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Aharon Lichtenstein

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Mosheh Lichtenstein

May 23, 2017, 10:50 AM

Hallel: Praise and Thanksgiving

By rabbinic decree, we recite the Hallel at times of joy and on festivals. The Hallel, made up of chapters 113-118 of Tehillim, contains two motifs: praise and thanksgiving. This article examines the connection between Hallel and the festivals...

Shayna Goldberg

Apr 30, 2017, 12:19 PM

4 exemplars of the State of Israel inspired her with their passion, idealism, hard work, and sacrifice

Eliezer Finkelman

Apr 4, 2017, 9:45 PM

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (of blessed memory) opened the introduction to his collected responsa, Iggrot Moshe, by apologizing for publishing his decisions in Jewish Law. After all, the Talmud records the claim that an unqualified student who issues decisions in...

Richard Chasman

Mar 19, 2017, 5:55 AM

Religious realignments

The conservative movement has decided to admit non-Jews as members with an overwhelming vote in favor - 94 to 8 with one abstention. This decision follows a precipitous decline in membership. Steven Cohen reports in a 2015 JTA article,...

Nathan Lopes Cardozo

Mar 15, 2017, 12:53 PM

Rabbi Soloveitchik and his Paradoxical Influence: An Answer to a Friend

This article is in response to Tanya White's Open Letter to me, which itself was a response to this article of mine which previously appeared in this publication. Dear Mrs. White, Shalom u-vracha. Thank you for your very balanced reaction to my...

Herbert J. Cohen

Feb 22, 2017, 7:58 AM

Kosher Movies: Incendies

Many, many years ago when I was a student in an afternoon Hebrew school, we would misbehave and cause grief to our well-intentioned teachers. I remember vividly that one day when the teacher left the room, we started to...

Dec 23, 2016, 10:57 AM

Parashat Vayeshav: Sharing in the Pain of the Goldin and Shaul Families

During Operation Protective Edge, in the summer of 2014, which was aimed at halting the rain of Hamas rockets and mortars on Israel’s southern population, Hamas captured the remains of two soldiers who were killed in action. Staff Sgt....

Herbert J. Cohen

Oct 26, 2016, 8:32 PM

Kosher Movies: A Few Good Men

I recently gave a talk on the strange biblical ritual which is initiated when someone finds an unidentified corpse close to where he lives. The discovery of the body generates the convening of a meeting of the priests and...

Oct 10, 2016, 9:09 PM

Unity — Why Not Now?

One of my themes here is unity. I am a firm believer in the concept. We, the Jewish people are all united by the common bond of our Judaism. Whether we are observant or not. Whether culturally Jewish or...

Richard Chasman

Aug 12, 2016, 8:05 PM

A Woman’s Place

A World War II joke goes as follows. One of the first American soldiers in the occupation force got into a conversation with a Japanese man – asking him if had any idea that Japan was on the verge...

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