Category: Judaism

What, however, should the role of a synagogue be in the life of a Jew? How often have you heard people say, “I am a Jew at heart although I do not go to the synagogue much?” Somehow during the High Holidays Jews seem to flock to the synagogue in much…

Intolerance, bigotry are not symptoms of religion or of secularism. They are born out of human deficiency The term ‘self hating’ is a strong one used in many cultures and communities. A Jew who publicly criticizes Israel or the Jewish community may often be labeled as self hating. Unfortunately labels rarely…

Jewish spirituality was the topic for debate at a recent rabbinic conference. Some claimed that Judaism does not believe in the individual quest for spirituality and that communal holiness as opposed to individual spirituality is what distinguishes Judaism from Buddhism. In Judaism, they argued, Kedusha (holiness) manifests itself more in…

Since The Algemeiner Journal published my article about Chasidic reggae singer Matisyahu entitled, “Matisayhu: Rabbi or Rebel” the article has appeared on a number of Internet blogs. First it appeared on a well known virulently anti- website where the author tried to use my article to compare to Sabbatianism and its successor…

There will always be Jews who help their enemies demonize them in order to gain favour. Anti-Semites have always been good at exploiting this Jewish weakness – indeed the Nazis were experts at this. Now in the twenty-first century the Anti-Semites are at it again.   During a visit by…