Purim is now behind us and the next time we are going to witness a full moon is exactly one month from now, Pesach. With that exciting thought in mind, I was taken by an essay written by Dr. Adele Berlin in her work, “The JPS Commentary: Esther” [The Jewish Publication Society, 2001] wherein she details the thematic and historical link between the Exodus and the Book of Esther. more

On the first Yahrzeit of Rabbi Raphael Pelcovitz of the White Shul, I am reprinting Rabbi Dr. Shnayer Leiman’s contribution, which appeared in this space last year. Rabbi Leiman, who knew Rav … more

Erica Brown is one of our community’s foremost American Jewish educators. Through her teachings on Teshuva, she helps people to re-think our sacred texts, thus making them ever more … more

The Kosher Bookworm by Alan Jay Gerber Issue of March 19, 2010/ 4 Nissan 5770 With Pesach less than two weeks away this essay will be devoted to briefly bringing to your attention … more

There are some personalities whose legacies pass on from generation to generation. Among those who are in this category are three luminaries whose yahrtzeits occur within the next two weeks and whose … more

According to the teachings of Rav Kook, while most blessings are of rabbinic origin, one of the most popular ones is to be found in this week’s parsha, Eikev, the Grace After Meals - Birkat HaMazon. more

With the sharp windy chill in the air there is an increasing wish for an early spring. Our religious tradition has long ago provided us with a meaningful expression of that wish in terms of ritual. … more

The following is an excerpt from Rabbi Evan Hoffman’s “Parsha Themes in Historical Perspective,” published this summer by Gefen Publishing. This section is titled “The Missing … more

An historical account by Sir Martin Gilbert Reviewed by Alan Jay Gerber Issue of Nov. 14, 2008 / 17 Cheshvan 5769 Last week marked the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht. On the nights … 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