For The Medal of Honor: The Story of PFC Leonard Kravitz
On March 6, 1951, a platoon of American soldiers serving in the Korean War came under heavy fire by the Chinese Army near Yangpyeong, Korea. When the platoon’s Machine Gunner was wounded,…
Kindness Without Fanfare
There is a fascinating story in the Talmud that demonstrates the importance of being conscientious when doing something for another person: Mar Ukba had a poor man in his neighborhood…
Kristallnacht
Kristallnacht, literally the Night of Crystal, but generally translated as the Night of Broken Glass, was a tragic turning point in the fate of Germany’s Jewish community. The…
Vayeitzei 5782-2021
“From Ish Tam to Business Mogul: The Transformation of Jacob” (updated and revised from Vayeitzei 5762-2001) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald As this week’s parasha, parashat Vayeitzei,…
Spiritual Compass
Tomorrow, November 6th, is yet another odd, seemingly random, holiday that has grown out of the internet age: “Marooned without a Compass Day.” While the name of the day may seem quaint…
Facing Jerusalem
Be sure to face toward the direction of Jerusalem, the spiritual focal point of the world, before beginning to recite the Amidah, the silent devotion prayer. To better appreciate the…
Rabin
Today is the 26th anniversary of the death of Yitzchak Rabin, who was assassinated on November 4, 1995. Born in Jerusalem on March 1, 1922, Rabin grew up in Tel Aviv. He entered the…
The Jews of Panama
The history of the Jews in Panama is similar to Jewish history in other South and Central American countries. Conversos (Jews who publicly recanted the Jewish faith and adopted…
Celebrate Your Jewish Distinctiveness
While living in exile among different cultures, we need to be mindful that in order to perpetuate Judaism, we need to assure that we do not lose our special values that make us distinct.
A Jazz Master
While known later in his career as the "King of the Clarinet", some are surprised to learn that Jewish jazz legend Artie Shaw actually got his start playing the saxophone. Today's Jewish…