Each year, the Jewish people as a whole, commemorate the loss of Rabbi Akiva’s 24,000 students, by abstaining from things that would make us happy. We don’t listen to music, shave, or get haircuts. What went wrong? What happened? Why do we mourn something that we didn’t do? The Talmud teaches us, that during these […]
To all my friends, family, and readers, The subject of whether or not to celebrate birthdays, has been a “hot topic” in the Jewish world for ages. The first person in the Torah reported to celebrate his birthday, was Pharaoh, who did so with a cake and candles (see commentaries there). Believe it or not! […]
Every year, we celebrate Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day, in many different ways. Some say Hallel and wear holiday clothes, while others fulfill the sacred mitzvah of going to Gan Soccer and grilling meat (only kosher of course!). In any case, there are always a few questions about this holiday, that the honest, thinking, Torah […]
Permission to Ask “And here the son asks” (Passover Hagaddah) Why do we begin the night of the Seder with the questions: Why is this night different from all other nights? I answered, “It is certainly permitted to ask. You may ask whatever is on your mind. Indeed, G-d wants us to ask questions and […]
Tonight is my last night here in Jerusalem. I am returning to San Diego to celebrate the Pesach holiday with my family, and I will continue writing from there. My heart is torn. On one hand, I am so thrilled to be able to be home, with my family, my friends, my community. Yet on […]
“These are the accounts of the Mishkan (tabernacle), the Mishkan of the testimony, as were rendered according to the commandment of Moshe, through the service of the Leviim, by the hand of Itamar, the son of Aharon the Priest.” (Shemot 38:21) “These are the accounts: In this parashah, all the weights of the donations for […]
Most of us read the Megillah year after year without realizing the sublime message embedded deep inside of it. It isn’t just a story of an evil king and a poor nation saved by a beautiful new queen and wise Jewish man. It is a story that defines our existence as Jews to this very […]
I have been asked about the laws of Megillah reading, every year (yes, I guess that happens when you’re the one who reads it!), and I wanted to point out a few less-known Halachot for the general public: It is an obligation upon both men and women to hear the Megillah twice over Purim – […]
I was sitting at my desk here in Jerusalem, thinking of what to write. I was interrupted by the cooing of a dove on the windowsill. I tried to ignore it, but soon, there was another one on the other windowsill, and together, the noise was slightly bothersome. I thought to myself, “when will they […]
I left off last week, speaking about true Jewish leaders. This last week has been so very hectic in Israel. As you all know election day was last week, and the country was split up over two very possible candidates – Tzipi Livni, and Bibi Netanyahu. I spent Shabbat with relatives, and heard the back […]