Jabalya. Anyone who has been there has no desire to go back. A nasty piece of real estate in the Gaza strip, Jabalya is a densely overpopulated refugee camp that is always waiting to explode, … more

Yaakov sends messengers to Eisav telling Eisav his story about having lived with Lavan and having amassed wealth. Perhaps Yaakov is indicating his intent to put the past behind them. “I am … more

Ok, we had a one meal holiday, Thanksgiving. You should have all aced that one. As I said last week, it was child’s play after Rosh Hashanah and Sukkot. Now back to what we’re used … more

To properly understand how the Holocaust has been seared onto Israel’s collective consciousness, one should visit the country on the 27th of Nisan, a date in the Hebrew calendar that falls … more

Six countries including America’s good friend Saudi Arabia claim Islam as the ideological foundation of state and constitution. Fourteen other countries and the Palestinian Territories … more

While most of you will have had your turkey feast by the time you’re reading this, I’m writing this on the Monday before Thanksgiving, so bare with me. Although I catered a big … more

Koach hataya — literally, “a force of deception” — is one of the most difficult roles a soldier can assume. This is the force designated to draw the enemy out of … more

The older I get, the more my childhood memories fade, but I still vividly remember the morning of Sunday, July 4, 1976. more

In the aftermath of a horrific tragedy in Israel, a comforting letter composed by widows of the murdered expressed a life-focus that appreciates the role G-d plays in their lives. Combine that … more

Learning by example and anecdote is a surefire way to get a lesson’s message through. In his just-completed series of commentary on the Chumash, “Unlocking The Torah Text: An … more