The First Neighborhood
Until the end of the 19th century, the barren hills outside of the 16th century walls of Jerusalem’s Old City were the territory of marauders and wild animals. Inside the walls,…
For Seafood Lovers
If a fish dish is something that tantalizes your taste-buds, you might wonder how creatures of the deep blue sea fit in to Kashrut, the Jewish dietary laws. First and foremost, not all…
Fast of Esther
"Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day; I and my maidens will also fast in like manner; and…
A Bit of Melodrama
If you are looking for melodrama, if you like soap operas and emotional turmoil, then one really need not look much further than the Book of Genesis. Adam finds his “soulmate” Eve, Cain…
What’s in the Book: Job
While the Book of Job (Iyov in Hebrew) is frequently quoted, it is a book that not many lay-people read. A challenging work philosophically, it is written in a complex, poetic style. The…
The Fast of Esther
"Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day; I and my maidens will also fast in like manner;…
The Tribe of Ephraim
As descendants of the original 12 sons of Israel, the lives and personalities of the descendants of Jacob significantly impacted on the history and behavior of the future tribe members…
The Fast of Esther
"Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day; I and my maidens will also fast in like manner; and so…
It’s Not Really Instant
Ten years ago, the favorite catch phrase of media pundits was the expression "disposable society." Critics of Western society complained, and still do complain, of there being a…
Judah, Son of Jacob
When Judah, the fourth son of Leah and Jacob, was born, Leah said, “This time let me gratefully praise God” (based on the Hebrew infinitive, l’hodot, “to praise”). Judah first…