Erica Brown / JNS.org
ARTICLES BY: Erica Brown / JNS.org
On Relationships: W.H. Auden vs. Amos the Prophet
"We will buy the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of shoes." (Amos 8:6) W.H. Auden once wrote, "Almost all of our...
Entering The Valley of Decision
"Multitudes upon multitudes in the Valley of Decision! For the day of the lord is at hand in the Valley of Decision." —Joel 4:14 How...
Grasping the Hand of God
One of the most iconic images in the art world is the finger of God reaching out to the finger of Adam and raising him...
Why the Rabbis Taught Dream Manipulation
When I was little, I was fascinated by the priestly blessing that is recited in many synagogues across the globe on main Jewish holidays and...
Jewish Table Manners
After fasting, the Jewish calendar quickly turns to feasting. And in true Jewish math, the ratio is one day of fasting for eight days of...
5772: A Jewish Year in Review
It's that time again: a new Hebrew year is upon us. It's time for the Jewish year in review based on a mandate from Deuteronomy...
Laugh a Little, it’s Good for You
As we prepare for the Days of Awe, it is easy to focus on tears and fears and not the joy that the holiday...
Elul: The Month of Return
During the Hebrew month of Elul, we blow the shofar every morning in synagogue. This ritual coheres with a general principle of Jewish law, namely...
Competition in the Name of Excellence is Divine
"May the One who causes His Name to dwell in this house cause love and brotherhood, peace and camaraderie to dwell among you." — BT Brakhot 12a...
Travel Blessings and a Worry Free Return
For many of us, the end of summer represents the end of waking up late, being off schedule, vacation and "chillaxing." For others,...
Drowning in ‘Stuff’
Last week marked the cycle of the completion of the Talmud, studied one page a day for seven years. Tens of thousands of Jews across...
Really, Really Healthy
Vigilance requires a lot of energy. Being alert to the possibility of danger or difficulty can be a full-time job. So can exercising....
The Jewish Way to Review a Book
Oy. There are so many books. We all know that feeling of walking into a two-story bookstore and feeling overwhelmed. Ecclesiastes long, long ago observed...
Fifty Shades of…
I was thinking of writing a bestselling novel called Fifty Shades of Black about a young Hasidic man in Williamsburg who decides to buy a...
