The Achish Melech Gat Awards
by Dovid Landesman I have often speculated to myself whether cynicism, of which I have been blessed with an inordinate amount, is in any way an exemplary or positive middah and I should thus...
Particularism, Idiots, and the Future of the State of Israel
I have so little athletic ability, that I can’t be a good Monday morning quarterback – not even weeks later. Despite all that people have written – including most of my friends – I...
Tolkien on Jews
The premier issue of The Jewish Review of Books arrived in my mailbox a few days ago. It is more than impressive in its scope and the quality of its contributions. I hope to...
Thirty Days Before the Chag…
we start our preparations for Pesach. For those within range, I will be offering another round of specifically Maharalian preparation for the next two Wednesdays, March 3 and 10. At 8PM on each of...
Rav Nebenzahl on J-Street
OK, he really said it years ago about Israeli leftists. However, since we import everything else from the the more ethereal Torah provinces of Eretz Yisrael, I figured we could apply his classic one-liner...
“Never gave Purim baskets like those”
Each year we try to cut down on the number of mishloach manot/shalach manos we send, and either give more matanot l’evyonim to the needy, or find indigent Jews who really need mishloach manot...
Let My People’s Fish Go!
In a pleasant break from the usual, this AP wire story has nothing to do with the dreaded Anisakis worm that is the subject of debate within the kashrus community: Washington – Free the...
Someone’s There
Is ending a life of pure contemplation less objectionable that ending one that includes physical activity?
Maybe It’s the Cholent
Are Orthodox Jews happier with their marriages than others? Do the demands of taharas ha-mishpachah translate into a better relationship? There now is some evidence of better marriages within the Orthodox community, as reported...