Chateau Le Crock 2001 By Adam Neustadter Issue of May 8, 2009 / 14 Iyar 5769 Never does a week pass without someone asking me to recommend a wine. Don’t get me wrong, I love to do … more

Parshat Toldos by Rabbi Avi Billet Issue of November 20, 2009/ 3 Cheshvan 5770 One of the fun exercises I like to employ when studying Chumash is to attribute vague or ambiguous statements … more

The Rabba Controversy by Rabbi Heschel Billet The recent decision of one Orthodox rabbi to ordain women with the title ‘Rabba’ has created a lively debate within Orthodox Jewish circles … more

Issue of June 11, 2010/ 29 Sivan, 5770 Dear Aviva, I have a very big problem with my ex-husband. He does not pay any child support for our adolescent child. He is remarried and has four kids with … more

Parshat Lech Lekha By Rabbi Avi Billet Issue of October 15, 2010, 7 Cheshvan 5771 The word “Tardemah” — an unconscious state — appears only twice in the Torah: Bereishit 2:21 — … more

Dear Aviva, I’ve been friends with someone for the past 20 years. We grew up near each other and were in school together from elementary all the way to college. Now that we both have our own families, I am realizing more and more that she is (and has always been) a very jealous and negative person. She never seems to actually care about me or what I’m going through. I don’t even know why she’s kept up the connection this long. If I first met her at this point in my life, I probably would avoid her. Am I stuck with her just because there is a history? And is there any good way to cut ties without enraging her? more

On Central Avenue, in the kosher supermarkets, in shul, or on the LIRR, you hear the same conversation. “What?! Rosh Hashanah is next week!?” And then the dreaded “three day yom tov — oy!” I wonder why, every year, everyone is so surprised that’s it’s already yom tov time. Truth is, it has been three months since the start of June. Kids were packed off to camp, parents went on vacation and we partook in lots of family and friends BBQs, lounged in our backyards, and enjoyed the lazy days of summer (some of us more than others, but it’s ok, I’m not jealous … well, yes I am, but this isn’t about me). more

Last night, as I got dressed for a Chabad dinner honoring my dear friends Janet and Lior Hod, I inhaled and zipped up my dress. “Hmmm, this zipper won’t break, will it?” I thought. Not willing to think I gained weight since I wore it last, even though I know I did, I chose to take a chance as I was running late. more

After Brandeis University student Khadijah Lynch tweeted her hatred for the New York Police Department, America, and the “Zionist” institution where she is getting an education, a … more

With the family l’chaim over (we all had a great time celebrating), and the engagement party not planned till the end of the summer, I intended to concentrate on upcoming catering … more