By Rabbi Elie Mischel Change or continuity? Revolution or tradition? Throughout the modern age, our society has been caught between the values of tradition and stability on the one hand, and the need for change and improvement on the...
Gideon’s Proud Legacy of Respect
By Rabbi Elie Mischel The Hebrew Bible is careful with its words. When introducing a new protagonist, the Bible rarely tells us about their background. Famously, the story of Abraham begins when he is already 75 years old, forcing the...
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...
Three Things We Must Renew Daily
By Chaim Barzel We have all made New Year's resolutions: to eat healthier, to get to sleep earlier, to make up with an old friend, etc. That is because the new year is a time of renewal. A new year means the opportunity to start over, and...
The Torah’s Secret for Living a Long Life
By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz My friend, Bob, is a health fanatic, running after every new trend that comes out. He has gone from vegan to an all-meat diet. His medicine cabinet is full to overflowing with pills and additives. Every time he...
What Only a Father Can Do
Father’s Day is a delightful blend of a secular and religious holiday, combining consumerism with the Biblical mandate to “Honor thy father.” But is it artificially amplified? Are fathers really that important? Mothers are clearly...
What Does it Mean to Be Holy?
Leviticus Chapter 19 begins with a deceptively simple commandment: You shall be holy, for I, Hashem your God, am holy. Leviticus 19:2 There has been much speculation about this verse. At first glance, the imperative seems impossible as...