Category: Other

Passover is one of the most important holidays in the Jewish calendar. Every year, Jews around the world gather to read the Haggadah, which recounts the story of the Israelites’ exodus from slavery in Egypt. 

To honor their rush to…

A short while ago, after I gave an interview on CNN about the war with Iran, a dear American friend asked me to recommend how liberal American Jews could respond to questions from people struggling to understand what is happening in the…

For the sexually liberated ancient Egyptians who viewed sexuality as a vital part of life, there was nothing wrong with oral sex. The practice was considered natural and even found its place within religious beliefs.

According to Egyptian…

Reflections on the Torah reading for the intermediate Sabbath of Passover

(Exodus 33:12 to 34:26)

 In a moment of uncertainty for Moses,

God answered Moses, “I will go with you

And I will grant you rest” ( Exodus 33: 14);

Therein lies…

I can’t talk about it. 

Not because I don’t want to, but because I’m not allowed to. Not in a “if I told you I’d have to kill you” sort of way — I’m not privy to classified secrets.. But I do live here in Beit Shemesh, and…

HAPPY PASSOVER!

Chametz is not only breadcrumbs of the five grains that are not allowed on Passover,  wheat, spelt, barley,…

Every year the youngest child at the table asks: “why is this night different from all other nights?” This year the question is clearer than ever. Here are seven ways this Passover is different. The first four name the hardships we carry….

Doesn’t this all get kind of old, stale and boring?

Israel makes a stupid mistake on Palm Sunday, a holy day for Christians a week before Easter Sunday, and the world pounces.   One of my correspondents immediately blurted out in an…

Paraphrasing the old joke of defining an expert as someone who knows more and more about less and less until he knows everything about nothing, one might describe the present panels of commentators and experts in the Israeli media as…