Sand, Sun and Jewish History
In 1917, Saint Croix, Saint John and Saint Thomas (as well as the smaller surrounding islands) were transferred from the dominion of Denmark to the possession of the United States. As…
Birthday of the World
According to Jewish tradition, this Sunday night, when Rosh Hashana begins, the world will be 5776 years old. This claim easily stirs up sharp debate. How, it is often asked, can one say…
A Community Revealed
In 1492, four families in Belmonte, Portugal began to live secret lives that would last for generations. Like many Jews on the Iberian Peninsula, in response to the Inquisition, which…
Success After Exile
When King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella expelled the Jews from Spain in 1492, Rabbi David ben Solomon ibn (Abi) Zimra (known as the RaDBaZ, his initials) was 13 years old. His family…
K’tav Ivri: Ancient Hebrew Script
Archaeology is one of the major academic attractions of the Land of Israel. One hardly has to scratch the surface of the land to find coins dating back thousands of years. A walk through…
The Crémieux Decree
On October 24, 1870, The French government issued a decree to recognize the Jews of Algeria as French citizens. The law had been written and passed after much campaigning by powerful…
Birthday of the World
According to Jewish tradition, this Wednesday night, when Rosh Hashana begins, the world will be 5774 years old. This claim easily stirs up sharp debate. How, it is often asked, can one…
Dear Yenta: The Matchmaker (Shadchan)
“Matchmaker, matchmaker / Look through your book / And make me a perfect match...” (Fiddler on the Roof). With the widespread proliferation of internet dating sites such as eharmony,…
The Birthday of the World
According to Jewish tradition, this Monday, Rosh Hashana, the world will be 5773 years old. This claim easily stirs up sharp debate. How, it is often asked, can one say that the world is…
Alone At Last – Yichud Room
According to Jewish law, a man and a woman who are not married to each other may not be secluded alone in a room or other private space. To comply with this law, couples who are dating,…