Back in 1969 my Dad took our family to a drive-in theater to see Walt Disney’s animated feature, 101 Dalmatians. Besides the excitement of seeing the movie on the big screen and eating popcorn in the car, the memory that lingers in my mind about that particular evening was my very worried mother in the […]
It was on this day in the year 1204 that Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, also known as Maimonides or the Rambam, died. To this day Maimonides is considered to be one of the most esteemed, perhaps the premier sage of rabbinical Judaism. He was a noted Talmudist, a codifier, a writer, a philosopher, exhibiting great […]
We read in the Scripture that when Messiah was brought before Pilate, the Roman Governor asked Him, “What is truth?” The irony of the question is that Truth was standing right in front of Pilate. He was staring at Truth, but he would not, or could not, recognize Him. On a much broader scale, the […]
When God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt and into the wilderness of Sinai, He descended upon the mountain and said: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.” He didn’t say, “I am the Lord your God who created […]
In Judaism, this day commemorates the death of two prominent 18th century rabbis, who were also regarded as maggidim or “preachers.” A maggid, or preacher, is distinguished from a typical rabbi in that a rabbi’s audience tends to be scholars and students. A maggid, however, was someone who went to the masses. In the 18th century, […]
It was on this day in 1947 that the ship called “29th of November,” filled with Jewish immigrants to the Holy Land, was turned away by the British. The reason it was denied entry was because it contained, at least in Britain’s view, “displaced persons” they considered to be illegal immigrants. On November of 29, […]
Thursday December 13th: 5 Tevet It was on this day in the year 586 B.C. that news of the destruction of the Temple reached the Prophet Ezekiel, who was then in Babylon. In commemoration of this event, Judaism regards today as a fast day in connection with the destruction of the Temple. Fasting is something […]
In 1951, Israel Zangwill, wrote about the emergence of the state of Israel, which had occurred in 1948. He said: “The land without a people waited for the people without a land.” It’s very simple, profound and thought-provoking. In just a few words he said a lot. There were people who had populated the land […]
For all of those who live in the northern hemisphere, winter is upon us – a time of dead leaves and gloomy weather. Not surprisingly, during this time of year many people struggle with depression. Perhaps its because of the stark landscape and sunless skies or just the overall environment that winter creates. Whatever it […]
Tuesday December 11th: 3 Tevet For all of those who live in the northern hemisphere, winter is upon us – a time of dead leaves and gloomy weather. Not surprisingly, during this time of year many people struggle with depression. Perhaps its because of the stark landscape and sunless skies or just the overall environment […]
Today is the second day of Tevet and the eighth and final day of Hanukkah. On this concluding day of the Festival of Lights, all eight branches of the Hanukkah menorah are burning bright. The imagery of a menorah with all of its branches producing light has a prophetic element to it. It demonstrates the […]
Sunday December 9th: 1 Tevet Today is the first day of the month called Tevet. It also the seventh day of Hanukkah. It was on this day that a young Benjamite girl named Hadassah – better known as Esther – was presented to the king of Persia as recorded in Scripture. “So Esther was taken […]
