Spirituality/Tradition
Mishpatim: Shoveling the Snow
Who's Digging Out of What? A Snow Shoveling Meditation As I was digging out of the snow this sparkling New York ...
War Cry of the Values-Based Parent
The best response thus far to Amy Chua's screed against the soft, indulged style of American parents, "'The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother," was by David Brooks of the New York Times. Chua decries...
Bo: The New Moon
This new moon (Ha'chodesh Hazeh) shall be to you the head...
We Are A Religious Nation – Or Are We?
A journalist once asked Mahatma Gandhi what he thought of Western civilization. He answered: "It's a good idea. They ought to try it". Similarly, we might urge followers of world religions: "Some nice moral...
The End of the Rabbi as Mr. Nice Guy
Go to any of the major Jewish conferences like AIPAC or the General Assembly (GA)...
Desensitized to Death
Traveling through South America for 10 days with my wife for my fortieth birthday present...
The Rock Promoter and the Genesis of the Public Chanukah Menorah
From suburban shopping malls to City Halls, from Moscow to Melbourne, Hong Kong to...
The Paradoxes of Oil as a Guide for Living
Why Celebrate Oil? The kindling of a menorah during the eight days of Chanukah commemorates...
Mishpatim: Shoveling the Snow
Who's Digging Out of What? A Snow Shoveling Meditation As I was digging out of the snow this sparkling New York ...
War Cry of the Values-Based Parent
The best response thus far to Amy Chua's screed against the soft, indulged style of American parents, "'The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother," was...
We Are A Religious Nation – Or Are We?
A journalist once asked Mahatma Gandhi what he thought of Western civilization. He answered: "It's a good idea. They ought to try it". Similarly, we...
American Malaise
America seems to be running out of gas. Lethargy is creeping into the national DNA. We seem beset by problems that we can't...
The End of the Rabbi as Mr. Nice Guy
Go to any of the major Jewish conferences like AIPAC or the General Assembly (GA) and you'll see the Rabbis rolled out to say the...
Desensitized to Death
Traveling through South America for 10 days with my wife for my fortieth birthday present four years ago reminded me of how, above all else,...
The Rock Promoter and the Genesis of the Public Chanukah Menorah
From suburban shopping malls to City Halls, from Moscow to Melbourne, Hong Kong to the Congo, they're everywhere. Menorahs. Big ones. Millions attend their lightings...
The Paradoxes of Oil as a Guide for Living
Why Celebrate Oil? The kindling of a menorah during the eight days of Chanukah commemorates an ancient miracle that occurred in our Jerusalem Holy ...
Why the Tea Party Resonates with Human Dignity
One Friday night at my home a dear friend who runs a large charitable foundation raised his glass to toast the demise of the...
“My Heart Swells with Joy” – At a gala banquet with 4000 Chabad ambassadors
Mr. Benny (Yechiel Benzion) Fishhof, a prominent New York businessman and a member of the Chassidic group of Ger, stood at the gala banquet...
To Play or not to Play
As an Englishman, baseball is certainly not my thing; in fact of the four games that I have attended I fell asleep at three...
Vayelech: A 2,000-Year-Old Debate on Whether to “Get Out of the Box”
Synagogue Bulletin Blunders These announcements, with interesting typos and phrasing blunders, were reportedly found in various synagogue newsletters and bulletins around the country. 1. ...
Netzavim: Free Choice
See, I have set before you this day life and goodness, and death and evil; in that I command you this day to...
