Tarbut Goes Topless
The letter whose text is reprinted below this commentary has been sent by the Administration of the Tarbut v'Torah...Read More
On the Increased Urgency for a New Jewish Educational Vision to Guide the Pedagogic Model of Tarbut v’Torah (TVT)
When I was ordained in March 1981 with s'mikha from HaRav HaGaon Harav Yosef Ber Soloveitchik zt"l and Ra...Read More
On Nitpicking, Pilpulistic Nonsense, and Hair-Splitting in the Law
Twenty years ago, a friend arranged for me to have lunch with a prominent Jewish name-partner at a major Los Angele...Read More
On the 3 Morning Brakhot: “WHO DID NOT MAKE ME A . . .”
The Grammatical Tenses of Brakhot. Most brakhot are expressed in present or present-progressive tense: “T...Read More
Understanding How to Daven an Amidah — How to Pray from Your Heart
In the course of several shiurim I taught “For Women Only,” we studied concepts of Tefilah (Prayer) that se...Read More
To Pray, To Daven, To Feel: So Where’s the Fire?
When I was a boy in yeshivah k’tanah, I davened with kavanah – although I cannot mean that I actually knew w...Read More
On the Obsolescence of “Orthodoxy” and the Timeliness of “Observance”
We in the Observant community – my preferred term – historically have reflected, to our shame, a reduced sensit...Read More
K’doshim: Separating the Holy from the Despicable
“Tell the entire assemblage of Israel: you shall be holy because I the L-rd your G-d am holy.” (Vayikra 19:...Read More
The Disgrace of Shul-Sponsored Poker Games, “Las Vegas Nights,” “Casino Nights,” “Casino Evenings,” and Similar Games of Chance
It long has been my halakhic position that all synagogues should not – and many synagogues may not – sponso...Read More
Don’t confuse Judaism with ‘Jersey Shore’
A reminder that, contrary to what the P.C. crowd asserts, wine does indeed have a legitimate place on Purim We a...Read More
Choosing to See the Forest: the Annual Xmas Dilemma
The Christmas season dilemma arises for so many Jews in our city that it sadly deserves attention and comment. When...Read More
Judaism’s View on Same-Sex Marriage : An Orthodox Perspective
Judaism believes that all people were created in the image of G-d. (Genesis 1:27) Because G-d takes no form, we u...Read More
The Other Kind of Clergy Abuse: When Congregations or Individual Congregants with Social Pathologies Abuse Their Clergy
During my fifteen years in the practicing rabbinate and ten years as a practicing attorney, I have encountered...Read More
Give Your Rabbi a Break
Please note: This article was republished (and commented on by Rabbi Dov) from the original article published b...Read More
Courage Under Fire: So How Does A Jew Respond When Caught Unexpectedly In ALoshon Horo Environment?
One of the most difficult aspects of Jewish life is dealing with the grave sin of loshon horo. The Chofetz Chai...Read More
Forgive and Forget
In the real world, do people forgive? Yes, of course. And no. Of course. A spouse wrongs his wife or her...Read More
The Price of Freedom
To facilitate pidyon shvuyim (redeeming captive Jews from secular prisons) we are commanded to go so far as to...Read More
A Mindset that Drinking Is Not Cool, Vodka Vomiting Is Not Cool, Crookery Is Not Cool
When I attended yeshiva high school, everyone kvetchedabout the school: kids kvetched about the teachers, th...Read More
Passover’s Uniqueness Among Our Holidays
Passover is unique among our holidays in that it brings us together, as extended families and communities, to worsh...Read More
The Mourning Period of S’firat Ha-omer
With S’firat Ha-Omer, we now are in the midst of a period of mourning that compares with the first twelve days o...Read More
“The 3 Weeks” and “The 9 Days”
With the period of The Three Weeks looming next week, it seems timely to review the essence of the period. From the...Read More
On Bernie who Madoff with the Loot — Fifty Billion
It was said of Lev Bronstein, a revolutionary in post-Czarist Russia, who -- to dissociate himself from his Jew...Read More
Understanding Tisha B’av
The Meaning of Tisha B’Av. On Wednesday night –Tisha B’Av -- we mark the fall of the First Holy Temple (Churb...Read More
When will justice come for the Justice?
Interesting, how people journey -- almost aimlessly -- yet en route encounter their kismet “And G-d said to Ab...Read More
Anita Hill and Ginny Thomas: Learning to “Let Go” and to Leave Justice to the True Judge
Ginny Thomas and Anita Hill are at it. This is quite a story. Justice Thomas's wife, Ginny, calls Prof. Anita Hill...Read More
Two Mediocrities Who Were Not . . . in a World Where Too Many Allow Mediocrity to Destroy So Much Greatness
England has a TV show comparable to "American Idol” – you may even recognize one of the panelists . . . – cal...Read More
Toilet Paper and Shabbat
Actually, of course, the toilet paper thing starts with the principle of not tearing. Tearing is (although sounding...Read More