Painting Our People
Born on December 26, 1902, in Rahachow, Belarus (in the Pale of Settlement), Anatoli Lvovich Kaplan was a Jewish painter who celebrated his Jewish heritage and the Jewish world in his…
Skeptic Questioning
Tomorrow, January 13th, is International Skeptics Day, a day that encourages people to ask questions. Those who are curious might be inclined to ask whether Judaism has any room for…
Vayakhel 5782-2022
“Defining True Generosity” (updated and revised from Vayakhel 5763-2003) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald In this week’s parasha, parashat Vayakhel, we learn, once again, of building…
How Now, Red Cow
Every year, on the first or second Shabbat following Purim, a special reading from Numbers 19, is added to the regular Shabbat Torah reading. Known as “Parashat Parah,” the Torah reading…
Make it a “Great Shabbat”
Celebrate Shabbat HaGadol by learning more about Passover traditions and rituals. To understand in broader terms how Shabbat HaGadol got its name, and to better appreciate the…
Biur – Burning
Bedikat Chametz, the search for chametz takes place tonight, Tuesday night. The home is thoroughly searched for any remaining chametz. The chametz found is then set aside to be burned in…
Remember
The Jewish nation has a long historical memory. Jewish history is replete with accounts of those who attacked Jews and Jewish communities, and the records of countless victims. On the…
Transparency
Be honest in your dealings with all people. There is a time-honored custom dating back to the Geonic period, over 1,000 years ago to study a chapter of Pirkei Avot, Ethics of the Fathers,…
Rav Saadia Gaon
Rabbi Saadia ben Joseph, known by the appellation Rav Saadia Gaon (Gaon, meaning light, was the honorific title given to the religious leader of the Jewish community in Babylon) is best…
Whosoever Is Wise
“Return, O Israel, for you have stumbled in your sin” (Hosea 14:2). Let’s face it, none of us really want to hear a fire-and-brimstone reproof of all of the things we’ve done wrong and…