Why Mishloach Manot is Why We Celebrate Purim
The Mitzvah of Mishloach Manot has become synonymous with the word Purim, but why? Why is this mitzvah so unique …
Category Archives: Jewish Thought
Hannukah: Why a Local Military Victory, and a Small Jar of Oil Continue to Inspire Millions Around the World
Why celebrate Chanukah? It is easy to understand why we celebrate Passover, Shavuot, Sukkot, and even Purim; all of these …
10 Reasons to Invite 500 People to Your Shabbat Dinner and Why You Will Love It
When my wife asked me how many people I invited for Shabbat, I responded “more than 500.” Judging by the …
We Need a New Model for Israel-Diaspora Relations: Here It Is
From the recent Western Wall controversy and Israeli Rabbinate’s alleged “blacklist” of rabbis to J-Street and Jewish Voices for Peace, …
What Orthodox Jews can—and cannot—learn from the Amish Rumschpringe
There is much to be learned from the Amish model of a framework for choice. Sitting on the …
Tisha Be’av: Maran HaRav Ovadia Yosef’s Insights on Remembering Hurban HaBayit
As we mourn the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash, once again, we wonder how many more times we will be …
Ruth, Shavuot, and the Power of ‘Yes We Can’
While being a potential bestseller and most viewed on Netflix, the story of a Moabite princess who took upon herself …
Why Jewish Education Is a Matter of National Security
This Sunday, I had the privilege of accompanying a student of mine to the North-American Chidon Hatanach — Bible …
The Horror and Hope I Saw in Rome
So the Romans erected an arch and Coliseum to celebrate their victory over Judea. Where are they now? …
Torah and Our Great Society
Published in the RCA Sermon Manual of 1973 Essay by Rabbi Bernard Poupko He sat next to me in the …
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