What Are Tefillin?
The common translation of tefillin is “phylacteries,” which is a Greek word meaning amulet. “And you shall bind them [the words that I command you today] for a sign upon your arm, and…
Accepting Wisdom
“Ben Zoma said: Who is wise? An individual who learns from all people, as it is said (Psalms 119:99): ‘From all those who taught me, I gained understanding’” (Pirkei Avot/Ethics of the…
My Father. Our Father
Many well-known Jewish songs are based on words from the Bible. While a vast majority of them are based on Tehillim (Psalms) one of the most famous is almost a direct quote from Genesis:…
History for Everyone
Barbara Tuchman (née Wertheim), born January 30, 1912, never earned a doctorate in history, but the books that she authored injected new life into the layman’s study and understanding of…
The Elder of Slabodka
Students who choose to study the history of the development of the twentieth century rabbinic leadership will likely come across the name “Slabodka.” The town for which the renowned…
It’s Not Vanity
As today is International Women’s Day, Jewish Treats highlights contributions made by Jewish women in Egypt. “Mirror, mirror on the wall, whose the fairest of them all?” Snow White’s…
Pre-Purim Workshop on Zoom
New Purim Class on Zoom this MarchJoin NJOP for an exciting class on Zoom to help prepare you for Purim! Forward to a…
In-House Audit
Reading news reports about financial misconduct should definitely be shocking. Alas, since it is an all-too-common occurrence, most of us merely sigh in disgust and move on with our…
Make it a Great Shabbat
Celebrate Shabbat HaGadol by learning more about Passover traditions and rituals. There’s also a significance to the name Shabbat HaGadol, the Great Shabbat, in that it focuses both on…
Kedoshim 5784-2024
“Living a Truly Sanctified Life” (updated and revised from Kedoshim 5765-2005) by Rabbi Ephraim Z. Buchwald The message of this week’s parasha, parashat Kedoshim, is surely one of the…