Since 2001 I have been writing regularly on issues that relate to spirituality, religion, Torah, Judaism, current events, Israel and the Jewish world in general. But recently I have realized that having been such a regular writer and commentator I was now at serious risk of either repeating or contradicting…
An Eye for An Eye
There are parts of the Bible that if interpreted literally would be cruel and violent. For example the Bible (Exodus 21:24 — this week’s’ Torah portion) says that a violent attacker should pay “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” Another example is the law where…
Making Religion More Appealing
The news for religion in the United States keeps getting bleaker. A new study out this week found that since the 70’s there has been a 75% increase in the amount of American 12th graders who don’t believe that religion is important to their lives. In addition, teenagers are half…
Religion Risks Going Out of Business
It’s not an exaggeration to say that all religions in the West, are facing unprecedented threats. A recently published research study by Pew shows that nearly twenty three percent of Americans — the vast majority under age fifty — are religiously unaffiliated. The study on Judaism that Pew released last…
The Benefits of Cardinals and Rabbis Dancing Together
After eighteen hundred years of persecution at their hands we Jews are challenged by any love directed at us from Christians. Nonetheless, many of us have made peace with Evangelicals expressing their love and admiration for Jews and for Israel. But Catholic love for Jews, well that’s a different story….
Withholding a Gett: Unjewish and Evil
In my fourteen years of practicing as a rabbi I have been asked numerous times to offer counsel and support to couples in failing marriages. Despite the fact that it takes two to tango, often the breakdown of a marriage is more the fault of one party than the other….
Chanukah: Hedonia vs. Eudaimonia
What pursuits are worthwhile pursuing in order to live a life well lived? Philosophers have been debating this question since time immemorial. Starting with Epicurus 2300 years ago to Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill some philosophers have argued that to be ethical one should pursue actions and policies that…
The Secret to Success that Eluded Jacob
No one wants to live a life of mediocrity or failure and therefore go through life desperately seeking success. Yet, for many success seems to be ever-moving and unreachable goal post. What is the secret to true and lasting success? The life of Jacob, holds the secret to true and…
Neighbors Who Lack Humanity
We Jews have cried many bitter tears over the last six months. From the brutal murder of the teenagers killed by Hamas terrorists earlier in the summer to the terror attack this week which killed five including rabbis praying at a synagogue and everything in between, this past half year…
The Return of Ritual
One of the strengths of Judaism has always been that our religious leaders of each era have been able to successfully bridge our ancient tradition with the needs and the zeitgeist of their generation. To be sure, this does not mean that they made substantial changes to the tradition, it…