Back in 2013, when the Pew Research Center released its landmark study entitled “A Portrait of Jewish Americans,” Jewish Action asked me among other contributors to offer observations and recommendations....
If one dies during the month of Adar in a shanah peshuta (a non-leap year which has only one Adar), when do the children observe the yahrzeit during a shana...
One of the major messages of Purim is the fostering of friendship through the lofty mitzvah of mishloach manos ish l’rei’eihu. The lesson is clear one. As we celebrate Jewish...
The Gemara in Masechet Berachot (55a) tells of the conversation Moshe had with Besalel, the man appointed by G-d to lead the construction of the Mishkan, when Moshe approached him...
Purim is a very exciting time, and some people spend a lot of time planning their costumes. What is the source of this custom? What are some of the reasons...
A Tribute to My Dear Student Nadiv The Truth, the Whole Truth and...
One of the features of the Mishkan which Beneh Yisrael built in the desert was the kiyor – the special faucet which stood by the entrance to the Mishkan. The...
I. Spilling Wine Rav Moshe Isserles (Rema, 17th cen, Poland; Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 396:1) records a custom to spill Havdalah wine on the ground. He explains that the basis of...
Parshas Pikudei concludes the construction of the Mishkan. After the construction of all the individual components of the Mishkan, they brought the parts to Moshe. Rash”i quotes the Medrash Tanchuma,...
This Shabbos, we say “Chazak” upon completing Parshas Pekudei, the final portion of Shemos. “Ki anan HaShem, For the cloud of HaShem was before the eyes of all of Bnei Yisroel,...