THE MEANING OF ROSH HASHANAH Rosh Hashanah (the “beginning” or “head” of “the year”) is the Jewish New Year, celebrated on the 1st of Tishrei (September-October) each year. As with all Jewish holidays, understanding its complete meaning requires understanding the law of…
Rosh Hashana is not just the beginning of the Hebrew calendar; it is also a symbol of renewal. This is when we begin to scrutinize ourselves and determine how we want to improve ourselves. Considering the disasters America has been…
Alongside stories of heroism demonstrated by American citizens during the devastating hurricanes, stories about the price gouging spread as well. The price of a flight ticket jumped from $550 to $3,300, and a pack of bottled mineral water jumped to…
When the winds calm, power returns, and food and gas are available again, there will still be people who need help. Besides the obvious physical cost of the storm, there is another aftermath that survivors will have to handle. Many…
While I am writing this, reports of hurricane Irma’s devastation are still pouring in. Clearly, nature has flipped. Scientists have been warning for years that global warming means stronger storms and increasingly frequent freak weather. But knowing this will happen…
There is a joke about a man who falls from the tenth floor and passes by the window of his neighbour on the fifth floor. “What’s new?” the neighbour asks. “For the time being– all’s well,” replies the man who…
Even though I spent last weekend in Germany at a convention with my European students, I followed closely the unfolding catastrophe in Houston. The reports in the media and the stories I heard from my students out there were heartbreaking.…
Heard of Beer Pong? It’s a drinking game played by young people in the U.S.. They aim a ping pong ball into a half-full beer glass on the other side of the table. When someone scores, the player on the…
Earlier this week, CNN news anchor Don Lemon stated that the president “is clearly trying to ignite a civil war in this country.” In response to Lemon’s words, historian and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said in an interview on “Tucker Carlson Tonight”: “I…
For anyone not in President Trump’s closest circle, it is hard to figure out where the White House is going. I was very supportive of Trump even before he won the Republican primaries, but currently, it’s hard to see where…
It may already be too late for American Jewry, but uniting the Jews above all the disagreements is still the only thing that can save them from a catastrophe that is now vividly in the horizon. For more than a…
Much more than hearts and flowers! Discover the unconditional love symbolized by Tu B’Av and how it can elevate the world. In modern-day Israel, Tu b’Av (the 15th of Av) has become a feel-good day, mostly characterized by spouses buying chocolate and…