Monthly Archives: June 2015

I am very taken with a recent article by Annika Hernroth-Rothstein, a young journalist. In it she makes the case that our instant, reflex-like response to every call for BDS and its ilk has, by our very opposition, given these essentially … Continue reading →

The most common sermon for Parshat Shelach is that bad-mouthing, יציאת דבה, (yetziat diba) Eretz Yisrael has disastrous results. The infamous Meraglim, scouts, return with a glowing report of Eretz Yisrael and then turn on it as אֶרֶץ אֹכֶלֶת יוֹשְׁבֶיהָ (Eretz Ochelet … Continue reading →

We all live in (at least) two worlds, which I’d like to distinguish here as the spiritual and the practical. My nature draws me to the spiritual/speculative, but I’m constantly dragged back “down to earth” by the practical. In many … Continue reading →

We live as a tiny group within the context of a very large and highly complex human society. There is much to be said for open and honest conversation with people of other faiths. With our mandate to be a … Continue reading →

I live in a state of constant dissatisfaction. No matter what I achieve, I want more. I know I can go further because others before me have. I’m not talking about money or recognition or even fingerboard dexterity on my … Continue reading →

There is as hidden conditional phrase that precedes every mitzva and halacha. It goes like this, “If you want to participate in refining the world and refining yourself, then do…..(or refrain from……)”. Torah and Mitzvot are not arbitrary. They’re also not … Continue reading →