Daniel In The Lion’s Den
When one hears the general premise of the story, that the king of Medea locked Daniel in a cage full of lions, it is natural to assume that the king’s goal in throwing him to the lions…
It’s The Interpretation
From a distance, halacha, Jewish law, appears to be black and white. In reality, however, much of Jewish law is left to the interpretation of experts. A person with a legal question (such…
Who Has Kept Us Alive
The Book of Ecclesiastes frequently repeats the theme of, “There is nothing new under the sun.” For King Solomon, the composer of Ecclesiastes, this focus was intended to inspire people…
An American Artist
Born in 1881, in Bialystok, Russia, Max Weber* eventually became a leading artist in the American art scene. Weber began his career with formal training at the Pratt Institute in…
Instrumental Shabbat
The first time a musical instrument was played to enhance a Shabbat Service was well before the Common Era. In days of yore, it was customary that the Levites would both sing and play…
Bows and Arrows
Lag Ba'Omer, the 33rd day of the counting of the Omer, is a minor holiday on the Jewish calendar. Its observance commemorates the end of a tragic plague that took the lives of nearly…
Women and War
The role played by female soldiers on the front lines during the last decade reflects the incredible shift in attitude regarding women and war. It is therefore of great interest to…
Nap Time
The world is moving at a hectic pace. People seem to always be busy--running from meeting to social engagement until they finally fall thoroughly exhausted into their beds at night.…
M’la’cha
The Torah prohibits "work" on Shabbat, but what does that mean? After all, serving a meal to your family could be seen as work. The Torah hints at the definition of Shabbat work by using…
Inside Prayer
Jewish prayer is a complex, multi-layered activity. The sages refer to prayer as avodah, service, the same term used to describe the sacrificial service in the Holy Temple. However, since…