Category: Other

The sedra of Tetzaveh, as commentators have noted, has one unusual feature: it is the only sedra from the beginning of Shemot to the end of Devarim that contains neither the name nor the words of Moses. Several interpretations have been…

Where must we begin reading the Book of Esther in order to fulfill the mitzvah? Today, the question seems almost trivial. Halakhah is unequivocal: we read the Megillah in its entirety—from the very first verse to the very last. All ten…

Did you know that Purim is the one holiday that is Eternal?

Among various reasons cited, the one that resonates is the eternal love between Hashem and the Jewish people which the story of Purim symbolizes. Our nation’s survival from the…

In the first part of this blog, we focused on the use of the term Kindertransport to mean rescue more broadly from 1934-1942. When the British Kindertransport came to a halt in September 1939 there was a final transport from the Netherlands…

Attending a recent panel discussion on book banning presented by Hadassah’s National Educator’s Council, where I serve as vice chair, struck a deeply personal chord in me. The topic resonated not only as a matter of policy, but as a…

Moses’s name is mentioned in every portion of the Torah from the time of his birth except for this week’s parsha, Tetzaveh. The Sages explain that this absence is the result of Moses’ plea to God after the sin of the golden calf. God…

In a development that has sent ripples through both religious and diplomatic corridors, the Vatican recently confirmed that Pope Leo XIV will travel to Algeria this coming April. The highly anticipated itinerary, which includes pastoral stops in…

Before we begin, let’s look at the numbers:

Iran ranks 10th on the Open Doors International list in 2026 among the countries that most persecute Christians worldwide. This position shows that religious persecution in the country is…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel – including the first address by an Indian Prime Minister to the Knesset – was a watershed moment in Israeli-Indian relations. Israeli cooperation with India has more public backing than it…

On this coming Shabbat we arrive at one of the most morally charged moments in our liturgical year: Shabbat Zachor, the Shabbat of Remembering.

The Torah commands us, in words that reverberate across centuries, “Remember what Amalek did to…