I am happy to note and bring to your attention the latest volume in the Mitoch HaOhel series of essays by the staff of Yeshiva University, “From Within the Tent: The Haftarot,” published by Maggid / Koren Books. This comprehensive 700-page work contains a series of scholarly essays on every haftarah on the Jewish calendar, written exclusively by a distinguished group of rabbis and professors from Yeshiva University. What makes this particular work most relevant to our community is an essay written by Woodmere resident Rabbi Dr. Edward Reichman, dealing with some unique medical aspects relating to this coming week’s haftarah for Parshat Vayera. more

Continuity is a societal and individual’s experience that represents an important element of stability in our spiritual lives. This experience can be found in many of our sacred writings at … more

Alan Gerber is recovering and will, B”H, return with new material soon. Please pray for a refuah shlema for Avraham ben Mindel. —The Editor This column originally appeared in … more

Here we are, on the cusp of the holiday of Pesach that in every manner of theme and observance surely defines us as a people. To help us prepare to respond to our children who may questions the … more

Saving a life in Jewish law is given very special consideration. According to Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, whose 30th yahrtzeit is this Friday, in his “Handbook of Jewish Thought” states that, “When life is endangered, all religious laws may be totally disregarded.” more

With all the agitation advocating the removal of monuments themed to historical personalities such as Gen. Robert E. Lee, let’s consider whether offensives closer to our times warrant our … more

The Kosher Bookworm By Alan Jay Gerber Issue of June 11, 2010/ 29 Sivan 5770 100 years ago this month Congregation Shaaray Tefilla was founded in Far Rockaway. Now located in the village … more

In an interesting and somewhat engaging collection of essays, a British lecturer in math and a shul gabbai, Martin Stern reveals in his interesting book, “A Time To Speak” [Devora Publishing, 2010] his frustrations with the callous attitudes many have as to the dignity we must preserve within the precincts of our shuls. With the use of both the sharp edge of humor and a more

There is no end to commentary on the Book of Esther, and this year’s pick by me is not the last word. However, the popularity of Rabbi David Fohrman’s work in our community (he is the … more

In “The Koren Tehillim,” Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb presents practical takes on each of the 150 psalms … more