Who am I?” This is the most powerful question. For many of us, there are no easy answers. We are uncertain of our own identities. Social scientists believe that this question is typically … more

There are two Hallels, the paragraphs dedicated uniquely to praising G-d, in the book of Tehillim. One is Hallel Mitzrayim (the Egyptian Hallel), the other is Hallel HaGadol (the Great … more

Yaakov spends 20 years living in Lavan’s house. He has his rows with Lavan – more than a third of the parsha, Vayetzei, is dedicated to their dialogues. And it isn’t pretty. … more

In 2014, three scholars from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania published an important paper on the science of timing — how temporal landmarks impact on the way we organize … more

Our parasha contains a rich array of stimulating narratives that challenge our understanding and cry out to us, “Darsheni” (“Interpret me!”). One of these is known as the … more

The opening instruction in Parsha Emor — And G-d said to Moshe, “Say to the Kohanim, the sons of Aharon, and say to them, they should not become ‘tameh’ to people of the … more

Except for the saints among us, we all boast. Sometimes we boast about our own natural endowments, our good looks, or our athletic prowess. Often we boast about our achievements, social or … more

I can still remember the feeling of the weight seeming to lift from my shoulders. It was the summer of ‘86, and I had just returned my gear after four-and-a-half years in the Israeli army. I will never forget the incredible high that lifted my spirits as I realized that for the first time in years, I could do whatever I wanted, without that nagging worry deep inside that I might get a call in the middle of the night. No more patrols or forced marches, guard duty or inspections, no missions to coordinate or briefings to prepare, and no tanks to service and make ready, nor men to cover or train. After four long years I could finally get back to just being me. more

I once met a fellow who was born in Germany, but managed to get out in 1938, in the nick of time. Some people don’t think of such a person as a survivor in the same way as someone who survived … more

The Haggadah is a multi-layered historical document that is the product of numerous Jewish cultures, in both Israel and the Diaspora. As a result, it may legitimately be viewed as one of the … more