I have always had a problem with the Omer. Doing the mitzvah of counting the Omer was of course pretty easy. Remembering to start the second evening of Passover and remembering to stop the day before Shavous took a little concentration but somehow I always managed. No, for me the nagging problem was always why was I doing this in the first place, other than the fact it was a biblical (according to the Rambam) commandment.

Israelis protested and held vigils in locations around Judea and Samaria on Friday. The locations where the vigils were held were selected based on locations on the road where Jews have been recently attacked by Arabs. Some of the locations included the roads near Beit El, the Beitar Junction on Road 60, El Arub near [...]

With the semi-mourning period of Sefira behind us, and the festival of Shavuot as well (as evidenced by the tightness of our clothing due to over-indulging in irresistible versions of cheesecake that is an integral component of celebrating our receipt of the Torah), our community can look forward to participating in joyous engagement parties and weddings.

Readers are already asking us if newly appointed acting commissioner of the IRS, Daniel Werfel is a Jew.

With the deal Facebook and Waze not yet closed, Google has reportedly jumped into the fray,  making a play for the Israeli start-up company, who’s opening bid is at $1 billion dollars. There’s another alternative also on the table now, Waze turns down both giants, keeps its independence, and raises money with another round of venture [...]

He actually uttered those words: “I sincerely offer my apologies.”

Chelsea Clinton, who has said her marriage fueled her interest in interfaith relations, will head a multi-faith institute at New York University. Clinton, 33, the daughter of former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, will co-chair the university’s Of Many Institute, which will “develop multi-faith dialogue and train multi-faith leaders,” [...]

Casino tycoon Sheldon Adelson and his wife, Miriam, donated another $40 million to the Birthright Israel Foundation. Their latest gift brings the couple’s overall donations to the program to $180 million. “Sheldon and I are committed to improving the world through cultural exchange and educational opportunity,” said Miriam Adelson in a statement released Wednesday by [...]

Iran is “advancing its enrichment program in blatant violation of its international obligations.”

This Toldos Aharon Chassid is carrying his 3-year-old son in the streets of Meah Shearim, Jerusalem. The boy is about to start attending Cheder, and so he is brought to the Rebbe for a blessing. But to keep the little one from being exposed to forbidden sights, he is wrapped, head to toe, in a [...]

An Hezbollah convoy, on its way to assist the Assad government side in the intense fighting in Qusair, was attacked by Syrian rebels on Thursday. The video shows several bodies of killed Hezbollah soldiers, in addition to trucks that appear to have been hit by mortar and rocket fire. As always, we wish both sides [...]

Showing its gratitude for the immediate and ongoing support and assistance offered by Jewish groups and individuals from around the country, the Oklahoma House of Representatives gave a standing ovation Thursday to Rabbi Ovadia Goldman, co-director of The Chabad Community Center of Southern Oklahoma, and New York State Assemblyman Phillip Goldfeder. Introduced by Oklahoma Legislator [...]