The Shofar of Elul
The more important something is to us, writes the Avnei Nezer, the greater the preparation we will devote to it. Athletes prior to a major competition or an important game, for instance, will train...
Think Again: Dangerous godlessness
The tripartite division of the recent CNN series God’s Warriors into Jewish, Christian and Islamic segments conveyed its underlying message: Religions produce murderous fanatics. That particular trope features in all the recent spate of...
First Annual Yamim Noraim Hisorerus Competition
Not much competition, really. Eveybody wins. For many of us, no yom tov is properly observed without some immersion in the special works that lead to a deeper appreciation of the special quality of...
How to Criticize in Elul
We owe much to Rabbi Eli Teitelbaum. Not just because he gave us an excuse to stop talking about Noah Feldman. Not really for the substance of his remarks, either. Many readers of CC...
Stop Skimping
21bEllul “Tsunami of porn” is the colorful phrase the Shmuley Boteach coined to describe the skimpy clothing and other phenomena that characterize much of modern behavior. See his Jerusalem Post Sept.2 oped “Why women...
Saving Mother Teresa
Time Magazine’s cover story this week provides an opportunity for what Einstein (and others) called a “thought experiment.” Time examines a different side of Mother Teresa. A veritable icon of spiritual strength and confidence...
Your Article in the Jewish Week: An Open Letter
To: Ernest Adams From: Yaakov Menken Subject: Your article in the Jewish Week Date: Mon, 03 Sep 2007 14:18:00 -0400 Dear Mr. Adams, I was quite intrigued by your article [“Straddling the Color Barrier,”...
How Sweet It Is
Great ideas speak for themselves. A little PR, though, wouldn’t hurt. Aish HaTorah’s Project Inspire has floated an idea that I am enthusiastic about. Through a subsidy that allows them to do this at...
Food for Rosh Hashana Thought
An odd Rosh Hashana custom, duly recorded in the Talmud and halachic codes, is the lavishing of puns on holiday foods. Most Jews know that on the first night of the new Jewish year,...
Rabbi Angel’s Lament
This post deals only with Rabbi Angel’s views, not with MO, in general, and was written and published last month before the piece on Noah Feldman. Steve Brizel, who was critical of the Feldman...