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

Nazism, communism and the Olympics King Of The Road: From Bergen Belsen to the Olympic Games by Dr. Shaul Ladany Reviewed by Alan Jay Gerber Issue of August 22, 2008 By the time … more

What are the halachos (laws) of Jewish prayer? This is the topic of a new book jointly published by Yeshivat Hat Eztion, the Orthodox Union and Ktav Publishing. Titled, “Hilchot Tefillah: A … more

What an irony. I always knew that the first commentary on a Sukkot machzor describing the rather sharp medieval reaction to a British-based Simchat Torah service would come from the pen of a former … more

This week’s essay, by Dr. Mitchell First, focuses on the legacy of Rabbi Joseph Hertz and the roll played by his historic commentary, the “Hertz Chumash.” This essay is from his … more

The Kosher Bookworm by Alan Jay Gerber Issue of July 30, 2010/ 19 Av 5770 Beginning with Shabbos Chazon and until the Shabbos before Rosh Hashana every single haftorah comes from the … more

With the annual tribute to our nation’s mothers coming up this weekend I would like to present to you a couple of last minute suggestions that might serve as gifts to those most valiant ladies … more

This week’s parasha, the third from the book of Devorim, is Ekev, where we learn of the sole Biblical source for the mitzva to recite Birkat Hamazon, the Grace After Meals. more

All of the talk about the building of a wall between the United States and Mexico is nothing new in the affairs of nations, states, cities and even neighbors. Just consider the walls around ancient … more

This week I continue to focus on the scholarship of Rabbi Baruch Dov Braun of DRS High School of Woodmere, with “A Visit to the Egyptian Zoo,” thematically keyed to the upcoming Pesach … more