So the Mormon Church is at it again. Some of their members were posthumously baptizing Jewish holocaust victims so that they should be able to enter eternal life–something Mormon’s believe is reserved only for a baptized Mormon. Recently it has been reveled that members of the Mormon Church not only…
The Relationship Between Torah and Truth
Many of my beliefs have been influenced not just by intellectual arguments but in a large part also by exceptional teachers. Indeed, beliefs, by definition, cannot be verified with certainty by empirical evidence. Could it be that I have been deceived by charismatic teachers? Could the beliefs that have been…
The Wedding Guidelines Fallacy
Weddings are often very extravagant affairs. It is an opportunity for people to share a joyous occasion with friends and family. If the parents of the bride and groom are wealthy, they will want to invite as many friends and acquaintances to join them in a high-end event, with top…
The Moses of American Presidential Politics
The race to be the Republican Party nominee for president of the United States has now begun in earnest. This week saw the first presidential primary in New Hampshire. But as one listens to the candidates it is difficult not to be disappointed. Something about this competition seems unbecoming of…
Moral Opposition to Religious Misogyny
Many of us have been watching in horror as a fringe element of haredim in Israel advocate the exclusion of women from all forms of public life. Over the last week we have seen violence erupt with rioting in Beit Shemesh that included throwing stones at police officers, the threatening…
Matisyahu’s Shaven Face Is A Wake-Up Call
By now many people have weighed into what must have been a very private decision for a famous individual. Of course I am talking about Matisyahu’s beard or lack thereof. It is not my position to judge Matisyahu and say that he was either right or wrong. Over the course…
The Business of Jewish Outreach
Larry Page the co-founder of Google visited Steve Jobs the co-founder of Apple Computers before the latter died a few months ago. Jobs told Page that instead of trying to be all things to all people he should choose a few key products that Google really wants to develop and…
My Father My True Jewish Hero
The Jewish Community Hero contest is now in high gear. This wonderful initiative by The Jewish Federations of North America is now in its third season. This year I was nominated as a hero. It is somewhat embarrassing to note that whist there are many nominees that have a thousand…
Changing The Educational Paradox
A couple of years ago I visited a Chassidic Rebbe who is known to be a proponent of the idea that each individual has a unique God-given purpose in life that he or she is obligated to follow. At the time I had just started working on forming Youth Directions–an…
Actually Receiving The Energies
We read in this weeks’ Torah portion how Moses tells the Jewish people that it will be because (Eikev) you will listen to these ordinances, and you will observe and perform them, that God your God, will safeguard for you the covenant and the kindness that he swore to your…