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December 6, 2024
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Linking Northern and Central NJ, Bronx, Manhattan, Westchester and CT

Rabbi Shawn Zell

Rabbi Shawn Zell has recently returned to New Jersey, after serving at a pulpit in Dallas. He possesses certification in teaching Yiddish. Rabbi Zell is the author of three books.

Articles by Rabbi Shawn Zell

Blackwash

I’ve often wondered why the Friday following Thanksgiving is referred to as “Black Friday.” Although I am neither an educated consumer nor a savvy businessman,

Carving Out a Guest List

It’s been close to three and a half decades since movie audiences heard the fictitious Gabriel Krichinsky exclaim, “You cut the toikey (sic) without me?”

Terms of Election

Regardless of how you feel about Election Day, in general, or about the upcoming Election Day, in particular, next Tuesday will put an end to

Rain Check

Erroneously ascribed to Mark Twain is the phrase:“Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.” With apologies to Charles Dudley Warner, a

We ‘Bett’ Our Life

When it comes to the High Holidays, especially Yom Kippur, it would not be overstating it to say that the Yiddish word bett plays a

Elusive Elul

Imagine—if you will—what the prevalent mood would be among our people if the message of Elul were taken seriously. Buying a new dress for Rosh

Shem Zicht Nisht

Last month, my wife and I were in Israel. Aside from visiting family, our purpose for going was to show solidarity. Ever since last October,

True Troyehr

It has been said that tears are the silent language of mourning. With the imminent arrival of Tisha B’Av, the lugubrious day when we collectively

Dog Days

Finding ourselves in the dog days of summer, I discovered that my Yiddish book of aphorisms has much to say about man’s best friend. Yet,

Tragic Terms for Tammuz

No one can dispute the fact that historically, we Jews have had more than our fair share of anguish and suffering. This Tuesday—the 17th of

Choice Words

A little less than two months ago, a prominent newspaper ran an article about travelers kvetching about figuring out how to turn on the lights

The ‘Muhntns’

For Jews steeped in their heritage, there are two mountains of significance: Mount Moriah and Mount Sinai. The former evokes Abraham’s faith in Hashem; the