Literature of the three weeks and the Holocaust “Eim HaBanim Semeichah” as edited and translated by Rabbi Dr. Pesach Schindler Reviewed by Alan Jay Gerber Midway through the … more

With Purim now safely behind us, we are now ready to give our full attention to what is one of the most popular holidays on the Jewish calendar, Pesach. In a recent essay by Shira Schechter, the Madricha Ruchaniyah of Stern College, titled “Purim and Pesach: Two Holidays, One Theme,” she notes the spiritually symbiotic link between these two festivals: “Every year as Purim approaches we already begin looking towards Pesach. more

“Sukkot is the Jewish calendar’s season of joy. This is true on many levels. Spiritually, we have emerged from Yom Kippur newly unburdened of our sins. Materially, the overflowing granaries attest to a successfully concluded growing season. And nationally, the pilgrimage to Jerusalem brings together all the diverse communities to reaffirm their devotion to One G-d and one destiny. With spirited anticipation, the throngs of Jews proceed to the Beis HaMikdash (Temple), to bask in the aura of the Shechinah (Presence of G-d) that rests at the center of the world.” more

  With the annual observance of the destruction of our two sacred Temples now underway, I bring to your attention several new literary works detailing the significance of this time of year in … more

This coming Shabbat is called Shabbat Shira inasmuch as the Torah reading is Parashat Beshalach whose centerpiece is Az Yashir, the Song of the Sea. Also, this Shabbat is Tu B’Shevat, the 15th … more

Rabbi Hayyim Angel is one of my favorite authors on the deeper meaning of Tanakh text and commentary. In this week’s column, Rabbi Yaakov Beasley, Tanakh coordinator at Yeshivat Lev haTorah who … more

This Shabbat Chayei Sarah marks the yahrtzeit of the holy martyrs of the Har Nof Massacre in Jerusalem, on the 25th day of Marcheshvon in 2014. This column is dedicated to one of those holy … more

To say that this Kosher Bookworm loves books would be an understatement, and to read and evaluate a book on the history of Jewish book publishing is indeed a labor of love. So it is with this week’s selection, “People of the Book: Five Hundred Years of the Hebrew Book from The Beginning Of Printing Until The 20th Century” [Feldheim, 2014]. more

Reality dictates that current events always drives this column, and this week is no different in this regard. In a recent essay entitled, "Questions With No Answers," one of our community's most … more

Purim is indeed a serious holiday. Joyous, yes, but serious too. With that in mind, I bring to your attention the gifted author and lecturer, Rabbi Evan Hoffman, and his wonderful and learned … more