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Darwin deduced that the same Creator operated in Australia as in Europe. The platypus must, as all the other animals, be the handiwork of the same Creator. Baruch meshaneh habriyot!

Parshat Terumah begins the seismic shift from the intense drama of the Exodus, with its wonders and epic events, to the detailed narrative of how the Israelites constructed the Mishkan--the Tabernacle. The Nation begins building its HOME.

Herzl never set foot again in Eretz Yisrael during his lifetime, but he did return decades after his death in 1904 at the tragically young age of 44.

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It’s scandalous. Purim is supposed to be a celebration of kabalas haTorah, accepting the Torah.

“We want a Jewish presence in Portugal,” said Mendes Godinho, “and we look to Jewish investment.” Citing low unemployment and calling Portugal the “third most peaceful country in the world,” she stressed the importance of bringing Jews to visit and live in Portugal.

Finding ourselves with a large merged family as a result of our marriage, we had little chance to contemplate a honeymoon of any kind.

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So, what’s affecting us today? Sapolsky argues that our heart disease, adult-onset diabetes, Alzeheimers, and even cancer might be caused by stress.

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I usually find cornbread to be dry, but this one was very moist and served with a delicious maple flavored whipped cream.

The children miraculously and unanimously agreed to wear pajamas as their costumes this Purim!

No organization (i.e.the OU) can excommunicate anyone. It does not, however, mean that our communities lack organizing principles. Those principles operate based on individual choice. People effectively expel synagogues not compliant with mainstream halacha.

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Throughout his month in Israel, Kalman realized he had found his home, in the beis medrash and in Eretz Yisrael.

The Torah (22:27) prohibits people from cursing a leader. Rav Levine argues that people don't just point out the obvious and evident flaws of leaders; they tend to exaggerate them.

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A loving recollection of her father and how his passing has inspired the author to get more out of whatever time she has in life.

Hussein is widely viewed through the fog of history as something of a principled moderate who yearned to be a peacemaker with journalists whitewashing or ignoring its many inconvenient chapters and plentiful examples of ugly rhetoric against Israel and Jews.

More eternal wisdom from Rebbetzin Jungreis, a”h. This week considering how to become an agent of chesed (compassion) and rachamim (mercy)-continued from last week.

The authorized establishment of the town of “Rachelim” came in memoriam to Rachel Imeinu and to two martyred 'Rachels,' Rachel Drouk and Rachel Weiss who were murdered for the sin of "DWJ'-driving while Jewish.

The heirs in the present situation are permitted to bring witnesses who testify to the fact that they saw the debtor repay the loan, before the maturity date, when he was still live.

According to Tosafot, the rabbis were concerned that if one would be allowed to benefit from non-Jewish wine at all, it might lead to participation in these idolatrous practices.

An Essential Agent ‘Set In The Skin Of The Rennet Of Nevelah’ (Avoda Zara 35a)

When I'm not blogging, I'm an eating disorder therapist, so the topics of body positivity and health at every size are ones I'm very passionate about.

Usually the parties reach a settlement agreement in the end or the dayanim rule a compromise.

She told me, pointing to a blue and orange set. It wasn’t exactly a color scheme that I appreciated, nor was it especially fancy for yom tov, but having shlepped out and waited this long, I wasn’t ready to head home without something to show for my time.

Question: I’ve noticed in shul that at the conclusion of Shemoneh Esreh some people take three steps back but do not take three steps forward. Is this practice acceptable? Zelig Aronson