There is no doubt that people are hard to figure out. This is not only true of us 21st century ordinary mortals, but also of biblical characters, be they heroes or villains. Let us reflect … more

Everyone has his or her own voice. Some express it loudly and clearly, some mumble or whisper. Our voices can be expressed through speech, through the written word, and even by means of our … more

Very often, we think that if a person is especially spiritual, he cannot possibly be very practical. It is as if religious devotion and good common sense just don’t go together. My own … more

I no longer remember which Israeli artist colony I was visiting. Perhaps Jaffa. But I will never forget the crude, almost primitive paintings, which were on exhibit. They were all very … more

This week, I begin by sharing two very personal experiences. The first occurred several decades ago when a group of Israeli scholars visiting Baltimore, where Chavi and I then resided, … more

Although the rest of the world refers to the Five Books of Moses as the Pentateuch, traditional Jews refer to it as the Chumash, stressing that it is comprised of five very different … more

The word “bullying” describes a behavior that has been around since the beginning of history, involving victimizing others physically or, more typically, verbally. The old adage … more

The custom is fairly prevalent nowadays, but it was not a common practice 30 years ago when my friend raised his sons. He would seek out especially pious rabbis, generally quite elderly ones, to … more

He never returned phone calls. He certainly never returned e-mails. He rarely smiled. He had very sophisticated tastes in wine and fine liquor. A seven-course gourmet dinner with a wine … more

That “No man is an island” and “It takes a village” are just two of the clichés used to convey the realization that people cannot “go at it … more