By Rabbi Avi Billet Issue of Nov. 28, 2008 / 1 Kislev 5769 Sometimes a new point we’ve perhaps never considered becomes apparent and leaves us wondering: save for Rachel and Leah — who … more

By Rabbi Avi Billet Issue of Nov. 21, 2008 / 23 Cheshvan 5769 How old was Rivka when she was discovered by Avraham’s servant and brought to Canaan to marry Yitzchak? You are a … more

Childlike Innocence By Rabbi Avi Billet Issue of Nov. 14, 2008 / 17 Cheshvan 5769 The banishment of Yishmael and Hagar leaves a bad taste in one’s mouth. How could Sarah justify … more

By Rabbi Avi Billet Issue of Nov. 7, 2008 / 9 Cheshvan 5769 When we were first introduced to Noach last week, we were told that he was righteous and “Tamim,” perfect or complete. … more

By Rabbi Avi Billet Issue of Oct. 31, 2008 / 2 Cheshvan 5769 Reading the story of the dispersion at the beginning of chapter 11, it is hard to see where the people went wrong. In the words … more

Sukkot/Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah 5769 By Rabbi Avi Billet Issue of Oct. 17, 2008 There are few things in life that can elicit a collective gasp from everyone in a room. A real … more

Resolutions for remarkable Jews By Rabbi Avi Billet Issue of Oct. 10, 2008 It is a bit of a challenge to reflect on Yom Kippur before it happens. This issue of The Jewish Star went to … more

G-d’s clear indirect message By Rabbi Avi Billet Issue of Oct. 3, 2008 For the parsha with the fewest number of verses in the Torah, Vayelech is quite busy. (Nitzavim has 10 more … more

Good old-fashioned pessimism? Not exactly. By Rabbi Avi Billet Issue of Sept. 26, 2008 Devarim 30:1 states: “And it will be when all these things come upon you, namely the blessing … more

Heads we win, tails we lose By Rabbi Avi Billet Issue of Sept. 19, 2008 When my oldest child began to talk, she was two months shy of her second birthday. It occurred to me that I could … more