Columns

This Torah family, despite being in mourning, truly understood the value of every act and how it could change the world.

Baruch Hashem, I have plenty of family in Israel, but Miriam’s host was not “family” per se, though her host would differ with me on this fact, rather someone whose family had an impact on me over 50 years ago!

The sedrah of Tazria begins with the law of circumcision Why this physical mark on the flesh? What does it tell us about the nature of Jewish identity?

Their father had been deported to a forced labor camp at the beginning of the Holocaust. He was never seen again.

What is the logic of kashrut? And why are they placed here in parshat Shemini? AND what is their connection with the sanctuary?

He hadn’t even bothered to think of a plausible excuse as to why they had suddenly found a spare Seder dish and he hoped they wouldn’t ask him any questions.

What was sacrifice in Judaism and why does it remain important, at least as an idea, even today?

We were pleasantly surprised, just after my wife lit the Shabbos candles, when Sonja’s face lit up and she exclaimed, “I remember my mother doing that!”

At its worst, nearly 200,000 'fare-beaters' daily entered NY City's transit system without paying

The fact that I was in a hurry made me think I should just take the card from him and open it for him.

Like our bodies, our souls were not made for sitting still. We were made for moving, learning, searching, striving, growing

After all, the exact amount one will make throughout the year is determined on Rosh Hashanah. It was only during Rosh Hashanah davening that I realized exactly what the kaparah was for.

For G-d, the Sabbath was the last day of the week; for human beings, it was the first.

The woman closest to her smiled and said, "I'm not, but my great grandmother was, and I like Jewish people."

The paradox of Jewish spirituality: No religion holds God higher, but none feels Him closer

Where could we go? There was no shelter anywhere! But then we noticed a small white house beside an old red barn hiding behind the trees.

One evening, that young man ‘happened’ to leave just as I did, and he chivalrously offered to walk me to my bus stop.

A Job…good girls… “I’ll get one,” I whispered furtively to Blankie. “I’ll be one of those good girls.”

How the "Broken Windows Theory" helped solve graffiti on NYC subways and led to a more orderly NYC.

The only way to understand life is by living itL "Na’aseh venishma//We will do and we will obey.”

He handed it to me and hmm… yes, it was definitely a private check book left unattended, with a woman’s name, address, and phone number printed at the top.

The day finally came, and with great anticipation and joy, both Einat and her husband went to the hospital.

Moses prepares the Israelites for freedom by discussing-children, several times in the parsha

This was just one of the odd things I heard, there were more when we visited the family sitting shiva.

A person's environment can work for the good or the bad; but it works more powerfully for the bad.

As he was en route, with one scholar and one scholar-wannabe in tow, he was unfortunately involved in a too-close encounter with a huge army truck.

God is found in this world, not just the next. To grow spiritually, first satisfy material needs.

Jewish history isn't just Jews enduring catastrophes but renewing themselves after every disaster

As he was leading the kehillah, he heard a voice in his ear instructing him “to take care of my daughter.”

Occasionally, Shimon would enquire after their children and grandchildren but for many this was too painful as they had little or no contact with them, so he had learnt over the years who he could ask and who he shouldn’t.