We are meant to be ‘a people that dwells alone,’ but does that mean we should abandon the world?

It is a verse that directly challenges the contemporary Jew. At the outset of Bilaam’s prophecy, he declares: “Behold, a people that dwells alone, and is not counted among the nations.” To medieval

In a letter dated October 3, 1984, Rav Moshe Feinstein, z”tl, urged the Jewish community to register and vote. He stated: “A fundamental principle of Judaism is hakaras hatov—recognizing benefits afforded us and giving expression to our appreciation. Therefore, it is incumbent on each Jewish citizen to participate in the democratic

More than 3,000 teen campers, staff, alumni and parents on 21 Israel-based NCSY programs and one Yachad summer program celebrated Yom NCSY on July 13, an annual event that marks the extended NCSY community spending the summer in Israel.
The event at Live Park in Rishon Lezion was sponsored by

Then the word of the Lord came to him: “Why are you here, Elijah?” He replied, “I am moved by the zeal for the Lord, God of Hosts…” The Lord said to him, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and

It was a very exciting visit to the Chabad community of Myrtle Beach to explore the possibility of creating an eruv. I had several interesting experiences that typify the differing Torah styles of Chabad and Modern Orthodoxy.

Omitting

With the arrival of the three weeks of (semi) mourning that precede Tisha B’Av, our mesorah calls for the haftarah readings to serve as a reflection of the seasonal theme. As a result, the selections that lead up to Tisha B’Av are not ones that touch upon the theme of the weekly Torah readings but are, instead, prophecies of doom and

Ketubot 11a

Love and reality make for a good marriage. The wedding ceremony celebrates the beauty of love. The ketubah addresses the reality of life. It tells us how to sustain an existing marriage. It also tells us how to deal with a terminated marriage. All marriages end: Some die by themselves,

You know you’re starting to get old when you preface an anecdote with, “When I was a kid …” So here I am getting old, as I begin by saying: “When I was a kid in camp a couple of decades ago, there was something called ‘a letter.’ One would write a note to someone else, place it in an envelope, seal it, put something called a

It seems like an unfair request, almost cruel in a way …

As Am Yisrael stands at the border of Eretz Yisrael and begins to make final preparations for entering the land, God commands Moshe to go up to Har Ha’avarim and view Eretz Yisrael from a distance. Upon doing so, he should then prepare for his

Question: I am considering sightseeing in Egypt. Need I be concerned with the Torah’s prohibition of returning to Egypt?

Answer: We will not address the safety and national considerations of such a trip. We discussed when it is proper to leave Eretz Yisrael for any destination in “Living the

  Ketubot 17a

On Ketubot 17a, a Baraita discusses traffic situations and right-of-way. A funeral procession yields to (or, reroutes before) a wedding procession, and both funeral and wedding procession yield to a king of Israel. The Baraita continues that King