One of the best-known parts of the Haggadah is the section known as “Mah Nishtana,” where one or more children at the Seder ask the Four Questions. It is based upon the following … more

Pesach is the oldest and most transformative story of hope ever told. It tells of how an otherwise undistinguished group of slaves found their way to freedom from the greatest and longest-lived … more

There was a time when I would only go out of my way to listen to speakers who were older and more experienced than I. Recently, however, I have changed my preferences and have begun to seek out … more

Recently a fascinating book of essays was brought to my attention, titled The Observant Jew, by Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz. In this volume there is an essay titled “Pesach: Being … more

To most people, BDS is the campaign to boycott Israel for the purpose of highlighting the plight of Palestinians. Were it this simple, honest people might disagree on the merits of such a … more

During the 20th century, the Middle East conflict was seen as a territorial conflict, and was dealt with as such. British Mandate Palestine, which was to become … more

As I write this, we are almost two weeks from Passover, and panic is setting in. It moves in at this time of year and leaves after the last Seder dishes are put away. There is just so much to do, … more

And so the Passover countdown begins. I have to admit, I do get a little kick out of listening to people panic about preparing for Pesach before Purim even arrives. Every now and then … more

The Kli Yakar describes three stages of growth in his explanation of the dialogue with the Wise Son. There is avdut, the removal of the “dirt,” symbolized by the bitterness of maror. … more

Is there a point when a person can no longer change? On the one hand, Jewish law teaches that for some transgressions, such as murder, a person is put to death, suggesting that such a person … more