Passover 2024-5784

Urgent message: It’s hard to believe that after all these months since the murderous attack on October 7th, that the most challenging situation in Israel continues, not only with little…

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B’shalach 5784-2024

Urgent message: Given the most challenging situation in Israel at this time, I urge all to pray for the bereaved families, the hostages, the missing and the many casualties. Please try to…

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Vayigash 5784-2023

Urgent message: Given the most challenging situation in Israel at this time, I urge all to pray for the bereaved families, the hostages, the missing and the many casualties. Please try…

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Giving Gifts

“A person who is diligent in lighting Chanukah candles will have children who are scholars” (Talmud Shabbat 23b). The desire for scholarly children was actually one of the motivations for…

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Literacy

Today, September 8th, is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) International Literacy Day. Established in 1965, International Literacy Day is meant…

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People of the Book

Instill within your family a sense of the importance for Jewish education not only during one's formative years but throughout one's life. In the beginning of the sixth chapter of Pirkei…

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Baron Edmond James de Rothschild

Although he came from a prominent banking family and was employed in the family bank, Baron Edmond James de Rothschild, (born August 19, 1845) was best known for his love of art and his…

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Rabbi Shmuel Salant

On the 29th of Av, 1909, corresponding to August 16th, Rabbi Shmuel Salant, Jerusalem’s long-time Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi, passed away. Rabbi Shmuel was born in 1816 in Bialystok, then part…

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Midwestern Sour Cream

There are a host of Jewish foods that are associated with the American Jewish experience. Most of these, such as blintzes with sour cream, sour cream and bananas, and (of course)…

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The Fate of Babel

Born on July 13, 1894 in Odessa, Isaac Babel’s life spanned a tumultuous time in Russian history. Raised in a middle-class Jewish home, Babel had both a full Jewish education and a robust…

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