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Elchanan Poupko

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May 28, 2018, 4:28 PM

Politicizing Kaddish: A Red Line No One Should Cross

The Jewish world was shocked by fringe groups who said Kaddish and Yizkor for Hamas terrorists that were killed on the Gaza border due to Hamas’s reckless and murderous behavior. The outrage was immense. I would like to share...

May 15, 2018, 7:55 AM

Can Paul Ryan Play Tennis with Nancy Pelosi? Israel Says Yes

What if Paul Ryan would decide to go for a tennis game with Nancy Pelosi? The chances are they would not be able to show their faces to those who sent them to office. Just a few years ago, then-House...

Apr 23, 2018, 7:27 AM

The State of Israel Must Do More for American-Israelis

There are about 700,000 Israelis living in North American. That number is larger than the number of Israelis living in Tel Aviv. And yet, when it comes to engaging Israelis living abroad, the state of Israel seems to have...

Apr 9, 2018, 7:50 AM

Jewish Education Is the Only Assurance for Jewish Continuity

I remember coming to our school's model Passover Seder. What happened after that, is not clear to me -- it was all kind of a blur. I remember standing there when children started signing the Ma Nishtana, and my...

Mar 12, 2018, 3:38 AM

The Kaddish prayer’s life-affirming message

Less than a month ago, after losing my father OBM, I started saying Kaddish—the Jewish prayer recited by mourners after the loss of a relative. Saying a prayer I have heard thousands of times in my life, helped me...

Jan 11, 2018, 11:31 AM

A Rabbi’s Letter to Roy Moore’s Lawyer and Other Christian Jews

Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore stands behind his wife Kayla Moore as she speaks during a campaign event at Jordan's Activity Barn on December 11, 2017, in Midland City, Alabama. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images/AFP)

A rabbi's message to Christian Jews: Judaism is a family -- hard to get into, even harder to leave

Dec 30, 2017, 12:22 AM

A Special Place in Heaven for Israeli TV Producers

The new Israeli TV series Shababnikim has captured the hearts and minds of millions in Israel and around the world. The series follows the lives of three Yeshiva students and their struggles with the modern world. This is huge...

Oct 31, 2017, 7:49 AM

10 Reasons to Invite 500 People to Your Shabbat Dinner and Why You Will Love It

When my wife asked me how many people I invited for Shabbat, I responded “more than 500.” Judging by the calm look on her face you would know that this was not the first time she had heard this...

Sep 19, 2017, 1:04 AM

An open letter from an 11th generation rabbi to frustrated ‘Jewish Father’

Dear Jewish Father, I would like to begin by pointing out that I would never write an article attacking accountants during tax season; I would want them to be able to respond and address my grievances. It is now two...

Aug 29, 2017, 8:44 PM

As Hurricane Harvey Continues, Our Thoughts and Prayers Are With The People of Texas

I will never forget the summer of 2013. It was the summer I first visited Houston, and for that matter, my first time South of the Mason Dixie lines. The kindness, spirit, and sincerity that I have encountered in...

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About Me

The writer is a rabbi, writer, teacher, and blogger (www.rabbipoupko.com). He is the president of EITAN-The American Israeli Jewish Network and lives with his wife in New York City.