Introduction One has to wonder if there would ever be an end to the conflict brewing in our homeland, Eretz Yisrael. So many wars have been fought, so many agreements have been made, so many options have been tried. Yet perhaps we are missing the mark. Perhaps, this conflict is not a typical controversy that… Continue reading Yosef, Benyamin, and Yehuda: How their Relationship Informs Am Yisrael Today
Part One: The Story of Chanukah A little bit of light can dispel a lot of darkness. We hear that phrase a lot during Chanukah; the Jewish festival of lights. It’s a time to receive gifts (or give gifts if you are a parent), enjoy fried donuts and latkes, and light the candles of the… Continue reading A Flame for the Generations
In this past Shabbat's parsha, Lech-Lecha, Hashem appeared to Avraham, our forefather and made a covenant: “And I will give you and your seed after you the land of your sojournings, the entire land of Canaan for an everlasting possession, and I will be to them for a God." (Bereishit 17:8). So, what are we… Continue reading Lech-Lecha
In this week’s Torah portion, Parshat Bereishit, which is the first Parsha of the Torah, we learn that Adam, the first human, is commanded not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge. And the Lord God commanded man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat. But of the Tree of Knowledge… Continue reading Was it really worth it?
What do we do when we’re getting ready for a date? We take a couple hours, maybe more, to mentally and physically prepare. We shower, do our hair and makeup, and carefully choose what we will wear. Back in the day, a lady would wait for her gentleman to pick her up. Nowadays, it’s common… Continue reading Get Ready
“If the Lord will not build a house, its builders have toiled at it in vain.”Psalm 127:1 We are at the brink of Sukkot, and all I can think about is the makeshift huts we dwell in every year, these temporary dwellings. We have so many temporary dwellings in life. The womb. Our childhood homes.… Continue reading The House You Build
There is a Facebook page called “Stop Anti-Semitism.” It is one of many pages which track anti-Semitic incidents across the globe with the goal to obliterate anti-Semitism. I am appreciative of organizations such as these, since I believe it is important to stay abreast of the trends and be aware of what is happening. But… Continue reading How do we stop Anti-Semitism?
Life is the most sacred possession every being has. So much so, that without it, there is no being. Every life is a whole world, a world of its own. It has emotions, thoughts, aspirations, and abilities. Where did this life come from? It came from an Infinite source, brought down here for the purpose… Continue reading The Diamond We Must Guard
Originally published on Jewish Press. “Privilege.” “Social justice.” “Oppression.” If you’ve been paying any attention to Jewish Twitter lately, you’ll see many Jews across the world getting up in arms about the claim that Jews have special privilege. Firing back quick responses, the Jews of Twitter rallied around the hashtag, #JewishPrivilege, but instead turned it… Continue reading #JewishPrivilege – Are We Playing the Wrong Game?
Dear brothers and sisters, For two thousand years, three times a day, every single day, we prayed for our return to the land that Hashem gave us. Today, we have the extraordinary opportunity to fulfill the mitzvah of Yishuv Ha’aretz, to come to our land and be among our people. Today, we can find more… Continue reading This Year in Jerusalem
