2024-04-28

Jewish life is all too often rather chaotic. Yet Pesach and Yom Kippur, the two central holidays of the year[1] teach the importance of seder, order…

2024-04-26

It is hard to argue that there is a more impactful and important rabbinic decree than that of kriat haTorah, the weekly public reading of the Torah.…

2024-04-22

“Rabban Gamliel would say: Anyone who does not say these three things on Pesaḥ has not fulfilled his obligation, and these are they: [the korban]…

2023-04-11

A legal system by its very nature is detail oriented. While laws represent the values of any given society, a law once established takes on an…

2023-04-04

“Go out and learn what Lavan the Aramean sought to do to Yaakov, our father. Pharaoh only decreed on the males but Lavan sought to uproot everything…

2022-04-15

“Could it be from Rosh Chodesh?” the authors of the Hagadah ask, raising the possibility that one might celebrate the Pesach[1] and tell the story of…

2021-04-01

Moshe Rabbeinu was our teacher par excellence. As a great pedagogue, he understood the importance of teaching subject material in a timely manner. “…

2021-03-26

The eating of karpas has long baffled our commentators. Why exactly do we dip a vegetable in salt water just as we are ready to begin the…

2021-03-12

“In the first month of the second year on the first of the month, the Tabernacle was erected” (Shemot 40:2). Sefer Shemot concludes with…

2020-04-13

Seemingly, one of the more depressing debates in rabbinic literature is one that the houses of Hillel and Shammai argued about for two-and-half years…

2020-04-07

Much ink has been spilled and much discussion ensued in trying to analyze the difference between the question of the chacham and the rasha. On the…

2019-04-25

As we all know too well, there is often a gap between the ideal and reality. In trying to implement our goals, we all too often fall prey to conflict…

2019-04-19

“In each and every generation, one must see oneself as if they had left Egypt”.  In Judaism, we not only commemorate the past, we…

2018-03-30

Twice a year, on Yom Kippur and at the Pesach seder, we conclude with the prayer L’shanna haba’ah b’Yerushalayim. It is…

2017-04-16

Pesach is the Jewish holiday of hope. It marks the beginning of the Jewish (lunar) year – and new years are always times of hope. It is celebrated in…

2017-04-10

Our images of Egyptian slavery are those of forced labor and murder by a ruthless tyrant and his many followers. Despite Joseph literally saving…

2017-04-09

"He made a feast for them and baked matzah and they ate" (Breisheet 19:3). The "angels" had come to Sedom to rescue Lot from…

2016-04-22

“Chanoch lena’ar al pi darcho, train each child according to their way” (Mishlei). It is at the Seder that we analyze the questions of the “four…

2016-04-22

The Seder night brings together Jews from all orientations and perspectives. The future redemption of the Jewish people, a theme which is central to…

2016-04-15

Historians and sociologists have long debated whether it is historical trends that determine the course of events, the historical personalities being…

2015-04-09

There is something most beautiful about a holiday that celebrates our past being focused on future, on our children. Pesach marks the founding of our…

2015-04-03

"Therefore, in every generation, one must see themselves as if they have left Egypt”. All too often, we can only fully appreciate what we have when…

2014-04-14

“And it was at the end of four hundred and thirty years, in the middle of that very day, that the legions of G-d went out from the land of Egypt” (…

2013-03-24

Adam and Eve, Noach and his anonymous wife, Abraham and Sarah (and Hagar), Yitzchak and Rivka, Yaakov and his multiple wives, Moshe and Tziporah, all…