Shavuot Baal Shem Tov Story
The holiday of Shavuot, where we mark the Giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai, begins this Tuesday evening (May 14, 2013),…
Catching Airplanes
I recall one day, shortly after we moved to Queens in 2004, I was in our Jewel Avenue apartment speaking to my…
Lag BaOmer Upsherinish
Shalom Aleichem! This Sunday is the holiday of Lag BaOmer. We will be cutting our son’s hair for the first time, and we’re very…
The Beginning and End
Shalom Aleichem! Just a few days ago, while studying the Talmud (Sotah 14a), I came across a passage that I would like…
The Shabbat Cigarette
Shalom Aleichem! Every holiday should have a “takeaway,” no? What was your “takeaway” for Passover this year? Please email me, I would…
Don’t Be So Negative!
Shalom Aleichem! I know it’s a cliche for me to say this, but, I really enjoy studying Torah. What’s on my “reading list” these…
The Lovable Reb Gavriel
One of the first disciples of Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi was known as “the lovable Reb Gavriel.” Reb Gavriel lived with…
Do You Think?
In one of my Sinai Scholars classes last semester on the QC campus, I opened with the following discussion question: What was the best thought…
Purim Torah
ב”ה פורים תורה מנחם מענדל וורטהיימר ווי ווייסט מען אז אויב גוט וועט זיין אויף די קעניג וועט די דבר מלכות…
Two Shabbats
I have heard it said that, “More than the Jews have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews.” Clearly, Shabbat continues to…
