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Sandy Wasserman

Mar 26, 2018, 7:49 AM

March for Our Lives and Shabbat HaGadol; my life lived in two places

This is not a memoir or a journal entry, though it may appear to be at first glance. It’s about how I spent last week's Shabbat, my Sabbath on March 24th, 2018. The day known as MARCH FOR OUR...

William Hamilton

Mar 23, 2018, 5:38 PM

‘Whoever is winning at the moment will always seem to be invincible’

“Ah, right, we don’t say supplication prayers today because we’re approaching Passover -- hurray.” This has been the daily reaction at morning minyan all week long. Worshipers are delightfully surprised to be reminded that we can omit ‘beseeching God’s forgiveness’ (tachanun)...

Sharona Margolin Halickman

Mar 23, 2018, 5:10 PM

Is coffee permissible on Pesach?

In the 17th century when coffee was introduced in Western Europe, Rabbi Yaakov Reischer was asked if coffee can be used on Pesach or if it is considered kitniot (a category of legumes that are not permissible on Pesach for...

Mar 22, 2018, 1:58 PM

Gratitude with attitude

Illustrative. Nun praying. (iStock)

We're innately hyper-alert to potential danger, but simply being grateful may do more to extend our lives (Tzav)

Mar 22, 2018, 1:03 PM

The day Elijah the Prophet got in trouble

Elijah's cave on Mount Carmel, March 2017. (Deror Avi/Wikipedia)

Expect revelation not in the big production of Mount Sinai, but in a still small voice

Mar 22, 2018, 5:59 AM

“Crime and punishment” Parashat Tzav 5778

The Torah is not meant to be read – it is meant to be sung. The “notes” to which the Torah is sung are called “cantillations”, “ta’amei ha’mikra” in Hebrew, and “trope” to Bar Mitzvah boys growing up in...

Ben-Tzion Spitz

Mar 19, 2018, 12:03 AM

Tzav: Useful, Thoughtful, Meaningful Prayers

Prayer is not an old woman's idle amusement. Properly understood and applied, it is the most potent instrument of action. -Mahatma Gandhi There is a not-uncommon phenomenon in Hebrew prayer, of people not understanding what they are saying. This goes...

Ariel Ben Avraham

Mar 18, 2018, 8:26 PM

Parshat Tzav: The sacrificial offerings of love

“And the fire on the altar shall be kept burning thereby, it shall not go out (…).” (Leviticus 6:5) In our other commentaries on this portion we have referred to fire as a multifaceted element, as essential as water, air...

Apr 9, 2017, 8:07 AM

Jewish Thanksgiving

When you go through the Jewish educational system in North America, there are certain stock questions and answers you get used to hearing annually. Q: Why doesn't our calendar have a day dedicated to this great idea? A: Because for Jews,...

William Hamilton

Apr 7, 2017, 6:30 PM

Jerusalem — the Seder’s last word

Sages debate about where the Seder storytelling should begin. All agree about where it needs to end - Jerusalem. Always the compass for next year’s aspirations, Jerusalem was wondrously restored 50 years ago. This year’s Seder invites us to...

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