve God.

T’shuva Brings Healing to the World

Posted on: August 30th, 2012

When a man understands that his personal t’shuva advances the redemption process of the world, his motivation to mend his own life is enhanced.

How to Retire When You Don’t Have Enough Money

Posted on: August 30th, 2012

Whatever the reason, if you reach retirement age and you see that you are not going to have enough money for your anticipated needs, what should you do?

Can a ‘Lefty’ Rabbi Save Yeshivat Chovevei Torah?

Posted on: August 29th, 2012

Rabbi Asher Lopatin, who will succeed Rabbi Avi Weiss as head of YCT, is most definitely on the left side of the Orthodox spectrum. Nevertheless he can keep YCT from sliding too far to the left and cross the line of Orthodoxy. YCT founder Rabbi Avi Weiss candidly admitted that he has parted ways with his Rebbe on the approach to these issues. And he has incorporated it into the philosophy of his Yeshiva.