This Shabbat we commemorate the start of the Pesach holiday season with Parshat Hachodesh. Next Tuesday marks Rosh Chodesh Nissan. Recently, the Orthodox Union released an interesting book on this subject, “Yerach Tov: Birkat Hachodesh in Jewish Law and Liturgy,” by Rabbi Elchanan Adler of Yeshiva University. more

This year’s annual Torah cycle witnesses the publication of three new variant commentaries on the Vayikra (the Book of Leviticus), each timed to the annual reading of this centerpiece of the Chumash. more

Life’s reality as it is reflected in Jewish theology is relative. For some, reality is real; for others, too many others, reality is but a dream. That dream, to that person’s mind, is reflected in a reality of either fantasy or delusion. And, that is sad, a sad reality. more

There is no end to the commentaries on the Book of Esther, and this year’s pick by me that follows is not the last word. However, Rabbi David Fohrman’s teachings are worth your attention and patronage. more

“Who gives snow like flakes of wool, Who scatters frost like ashes. … Who casts forth His ice like lumps — who can stand before His cold?” (Psalms 147:16-17) Yes, there is a spiritual message to the snow we have been experiencing in such excess. My interest in this matter was peaked recently by Rabbi Dr. Martin Cohen of Shelter Rock in an essay he wrote concerning snow referencing his favorite Kapital Tehillim, Psalm 147. more

“The Making of a Halachic Decision, is subtitled, “A comprehensive analysis and guide to halachic rulings,” and indeed this is so. The use of the word “analysis” serves as the major motif of the methodology employed by Rabbi Walter to serve as the touchstone of what Jewish law is all about: analysis of the halachic method. more

He holds a distinguished pulpit in Silver Spring just outside our nation’s capital. Recognized locally as a poseik (decisor) on Jewish law, Rabbi Moshe Walter provides his most fortunate pulpit at the Woodside Synagogue Ahavat Torah a reliable source of Torah and halacha, both practical and theoretical. more

He was born 86 years ago on New York’s Lower East Side, the son of Jewish Polish immigrants who arrived on these blessed shores right after World War I. His name was Rabbi Dr. Herbert Bomzer, zt”l, and his first yahrtzeit was recently commemorated with the publication of a collection of Divrei Torah, entitled “Keter Harachzav,” compiled and edited with an eloquent and informed introduction by his grandson, Aryeh Sklar of Cedarhurst. more

Koren [has just published the] first ever Israeli edition of an English translation and commentary of the Talmud Tractate of Sukka based upon the original Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz Hebrew commentary, timed to the Daf Yomi schedule that has the upcoming study of Sukka to begin this Wednesday, Feb. 5. more

One of Maimonides’ lasting legacies was his attempt to systemize the specifics of Jewish belief. Consisting of 13 statements, he gave our faith a form wherein we are able to point to specific basic beliefs that go to the core of our faith. The seventh one focuses upon the belief in the role of Moses in our tradition. more