When did Jews start reading the haftarah? If you were asked that question, you might recall a link to the Chanukah story, to a decree by Antiochus that the Torah itself could not be read in … more

Seventy-five years ago, at the birth of the State of Israel, the fledgling government pledged to produce a Constitution within five months.  It never happened. For reasons why, read … more

There was a time not too long ago when the three words, “ignorance is bliss,” would engender a long discussion. There would have been speculation about the origin of the statement. … more

From the other side of the bench By David Seidemann Issue of June 19, 2009 / 27 Sivan 5769 One half hour earlier and the SS soldiers would have snatched him. But 30 minutes before the … more

by Alan Jay Gerber Issue of April 18, 2010/ 2 Iyur, 5770 It stands proudly at the middle of the Chumash - the third of five volumes. It is the least historical; it is top-heavy with mitzvos … more

In his latest weekly Dvar Torah titled, “The Duality of Jewish Time: Parshat Emor” British Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks wrote the following observations that are most apt to the book under review this week, “Palaces of Time” by Dr. Elisheva Carlebach [Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2011]. more

Earlier this year, as the turmoil in Syria started to get a sense of reality, I stated to my students, some of whom were of Syrian heritage, that the one factor that will indicate to us the seriousness of the civil unrest in Syria, will be what ultimately happens in Aleppo, the commercial center of Syria. more

Overheard from a second grade rebbe: “If I don’t load the kids up with Pesach preparation, parents think they haven’t learned anything all year.” I don’t know if that is a truism across the board, if many parents think that way, or if just a minority take the Pesach prep as a reflection of the entire school year. But I think such a notion is antithetical to what Pesach is all about. We are doing it all backwards. more

Have you ever been locked out of your car or home? In the past, it rarely happened, as I tended to leave my front door open. I figured no one was going to try to break into the front door (actually, they could have just walked in). Yes, I know, it wasn’t very smart. There were times as well, when inadvertently, I, or my daughter Jordana, would forget to lock our cars. more

In March 2012, President Obama had a bit of an open mike gaffe. At a Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul, South Korea, he whispered to then Russian President Dmitri Medvedev that he would have “more flexibility” to deal with controversial issues such as missile defense after the 2012 elections. At the time many wondered if that would also apply to other issues, such as his dealings with Israel. In the past week we learned the answer. more