Destruction of the First Temple
The Tenth of Tevet: Ancient Antisemitism Remembered

The Tenth of Tevet: Ancient Antisemitism Remembered

By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz High school was difficult for me. Not only was I an awkward teen but there was also a group of guys who, unbeknownst to me, had decided amongst themselves that they would make my life miserable. They would take...

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What Rachel Can Teach You About Being a Mother

What Rachel Can Teach You About Being a Mother

By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz The Torah lists many holidays, but Mother’s Day is not one of them. Because the Torah commands us to honor our parents, every day is Mother’s Day (and Father’s Day). But if there could be one designated day to...

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The Tragedy of the Death of Gedaliah

The Tragedy of the Death of Gedaliah

By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz Today, the day after Rosh Hashanah (Hebrew New Year), Jews observe a minor fast day from dawn until dusk. This fast day, known as the Fast of Gedaliah, laments the assassination of a righteous governor of the...

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The Torn Page that Gave Life

The Torn Page that Gave Life

On June 29th, 2022, Israel lost a great light last month when Rabbi David Weiss Halivni passed away in Jerusalem at the age of 94. A Professor of Talmud and recognized as a brilliant scholar, he served as the head of the Union for...

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Why do we fast on the Tenth of Tevet?

Why do we fast on the Tenth of Tevet?

The tenth day of the Hebrew month Tevet, which comes one week after the last day of Hanukkah, is a minor fast day. The fast begins at dawn and ending after sundown.  The fast is in mourning of the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem by...

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Who is Gedalia and why do Jews fast for him?

Who is Gedalia and why do Jews fast for him?

Archaeologists in Israel uncovered evidence from nearly three thousand years ago, proving the existence of Gedaliah, a relatively minor character mentioned in the Bible, whose life is still commemorated till this very day by Jews every...

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Weekly Torah Portion: Purity in the Land

Chapter 18 of Leviticus is seemingly a list of dos and don'ts, not unlike many of the rules of purity and impurity listed throughout Leviticus. But at closer examination, there is something different about the instructions listed here....

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