Envy Isn’t Jewish
The Western Wall in Jerusalem could (and should) be a place of Jewish unity; instead, it has become for some a target of envy. How much more good would these American leaders do, were they to not increase jealousy but reduce it?
Yes, Sadly Saying Kaddish for Non-Orthodox Judaism
(This article first appeared in Times of Israel.) In Saying Kaddish for American, Non-Orthodox Judaism? Rabbi Todd Berman argues that we should not prematurely accept the disappearance of the non-Orthodox Jewish movements in America. For despite...
Moving Commentary2.5
Alas, trips to the supermarket need to be repeated. We tried the Osher Ad, closer to home. As we finished bagging our catch, I handed the cashier our magic piece of plastic. “Did you...
Window on the Warped
Interested in making a quick $14.88? Well, you might want to consider writing a racist or anti-Semitic article and submitting it to “The Daily Stormer,” one of the more famous neo-Nazi websites that sprout...
Reading Sefer Bereshis through an Open Orthodox Lens
When studying the Torah’s narratives – especially those in Sefer Bereshis – there are two key points to keep in mind: 1. The centrality of Torah She-b’al Peh, and the approaches, thoughts and attitudes of classical Meforshim, in...
Moving Commentary4
Buying appliances works differently here. When they drop off a refrigerator, you can’t just plug it in. You have to make an appointment with a technician from a service company to do the final...
The Tragedy Of The Liberal Jewish Response To Rubashkin’s Release
An article of mine about the negative reactions of some in the Jewish community to the release of Sholom Rubashkin and the celebrations thereof, can be read here.
Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz: Why Do You Seek Extra Punishment for Sholom Rubashkin?
(This article originally appeared in Arutz Sheva.) We have all read about Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz, who calls himself the “Social Justice Rav”. Yanklowitz, who was recently referred to by the president of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, where...
What IS Jerusalem?
Whether one regards President Trump’s declaration that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel as a dangerous and foolhardy move or wise and deeply principled, it cast a well-deserved bucket of cold water into the...
Moving Commentary 3
Rabbi Hillel Goldberg, serious scholar, editor of the Intermountain Jewish News, and friend for decades, called shortly before I left the States, warning that I was on the cusp of never learning seriously again....