Kosher Bookworm
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Last week’s parsha showcases the bond between Yosef Ha-Tzadik (Joseph the just one) and Yisrael Sava (Israel the elder) who is also our zeida (grandfather) Ya’akov. This inspiring story of the special relationship of grandfather to grandchildren, prompted the great Yosef of our time, Rav Joseph B. Soloveitchik, zt”l, to write an eloquent and learned teaching reflecting upon the first relationship between grandfather and grandsons as recorded in the Bible, that being between Jacob and Ephraim and Menashe. more
With the conclusion of the Torah reading cycle of Bereishis, this week’s essay will be devoted to a presentation of several contrasting styles of commentary. Utilizing their own words, this will demonstrate how the same biblical segment can be made to be viewed from variant perspectives thus demonstrating the unique plurality of methods of midrash and p’shat in our religious tradition. more
At last week’s Saturday night Chanukah presentation at the Young Israel of Woodmere, Rabbi David Fohrman, of Woodmere, contrasted the Purim and Chanukah Al Hanisim prayers that we say after the Modim liturgical work, each themed to a thanksgiving to G-d. “In the Al Hanisim prayer for Purim, we give thanks for the miracle of being saved, and that’s it. The prayer ends with a recounting of the salvation itself. However, for Chanukah, it doesn’t end there. Instead, the prayer concludes with an epilogue: and we establish these days, as days of thanks and praise.” more
The essays by Rabbi Moshe Sokolow and Rabbi Meir Soloveitchik cited in last week’s essay prompted great interest, especially in the Bible commentary by Henry Ainsworth referenced by them. This prompted me to research this matter further and to bring to your attention a work written and published three years ago by British historian, Nick Bunker, entitled, “Making Haste From Babylon: The Mayflower Pilgrims and Their World” [Vintage Books, 2010]. more
Two years ago Rabbi Moshe Sokolow of Yeshiva University penned an essay entitled, “Thanksgiving: A Jewish Holiday After All,” wherein he cited the following historical item that was recently highlighted in an excellent expository essay by Rabbi Meir Soloveitchik of Congregation Shearith Israel entitled, “G-d’s Providence and the United States: A Thanksgiving Reader on Judaism and the American Idea” [Torah To-Go, Nov. 2013, YU ]. more
It was a different era, a time that revered idealism yet tolerated a diversity that at times defied reality. Nevertheless, with all that was tolerated, respect for diverse opinion was laced with respect, a respect that was saturated throughout society’s opinion makers’ creed. The legacy of the brief presidency of John F. Kennedy was highlighted by image, personality, ideology and most important of all to this writer, the element of eloquence and elegance in both language and style. more
With the annual observance of Veterans Day this coming Monday, my column this week will be devoted to a review of a very special essay that appeared in a very special high quality halacha journal, Hakirah, entitled, “Jewish GIs and Their Dog-Tags” by Rabbi Akiva Males of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. more
As the weather takes on an added chill and the nights get longer, reading indoors takes on added value to our quality of time. Therefore please note these brief suggestions for high quality reading and learning for the months to come. more
In most of our prayer books, the English translation of the daily recitation of the Akeidah lacks an extensive commentary. A recently issued commentary on the weekday Shacharit service, “The Siddur Illuminated By Chassidus” [Kehot 2013], by Rabbi Eliyahu Touger and Rabbi Sholom Ber Wineberg, is an exception, providing us with an informed and well-written analysis that would serve us well for this coming Shabbat Vayera and the annual Torah reading of the Akeidah: more
November 2013 will be a month to remember. Consider the following: •Nov. 9-10 marks the 75th anniversary of Kristallnacht. •Nov. 19 marks the 150th anniversary of Pres. Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. •Nov. 22 marks the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Pres. John F. Kennedy. •Nov. 28, Thanksgiving Day, is the first day of Chanukah. Starting this week, this column will attempt to give a literary spin to these events and cite several books to convey a better understanding of their historical, and if relevant, religious, significance. more
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