One of Maimonides’ lasting legacies was his attempt to systemize the specifics of Jewish belief. Consisting of thirteen 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

This past Sunday marked the bicentennial anniversary of the yahrtzeit of the Baal HaTanya, Rabbi Scheneur Zalman. Among his most lasting literary works was the Tanya, perhaps the most definitive foundational work of Chabad chasidus, as well as one of the most influential of Judaism’s literary works of that era. Yet among his interpreters, each saw different teachings and theological meanings in his writings in the Tanya. more

This past Tuesday, January 1st, 2013 we celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. This coming Shabbat and for the next month ahead, we will be reading and learning from Shemot, the Book of Exodus, the story of our slavery in Egypt and the subsequent liberation and the giving of the Ten Commandments. more

The word “legacy” should bring to mind all the greatness and grandeur that any human being would desire in anyone of spiritual authority. Legacy bespeaks of the bequeathing of knowledge, a code of conduct, honesty, and integrity to a posterity that we wish for ourselves and our progeny. more

With Chanukah still very much on our minds this week, it has been my want to check out some recent and not so recent writings concerning this loved and popular holiday. Among those most recent anthologies received lately is one containing some of the most incisive writings on Jewish related topics by one of the most astute observers of the contemporary scene, Rabbi Avi Shafran. more

The subject of the life’s journey of Joseph, Yosef Hatzaddik, is the subject of weekly Torah readings till the end of December, which includes the festival of Chanukah. more

Rabbi Aryeh Pinchas Strickoff, author of the recently published work, “Inside Chanukah: Fascinating and Intriguing Insights on Chanukah, Its Miracles, and its History” [Feldheim 2012] perhaps said it best in his perceptive opening preface: “Jewish holidays serve a much loftier purpose than simply marking special moments in time or commemorating historical events, though those functions are no doubt important...." more

One of the results of Hurricane Sandy was the damage or destruction of some of the most valuable ritual items of our faith: Torahs, Tefillin, and Mezuzos. These sacred articles represent some of the most expensive and labor-intensive objects used by us on a daily and weekly basis. Each is vulnerable to climactic changes that can result in serious disruption in ritual observances. more

“In 1959 Shlomo Carlebach released his first album – Haneshoma Loch [Songs of My Soul], -- which was an instant hit [selling 5,000 copies the first week] and completely revolutionized Jewish music. ‘The first record caused a musical furor both in the Jewish and non-Jewish worlds,’ recalls musicologist Velvel Pasternak, the foremost authority on contemporary Jewish music in the United States. ‘Rather than the Eastern European gestalt that had characterized Jewish music up until then and with which American Jewish youth couldn’t identify, Shlomo Carlebach’s music was written in an American idiom. more

Well, it is almost here, Election Day, that is. In just two weeks the nation goes to the polls to elect the next president and the excitement can be felt in just about every social venue, with this column being no exception. more