The revelation at Mount Sinai—the central episode not only of the parsha of Yitro, but of Judaism as a whole—was unique in the religious history of humankind. Other faiths (Christianity and Islam) call themselves religions of revelation, but in both cases the revelation of which they spoke was to an individual (“the son of

Benefitting From Chillul Shabbat

Many living on the east coast ask about their watching on Motzaei Shabbat, a baseball game being played on Shabbat on the West Coast. The problem is that the game’s announcer is Jewish and is regrettably violating Shabbat. Since the Halacha forbids

We were redeemed from Egypt on account of our commitment to three practices: we maintained our Hebrew clothing; we spoke the Hebrew language and we kept our Hebrew names. The great American halachic decision-maker, Rav Moshe Feinstein, was once asked the following question: “We want to name our newborn daughter after my dear mother, of blessed memory. However, her

As I write this, we approach Shavuot, celebrating the giving of the Torah from Hashem to Israel. Midrashim consider Matan Torah to function conceptually as a marriage between Hashem and klal Yisrael, with Moshe functioning as an agent. We also begin masechet Gittin, and my thoughts are on agency, the trustworthy transmission of the

Are there any things to be careful about when cooking for Shabbat on Yom Tov that falls out on Friday, with the help of an eiruv tavshilin (=et)?

While one might think that receiving and bringing down the Torah was a simple and effortless matter on Moshe’s part, the Gemara seems to indicate otherwise. In fact, when Moshe was attempting to bring down the Torah from Heaven, the angels—at first—did not seem to be happy about this, and they put up a challenge.

While one might think that receiving and bringing down the Torah was a simple and effortless matter on Moshe’s part, the Gemara seems to indicate otherwise. In fact, when Moshe was attempting to bring down the Torah from Heaven, the angels—at first—did not seem to be happy about this, and they put up a challenge.

We experience life through the medium of time. Each new moment brings with it new opportunities as we ascend through the journey of time. Amidst the constantly moving waves of time, the chagim are specific points imbued with unique energy. Each holiday presents us with the opportunity to tap into and experience the theme inherent at that

What are the core beliefs for religious Jews, sometimes referred to as Religious Zionists, who also view Medinat Israel as authored by Hashem? The radical political swings of the past thirty years have muddled some of these central values. Here are Ten Commandments for Religious Zionists.

A Day to Appreciate

Shavuot—the holiday that celebrates the giving of the Torah—is the time when both Hashem and the Jewish people reflect upon our relationship with the Torah He gave (and continues to give—“notein HaTorah”) us.

Shavuot is

Although Menachem Mendel Beilis came from a chasidishe family, he was “indifferent” to religion and assimilated—working at a brick factory, seven days a week in a suburb of Kiev. In 1911, the completely unassuming Jew was cast into the international spotlight as the defendant in a sensational, antisemitic blood libel trial in Russia—due to a baseless accusation

Second Day Of Shavuot

Shavuot. “Z’man Matan Torateinu.” And, given that we see these days as the time when we received the Torah’s laws, (when we heard the ten pronouncements directly from Hashem at Har Sinai)) we would expect Chazal to choose a prophetic section that, in some