Assembling complicated gadgets is generally facilitated by the printed instructions that the factory provides. Occasionally, however, there are no instructions, either because of the … more

Jewish history is a series of encounters with evil rulers. Pharaoh, whom we have been reading about up until this week’s Torah portion of Beshalach, was just the first tyrant who persecuted us. … more

Sometimes we feel inspired. We may be working hard, but we don’t seem to mind, because we love the work we are doing and believe in it. The ability to do all that is expected of us … more

There was a time when I was fascinated by the great psychoanalytic thinkers, chief among them Sigmund Freud, whose attitude towards his Jewish origins piqued my curiosity. Although … more

I often find myself disagreeing with the phrase, “It’s just a footnote in history.” I have found some of the most interesting and important facts buried, unseen by most people, in … more

I was embarrassed by her sharp rebuke. But looking back, I realize the lesson I learned from her brief criticism was more valuable than most of my other training experiences. It happened about … more

Many of us are familiar with families in which brothers and sisters have not spoken to each other in years, sometimes even having forgotten the original reason for the destruction of their … more

While this week’s Torah portion, Miketz (Genesis 41:1-44:17), is typically read during Chanukah, this year (when we read it the day after Chanukah) is an exception. Since my early … more

When I recall the great teachers I was blessed with over the course of my lifetime, one thing comes to mind: they were a diverse group who had something in common: They were thinkers and … more

You don’t hear much about them, and sometimes you don’t even know their names, but they are the true heroes and heroines in our lives and in our times. It was also true in biblical times … more