Yesterday I accompanied my daughter for a bridal gown fitting. It was her third appointment; during it, she tried on the muslin. A muslin, made from inexpensive fabric, is used to test the … more

While 11 states were voting during last week’s “Super Tuesday” primaries, I was braving the New Jersey Turnpike en route to CPAC, the annual Conservative Political Action … more

Years ago, when Debra Blank was teaching rabbinical students at the Jewish Theological Seminary, she noticed many of them used ArtScroll prayer books,” an article in the Forward noted last … more

As the Torah progresses with the building of the mishkan (tabernacle), we find the instructions of chapters 25–31 coming to life, culminating with Moshe telling Bezalel, “Do your … more

Parasha Vayakel begins with the construction of the mishkan (the portable desert sanctuary): “Moses called the whole community of the children of Israel to assemble, and he said to them: … more

In the fall of 2012, Israel was again preparing for war in response to the thousands of missiles being fired indiscriminately from the Gaza strip onto the population centers of southern Israel. As … more

Although shneider, meaning tailor, is a common name in the Jewish community, I can’t say I have ever personally known one. I do, however, remember a scene from “Fiddler on the … more

In his preface to a recent publication from Fathom, a British magazine covering the Middle East, British lawyer and anti-Semitism expert Anthony Julius—always the author of a memorable … more

On Sunday night, 34.3 million viewers tuned in to view the 2016 Academy Awards. And as I do each year, I tuned in as well. The show tends to be about two hours too long and 90 percent of the awards … more

This past week commemorated the sheloshim, one month, since the passing of Rabbi Yisroel Belsky, zt”l. Much has been written in tribute to his legacy. This week’s essay will note some of … more