The Quiet Heroes of Our Time
By Rabbi Elie Mischel Othniel, the first judge of Israel described in the book of Judges, was a courageous warrior and military leader. When Caleb, the aging leader of the tribe of Judah, sought a younger man to lead the men of Judah in battle, Othniel volunteered:...
As Good as a Share in the World to Come
By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz Learning Torah with my ten-year-old son is a challenging experience. He asks the obvious questions that are disturbingly difficult to answer. “Abba, did God promise all of Israel to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?” he asked. “You know he did,” I...
Machpelah: More Than Just a Cave
By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz This coming Saturday Jews will read the Torah portion known as Chayei Sarah (The Life of Sarah). The portion begins with the death of Sarah, the matriarch, and describes Abraham’s purchase of the Machpelah Cave in order to bury her. Hebron...
