Diaspora Jews, whether they be Zionist or Post-Zionist, share one thing when it comes to judging Israel across the pond: we see (in many cases we choose to see) Israel through the lenses of our own idealized images of what we want it to be. Whether it is the flag waving technicholor Leon Uris-esque classical … More »
“You might not know it, but convert rabbis are among us. They have infiltrated our rabbinical seminaries for over two decades and, now, they likely run some of our congregations, hold influence and sway in our institutions, teach our children at day schools, Hebrew schools and Hillels across the nation. These rabbis, my dear fellow … More »
Ribbono shel Olam, Master of all the Universe, who knows the name of every star in the heavens and can count each grain of sand under the stars, who accounts for every thought in of the human heart, help me now. Grant me the honesty to correctly assess my duties, knowing that these are the … More »
From North Korea to Ancient Rome, in their pantheons and monuments, most nations of the world depict the leader, emperor, or caesar as a visionary man (alas, seldom a woman) with his eyes fiercely set into the future, often with a pointed finger (or better yet a sword) leading the way forth. This artistic motif … More »
In one of his most renowned statements from Pirke Avot, Hillel the Elder said: “Do not believe in yourself until the day of your death.” This means that every life is a work in progress that can only be fully evaluated in retrospect at its end. In few cases is this statement more true and … More »
Every couple of months the Jewish press of the Diaspora or Israel offers us a new installment of a riveting story: descendants of Sephardic Jews forced to convert during the time of the Inquisition return to their roots after centuries of hidden Jewish life. These benei anousim (“sons of the forced”) have become a frequent … More »
According to our tradition the congregation of Israel was born in one moment: at the foot of Mount Sinai, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, as well as others who had joined them in the Exodus from Egypt, became one nation. Most of us belong to communities that already existed before we came along, … More »
Jonah is a book of firsts. It is the first time in the Bible that an Israelite gets on a boat (Moses’ basket joyride notwithstanding). It is the first time that an Israelite prophet is sent on a good will mission to a foreign nation. It is also one of the first cliffhangers in Biblical … More »
Most of my rabbinical activity is dedicated to teaching people who did not grow up with a clearly defined Jewish identity or who are converting to the Jewish people from without. In this capacity, I had always found it very challenging to teach Tanach to this crowd. It was easy to teach them Jewish Law … More »