I remember the first time I taught a class about Passover to a group of Jewish adults of mixed Jewish backgrounds, and I mentioned that the Korban Pesach ritual, the Paschal Lamb offering, that … more

There are moments in life when there are simply no words, when one is meant only to listen. Such moments may occur when sitting in a shiva home, but nowhere as often as when that family is mourning … more

The tragic story of a fire in Brooklyn coming on the ten year anniversary of a similar story in Teaneck has left the greater Jewish community reeling. We mourn with these families, and wish for a … more

One of the central mitzvoth of Pesach is the injunction not to eat any chametz, or unleavened bread. Instead, we are commanded to eat matzah, the unleavened bread, for the entire week. And whenever we think of matzah we think of Pesach. Less known, however, is the special mitzvah of matzah, which we read of in this week’s portion, which seems to be completely unrelated to the festival of Pesach. more

Thirty years have passed since Dani Moshitz, David (Didi) Cohen and Baruch Stern fell in Lebanon in 1985, and we came together with their families to let them know we had not forgotten. Dani and Didi … more

There’s a strange phrase that repeats itself several times in this week’s parsha, Vayikra. “If a person sins … and does one of the commandments of G-d that one is … more

When we read the parshas surrounding the building of the Mishkan, we are reminded of the fealty we, the Jewish people, are to have to Shabbat. The laws of Shabbat are derived from the proximity of … more

Towards the beginning of Ki Tisa, the Torah gives us the first depictions of the Kiyor, the washbashin that was to be used by the Kohanim before they engaged in any Mishkan service. So important is … more

Jerusalem, 722 BCE: The mightiest army on the face of the earth has surrounded the city, bent on conquest and determined to put an end to the Jewish people once and for all. Approximately 35,000 … more

Tetzaveh, this week’s parsha, ends with a seemingly out of place description of the commandment for making the “mizbeach hazahav” (small altar), the golden, spice-burning … more