Father’s Day is upon us, a day to celebrate dads who do so much for their kids. Dads today are a new breed. They populate pediatrician’s offices with sick kids, attend PTA meetings and … more

This past Tuesday, we experienced the passing of one of our community’s leaders, Velvel Pasternak z”l. Velvel was among the founders of the Stiebel of Cedarhurst, the Young Israel of … more

The numbers are up, but no one seems to care. more

Bamidbar begins with a census of the Israelites. That is why this book is known in English as Numbers. But we note what appears to be a contradiction. On the one hand, Rashi says that the acts of … more

My first exposure to the study of the Bible was in the Yiddish language. We spoke only English at home, but almost all the teachers we had in the yeshiva I attended were Holocaust survivors who … more

We were driving southeast in Lebanon, from Beirut back down towards Marjayoun, when the shelling started. Our Jeep driver was in a near panic. He was not part of our regular unit; he was a … more

G-d tells Moshe, “I have separated the Levites from the [other] Israelites so that they may take the place of all the firstborn (who initiate the womb) among the Israelites, and the Levites … more

As the Torah attests, Yaakov Avinu’s emigration from the Land of Israel to Egypt was the collective action of a family — Yaakov, each of his sons, and their households, for a total of … more

As most of you know, I am a pastry chef and party planner. I not only plan the parties, I am in charge of all the food, drinks and setup. As you can guess, there is a lot that has to be planned, … more

It is almost time for one of the few holidays that allows us to put away the chicken soup. Shavuot is the holiday of cream and cheese and white foods. It is a sweet holiday celebrated with lots … more