Introduction: A Surprising Delayed Brit Everyone at Congregation Shaarei Orah, the Sephardic Congregation of Teaneck, was ecstatic. A first child was born to one of

Hacham Ovadia Vs. Ribi Messas Chacham Ovadia (Teshuvot Yechave Da’at 6:43) applies the Sephardic practice for only the head of the family to kindle Chanukah

Part I Background in the Gemara and Rishonim The Gemara (Shabbat 21b) states that the mitzvah of lighting Chanukah candles can be fulfilled on three

It is critical to be aware of the threats to our way of life and know how to effectively respond to them. In prior generations,

At youth minyanim, such as those we have at the daily Sephardic minyan for students at TABC, we try to share the tefillah with as

It was a most unusual meeting I had two years ago with NFL legend Jim Marshall, the famed defensive end for the Minnesota Vikings during

People frequently ask why Elisha’s oil miracle for the widow (first part of Melachim II 4) is included in the haftarah of Parshat Vayera. After

xA Relish for Avodat Hashem When taking my older children to visit the celebrated American Revolutionary War site Valley Forge, the guide taught us the

A very troubling statement indeed! It was this past Chol Hamoed when my sons and I visited an out-of-town synagogue for Mincha/Arvit. A congregant between

Even most Sephardic Jews have not heard of Rav Ovadia Hedaya. Yet, Chacham Hedaya played and continues to play a crucial role in Sephardic life.

Are there situations when Ashkenazic Jews follow the ruling of Rav Yosef Karo as recorded in the Shulchan Aruch and Sephardic Jews do not? The

Tarshish. Where is it? Chapter 1, Pasuk 3, of Sefer Yonah names Tarshish as the place Yonah sought to flee. Clearly there must be some