Shavous
The other New York
Maybe you haven’t heard, but recently I was in New York and had a harrowing experience. At first, everything seemed normal. Downtown was bustling. Skyscrapers were being built higher than ever, Broadway was giddy with a new musical, and street hawkers were doing a brisk business from unsuspecting, gullible tourists. But when I reached a residential neighborhood I noticed, for the first time, something missing. There were no…. read more »
Giver & Receiver
One always imagines the ancient assembly of Sages utilizing their brilliant powers of deduction combined with the guiding force of tradition to create the Rabbinic decrees…such as the holidays of Purim or Chanuka. read more »
History, not Legend
A question I often get: “Is there any rational proof that than more thirty three hundred years ago a heavenly voice announced, ‘I am the only G-d around here, so you better not have any others. Also don’t let me catch any of you lying, stealing, killing, coveting or being disrespectful to your Mom and Dad!’” read more »
Spark-of-all-Truths
After all of the hoopla of the big production, which we call the Decalogue, one man climbed the mountain…Up there, far from prying eyes, Moses studied. Exactly what he studies, we are not told. However, what his menu was is recorded for posterity. “Forty days and forty nights, bread he did not eat and water he did not drink.” Ever thought of trying it? read more »
The Gift
G-d loves us, His human creatures so much that He gave us colorful butterflies, and sunsets so multihued they take our breath away. He also furnished us with majestic mountains for climbing…cool breezes…tiny sweat glands…leafy forests…and various wildflowers. You can even pick some for your spouse. Of course, they will thank you for your thoughtfulness, but did you thank Him for His? read more »
One Flesh
We inhabit a reality defined by two basic states: being and naught. After all is said and done, everything boils down to “it is” or “it is not.” The “nots” delineate the parameters of a thing, establishing what it is not, while the “is’s” fill these parameters with the essence of what the thing truly is. This binary nature of creation is a reflection of the fact that the Torah, the “blueprint” by which G-d created the world, is divided into positive and negative realms. read more »
Israel & Yehudi: Heaven & Earth
Since the day on which the Voice of G-d overwhelmed us at Sinai, we have never been the same. That change was so fundamental and complete, that it became forever impossible for us to retreat into an age that predates that Revelation. Something unprecedented happened that day. He not only revealed His name to us, but we subsequently acquired His name…Historically, this would manifest itself in the two names we would be known by; Israel and Yehudi. read more »
Don’t Just Kiss…
The tale revolves around a Moabite princess with a life of luxury and power who throws it all away to accept Judaism. What is even more fascinating is the parallel road begun by Ruth’s sister, Orpah. Both had married Jewish men, were willing to follow their mother-in-law when their husbands died and were about to go beyond the point of no return when... read more »
TRUTH
How often have you been asked the question, "Why do the Orthodox think that they are the only group that has access to the truth? Aren't there many paths to the truth? And shouldn't every man seek G-d in his own heart, in his own way?" read more »
Heavenly Sleep
The Midrash relates how the Jews slept the entire night before the giving of the Torah. Even the next morning, when the Almighty appeared to bestow His gift upon the former slaves, He found the Israelites asleep. For this reason it is customary to stay awake the night of Shavuos and study the Torah; to undo the slumber of our forefathers. read more »
