Parashat Hayeh-Sara tells of Avraham Avinu’s efforts to purchase Me’arat Hamachpelah– the Machpeila Cave in Hevron, where he wished to bury his wife, Sara, who had just passed away. The territory of this special cave was owned by a...
What’s the status of a pareve soup cooked in a pareve bowl in a Fleishig microwave? It’s still pareve but cannot be eaten together with milk. For example, if someone cooks spaghetti in a...
The Torah in Parashat Vayera tells the story of the destruction of Sedom, a wicked city which G-d condemned to annihilation. Before destroying the city, G-d sent two angels to rescue Lot – Avraham’s nephew – who...
My daughter’s friend, Rena, shared a personal story that speaks volumes. Rena’s days are hectic, being a devoted mom to a growing family, while at the same time having a demanding, full-time career. It was...
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...
Just before Rosh Hashana an email arrived without a name: just a cry, an anonymous letter addressed not to me, but to G-d. “You have hurt me. You have abused and tortured me. You have taunted and judged me...
The current events surrounding the New York elections signify something deeply concerning. Behind the curtain of the candidates running for office lies a global movement of antisemitism that is now taking a firm hold in America at large—and particularly...
Dear Rabbi and Shira, I started dating a guy from across the country on zoom and everything was going well for the first 2 months. We got along well, and we enjoyed...
While preparing a dish for cooking, one is often unsure if he has to check the eggs for blood spots. In addition, companies receive eggs in various forms and the question arises if these eggs need to be...
In the first part of this essay, we saw that Judaism has long wrestled with the ethics of publishing and the dangers of unreliable or misleading content. The halakhic tradition demands accuracy, rejects heresy and insists that those who release...