A famous Medrash Rabbah on this week’s parsha (58:5) cites the pasuk “And Avraham came to mourn for Sarah and to cry for her” [Bereishis 23:3]. The Medrash asks “From where did he come?” Rav Levi answers that he...
One of the more enigmatic personalities in the Torah is Lot, Avraham’s nephew and Sarah’s brother. On the one hand we know that all the while that Lot was together with Avraham, the Shechinah didn’t speak with...
It was June 1974. Israel was still reeling from the aftermath of the Yom Kippur War. The long-term rehab centers were filled with injured soldiers. My mother a”h received a call from the IDF...
Hospitality The opening of this week’s parsha, Vayera, relates the tale of Avraham sitting during a hot day at the entrance of his tent and observing three men standing nearby. He ran toward them and insisted they come to...
When is the last time you asked someone how are they are doing and they didn’t answer, “Busy?” In his article “The ‘Busy’ Trap,” Tim Kreide writes: If you live in America in the 21st century you’ve probably...
“Will President Trump be good for the Jewish people? Will he be good for Israel? Is President Trump better for us than Harris? Will he stop Iran’s nuclear ambitions?” These are the talking points circulating everywhere now—in the...
Dear Rabbi and Shira, I don’t know what to do! I’m 21, have returned from seminary and have completed 2 years of college.. My parents, friends and family are all pressuring...
The tefillah of Aleinu is said daily after each tefilla, as well as during the Yomim Noraim. During the week one can see many people leave shul before reciting this tefillah with the tzibur, and many say it while walking...
INGREDIENTS: 1 lb small diced fresh tuna Marinade 1 clove grated garlic Juice of one lime 1 tablespoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce 1 tablespoon sesame oil Scallions and sesame seeds to garnish DIRECTIONS: I love raw tuna. This is...
I. Self-Interest and Capitalism The theoretical basis for the economic system of Capitalism is self-interest, another term for greed. Those who devalue greed, who view the accumulation of wealth as a vice, necessarily see Capitalism as a system based...