Fully Present
In Hebrew, one word can say so much. For instance, hineni. This seemingly simple phrase is understood as a powerful statement of a person’s state of mind. Literally, it is translated:…
The Month of Mar-Cheshvan
Today is Rosh Chodesh Mar-Cheshvan, the first day of the month of Mar-Cheshvan, which is the eighth month of the Hebrew calendar. (The count of the months begins with Nisan.) Although the…
Are You Drunk
The end of December is a festive time of year. Regardless of religious beliefs, most people in North America are swept up into the celebrations of the season, if only because of the legal…
A Song For The Dove
Most songs written for Shabbat (zmirot) focus on either God’s resting from creating the world on the seventh day or on the relationship of the Jewish people to Shabbat. The Sabbath song…
Nimrod
The great military villains have usually been brilliant, determined and, it is often suggested, megalomanic. In which case they are very much the spiritual descendants of Nimrod. Nimrod,…
The First Jewish Lawyer
The study of law appears to attract a disproportionate number of Jews, perhaps because expounding arguments, pro and con, is one of the great pleasures of Talmudic discourse. In fact, one…
Here’s The Beef
Adam and Eve were vegetarians. When God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden, the Torah tells us that God said: “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat...” (Genesis 2:16). While God…
The Month of Cheshvan
Today is Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan, the first day of the month of Cheshvan, which is the eighth month of the Hebrew calendar. (The count of the months begins with Nisan.) During the month of…
Are Your Drunk?
The end of December is a most festive time of year. Regardless of religious beliefs, most people in North America are swept up into the celebrations of the season, if only because of the…
The Month of Mar-Cheshvan
While today and tomorrow are celebrated as Rosh Chodesh, today is actually the last day of the month of Tishrei and tomorrow is the first day of Mar-Cheshvan, which is the eighth month of…