Judaism

Jews Enslaved

In Print Avraham Levitt

When Israel enslaves their own brothers, they are also enslaving G-d’s very image and likeness on earth.

Higher Fences and Better Cell Phones

Redeeming Relevance / Rabbi Francis Nataf Rabbi Francis Nataf

Perhaps it is the nature of debate that blinds many from the wisdom of the opposing position, but our sages clearly advocated both approaches simultaneously.

The Wondrous Mitzvah Of Tefillin (Part II)

In Print Rabbi Moshe Meir Weiss

This message of hope – that all is not lost and that one can always climb back from a spiritual morass without needing years to do so – is a vital lesson that is important to remember every day of our lives. This is one of the reminders of the tefillin.

A Bracha For You

In Print Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser

One is not promised that he will live longer than the number of years that he was destined to live. Rather, one who worships Hashem will live out his days.

Shabbos: A Taste Of The World To Come

In Print Rabbi Shmuel Reichman

When we consider whether or not someone is an observant Jew, we usually ask whether he or she is shomer Shabbos. Why is this the defining feature of religious observance? What makes Shabbos a root mitzvah, why is its punishment so severe, and why do we see it as the measuring stick for all of Torah observance? What is the secret of Shabbos?

How Desire Becomes Doctrine

In Print Rabbi Simcha Feuerman

Clothing serves as a metaphor for how a human is cloaked. Just as clothes cover the body, the body itself is a kind of cloak for the soul.

Acronyms As Surnames

Names and Numen Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

Just as acronyms serve modern convenience, they also hold a unique place in Jewish history and culture, where many family names actually derive from meaningful acronyms. These surnames serve as more than mere identifiers.

Eyes, Teeth, Hands & Feet

In Print Eliezer Meir Saidel

If you think that wealth is limited to your investment portfolio, you are very much mistaken (although money is one form of wealth). There are other forms of wealth, which many tend to regard as mundane, but which are often more valuable than all the money in the world.

Go Deep

In Print Rabbi Dani Staum

The problem was that after years of being neglected by his father because of football, Mike didn’t have any love for the game. Still, despite his resentment towards football, he loved his father, and so after Joe’s passing, Mike began to attend every game.

Is It Proper For American Jews To Go By English First Names?

In Print Jewish Press Staff

Whether or not it is proper to go by one’s English name is not a question that can be answered in a vacuum. Whatever the case, I would strongly recommend choosing names that express high and traditionally Jewish aspirations for children and for ourselves. Ultimately, G-d desires our hearts more than our names.

The Light In The Darkness

In Print Michal Popper

As Jews, we hold onto the knowledge that Hashem is always with us. Just as He was with the hostages, He is with each and every one of us. Even when the world seems dark, we are never truly alone.

Parshas Mishpatim

In Print Rabbi Yaakov Klass

Seltzer And Sensible Shoes

In Print Zelda Goldfield

When walking down a sunny Jerusalem street with my father, he would attach clip-on sunglasses to his bifocals. When we would walk into an office or store, he would just flip them up so that he could let in the light. Perfectly practical and reasonable.

Mugged En Route

Halacha & Hashkafa Rabbi Meir Orlian

On the way to the store, though, Mr. Davis was accosted by two thugs, who beat him and forced him to hand over his wallet, which contained over $500. The thugs fled and were not caught. Mr. Davis required medical attention for his cuts but fortunately had no lasting injury.

Daf Yomi

In Print Rabbi Yaakov Klass

Start Of The Yeshiva Semester “Today Is Propitious…” (Sanhedrin 65b-66a)

Remaining Objective – Parshat Yitro

Parsha Rav Yitzchak Korn

What can we learn from a seeming grammatical anomaly?

Naomi Shemer’s Brooklyn: The Beit Yosef and Ohel Avraham Siddur

In Print Dr. Reuven Gafni

Shrem’s unique musical talents quickly earned him the right to serve as the chief chazzan at some of the most central and well-known Syrian shuls in the city: at Magen David and then Bnei Yosef.

A Fiery Love

In Print Slovie Jungreis Wolff

I believe that Agam and her mother were bequeathed with the moral courage needed in these times from the days that our mothers stood tall in Mitzrayim.

What To Do In The Face Of Absolute Evil

In Print Sivan Rahav-Meir

Q & A: Tu B’Shevat

Ask the Rabbi Rabbi Yaakov Klass

QUESTION: Since on Tu B'Shevat we do not celebrate with a festive meal. Then how do we mark this date on our calendar? Additionally is one allowed to fast on this day?M. Goldblum(Via E-Mail)

Tu B’Shvat – Message In A Tree

In Print Elazar Ari Lipinski

The quintessence of the story is that Abraham wanted to make it well-known to people that they should recognize G-d as the Creator and be grateful to Him. In order to get the audience for this message, he planted an eshel tree to make his place known and easily found.

The Customs Of Tu B’Shvat

In Print Rabbi Ari Enkin

One should take the opportunity afforded by Tu B'Shvat to reflect and thank G-d for the fruits that He has created for our enjoyment.

Q & A: Reciting Shema Yisrael With The Congregation (Part I)

In Print Rabbi Yaakov Klass

Question: As I came into the synagogue, they were about to recite Keri’at Shema. I had as yet not put on my tefillin. What should one do in that situation? A Reader Via E-mail

Haftarat Parshat Yitro: Of Angels And Humans

Parsha Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander

This discrepancy between human and angelic perspectives plays a central role in Chazal’s account of the giving of the Torah, albeit in an entirely different vein. While no angels appear in the Torah’s version of the story, our Sages recount that at Sinai too, Moshe encounters conflict between himself and the angels.

The Miracles Of Jewish History: Survival

In Print Rabbi Reuven Taragin

We have spent most of our history as oppressed people. For almost two thousand years, we were scattered across the world; in over one hundred countries. Despite all this, we survived and continue to identify with our people and heritage.

Charity, Justice, And Morality

In Print Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman

The failure to observe the agricultural laws such as tithes, challah, and the Sabbatical year reflects an unbridled acquisitive drive and a failure to care for the poor and needy. G-d provides the antidote to this disease of greed through the laws of charity.