There is war, and then there is madness. In war, one often has to fight, but when madness sets in, sometimes  one simply has to run. Such was the question on a dark October afternoon in 1973, … more

It is often difficult to take time to relax and enjoy a day with family and friends. Even when we have a big family dinner, I often hear friends complain that by the time they get to sit down, the … more

The past week and half has been a whirlwind of furry fun. My daughter and son-in-law were in Europe for 10 days and I got to host their adorable dog Murphy. As if that wasn’t enough of a treat … more

With the Thanksgiving holiday now upon us I would like to bring to your attention a wonderful and most informative literary work entitled, “Thanksgiving: The Holiday at the Heart of the … more

When people jogged or ran, back in the 1980s and 1990s, it was mostly for the utilitarian purpose of staying fit. Running was exercise. Now, when people commit to run a marathon, there often is a … more

Bereishit contains many celebrated phrases that have shaped our people’s destiny for all time. One of them occurs in this week’s parasha: “And Isaac said to Jacob, ‘Please … more

I wondered what it was like for Yitzchak and Rivkah to bare their souls before the Almighty in their hopes of having a child. Yitzchak pleaded with G-d opposite his wife (or perhaps, as Rashbam … more

Eli Wiesel describes one of the most painful moments he ever experienced as a push from behind. Shouting, chaos, dogs barking and attacking, SS guards with guns shouting commands in German which … more

The controversial invitation to officials of several American Jewish organizations to visit the gulf kingdom of Qatar follows the historical pattern of dictators trying … more

This week I am presenting a guest writer, Rabbi Jeremy Rosen, whose essay, “Italian Talmud,” excerpted below, introduces us to an interesting chapter in the long history … more