Yes, with this edition dated December 2, we are to soon to observe the joyous holiday of Chanukah. With that said, it is my pleasure to once again cite for your reading pleasure another learned work … more

“...With All Your Heart...” A Torah tribute to a true hero on Tisha B’Av Reviewed by Alan Jay Gerber Issue of August 8, 2008 Grenade! Grenade! The very mention of this … more

The Kosher Bookworm by Alan Jay Gerber Issue of July 16, 2010/ 5 Av 5770 Every week now for the past half year there seems to be no letup in the growing quarrels between the diverse … more

Maggid Books announces the publication of “Tribal Blueprints” by Nechama Price, part of its series of Maggid Tanakh Companions (Pava Editions). “The Jewish nation begins with … more

Over the next few weeks, this column will be devoted to a tribute to the legacy of one of Judaism’s towering spiritual leaders. Based upon the literary work of Rabbi Bezalel Naor, with … more

Yes, prayer is a bridge, a spiritual bridge that we take daily in our trip to G-d’s spiritual universe. And the bridge that we travel over is the siddur, the Jewish prayer book. Recently, a … more

This week’s column is devoted to a review by Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin of “The Spiritual Revolution of Rav Kook” by Rabbi Ari Ze’ev Schwartz (Gefen Publishing House, Jerusalem, … more

It has been said that for many, their legacy in history comes after death, and, in the case of the late, great Yaakov Birnbaum, his legacy has come. This week’s column will consider several memorial essays devoted to the life’s work of Yaakov Birnbaum, who passed away on April 9 at age of 87, just short of 50 years from the time that he launched the first of many demonstrations against communist anti-Semitism. more

I begin this year’s review of recent literature themed to the high holiday season with an excellent work by Rabbi Immanuel Bernstein entitled, “Teshuvah: A Guide For The Mind And Heart … more

One unique liturgical feature of this holiday is the recitation within the Amidah, and Birkat Hamazon of Al Hanissim acknowledging the miracles of that long ago era, of history’s first open conflict , the struggle for freedom of religion between pagan domination and monotheism; Greek culture versus Judaism. more