Judaism

So long as we are alive, we have the ability to strive for higher and greater levels.

While we rejoice at the recent release of Shalom Mordechai Rubashkin from prison, the series continues this month and beyond.

More eternal wisdom from Rebbetzin Jungreis, a”h. This week's column, final installment in a series of 5, considering how to become an agent of chesed (compassion) and rachamim (mercy)-continued from last week.

Yet, notwithstanding all of these arguments, cheese manufactured by non-Jews remains prohibited today by the halacha. Why?

They were genuinely thrilled, but tempered their enthusiasm somewhat with a sobering reality check, “You know he’s flying right into a winter blizzard, right?”

Standing in the morning on a cold winter day at the Cave of Machpelah, watching all of this unfold before me, I realized the profound and enormous responsibility a Jew has to his past in shaping his behavior in the future.

Question: We read in Megillat Esther that the name of the king of Persia who ruled a vast empire that extended from India to Ethiopia was Achashverosh. Who was he? Where did he come from? Fran Hager Brooklyn, NY

A week went by. Aryeh began finding the work lonely. "The work is lonely now that the other worker is not here," he told Mr. Farber. "I don't know if I can continue."

When Is Chalav Akum Allowed? ‘When Milked By A Gentile…’ (Avodah Zarah 39b)

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Clearly, creating the menorah was beyond human capacity. Why did Moshe need to have a clear image of what it was to look like?

The borrower claimed he repaid the debt and took back the promissory note from the lender and then lost it.

Parshas Zachor follows, as Amalek will resurface before the geula, reminding us that we must rid ourselves of wrongdoing and teshuvah.

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.

We suggest all Jews and Israelis enter a small synagogue filled with dedicated and passionate worshippers, and then to release all external and artificial components from their souls; to penetrate the surroundings in which they find themselves, and then to let go. Th

We can achieve if we only reconnect to that belief that we can succeed only when we reach beyond ourselves rather than hide behind walls of fear-- and hesitation.

Seven is possibly the most significant number in Jewish Thought.

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.

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 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)

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

Hashem is more concerned for my good than I am. Hashem looks out for my interests more than I do myself.

According to the opening line of the famous song Shoshanas Yaakov, Klal Yisrael was extremely happy when they saw “techeiles Mordechai.” What is “techeiles Mordechai”?

Each prayer, each Shabbat, each festival, each mitzvah, is an opportunity to reconnect to that very different wedding at Sinai

One passage in this week’s sedrah shows how differences in interpretation can lead to, or flow from, profound differences in culture. Ironically, the subject concerned – abortion – remains deeply contentious to this day.