A new work, “The Jews Should Keep Quiet,” details the relationship between President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, and the Holocaust. The author is the distinguished Shoah … more

A review of relevant literature for the Fast of the Tenth of Tevet Reviewed by Alan Jay Gerber Issue of Dec. 25, 2009 / 8 Tevet 5770 According to several essays that I recently read by the … 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

Over the past few years, rabbi and singer, Shlomo Katz has become one of the most prominent interpreters of the musical legacy of Reb Shlomo Carlebach. This legacy has recently been reflected in a new book published in Israel by Mosaica Press, entitled “The Soul of Jerusalem: Teachings of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach,” consisting of the texts of stories of Rabbi Carlebach as compiled by Rabbi Katz. more

This week’s tribute to Rav Kook — the second of three parts on the occasion of Rav Kook’s 80th yahrtzeit — features an essay by Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Feitman of Cedarhurst … more

This week’s column is focused on the teachings of Rav Shalom Noach Berezovsky zt’’l, the Slonimer Rebbe, in translation and interpretation by Rabbi Yitzchok Adlerstein in his … more

Leibel Zisman was a survivor, of Kovno, of Auschwitz, of slave labor. He was a refugee from murder, genocide, and unbridled anti-Semitism. He was a Chabad chasid who was destined to survive all the difficulties of life to arrive at these blessed shores, learn English, receive a college degree, teach math, go into business, marry, establish a family, and spend the rest of his life helping others and making the giving of charity the hallmark of his life’s work. more

Once again the anniversary of the Kristallnacht pogrom of 76 years ago serves as an opportunity for our community to reprise the horror of those days. This year’s review will be devoted to … more

This week’s book, “The Accidental Zionist” by Rabbi Ian Pear (New Song Publishers, 2008) is an informal, somewhat irreverent book, zany at times about subjects that are dead … 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