“Speak to Aharon and to his sons, saying: ‘So shall you bless Bnei Yisrael: Say to them, ‘May Hashem bless you and guard you…’” Why are the words “say to…
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Op-Ed
Peace, the “Vessel” for Blessing
Aftermath
There are indications that the worst of the rioting following the killing of George Floyd may be behind us. The streets of America’s cities as of this writing were reported…
The Unjust and the Unjustifiable
The murder of an innocent man can never be ignored. Nor can a civilized society look the other way on acts of anarchy and arson. The anguish and fury felt…
To Whom It May Concern
As we approach the eleventh week of a full-bodied lockdown of our schools, educators across the state are expressing concern over the continued onerous restrictions placed on our educational systems.…
Playing to the Court of Public Opinion
The trial of Binyamin Netanyahu has begun and the battle lines have been drawn. His supporters, comprising half the country, are convinced that he’s the victim of a corrupt judicial…
Making the Space Program Great Again
While America was mostly otherwise occupied this weekend, a landmark event took place: Two astronauts flew to a successful docking with the International Space Station (ISS). They weren’t the first…
There is No Going Back
When the father and son first set out on their journey, it was the father who was riding on the donkey, his energetic young son walking alongside him. Until they…
Futuristic Suffering
When I was first approached to write for the Shavuos edition of the Hamodia, I was hesitant. Under any circumstances, I have reservations about writing for a broad audience of…
SECURITY ALERT
In recent years, we’ve seen an increase in acts of anti-Semitic and violent hate-crime directed at the Jewish community. This is true both worldwide and in North America, where in…
Essential: A Matter of Importance
Essential. Such a simple word, yet so subjective. A whirlwind of new words and phrases were brought into our daily vocabulary during this pandemic. “Social distancing,” “flattening the curve,” “PPE,”…
Telemissionaries Come to Israel
Missionaries in Israel have unfortunately come a long way. From passing out pamphlets on street corners or stuffing them in mailboxes, they’ve become a force on the internet and on…
A New Chance to Tame The Housing Crisis
A popular myth has it that ministries should be run by “professionals.” That would mean generals running the Defense Ministry, social workers the Social Affairs Ministry and doctors the Health…
Overstepping the Line
No politician enters politics to end up in the opposition. For more on that, just ask Benny Gantz, who, after three inconclusive elections, decided to break his pledge and join…
Looking Inward
Like a sneak attack from an enemy, the far-reaching suffering and disruptions of the coronavirus pandemic caught many by complete surprise. Not so long ago, we would hardly have imagined…
The Essence of Essential
At long last, New York is beginning to see the light at the end of a very dark tunnel. In the state, which was hit the hardest in the current…
May the Best Hoax Win
Last August, when the world was a simpler place, I visited my 94-year-old friend in her upstate summer home and noticed an open copy of The New York Times Magazine…
Not a Time to Lower the Guard
As the corona crisis reaches the two-month mark, patience is wearing thin and frustration is understandably rising. When this crisis and the ensuing lockdown first began, the minds of many…
An Exercise in Futility
The single greatest threat to Israel as a Jewish and democratic country is the Supreme Court, acting in its capacity as the “High Court of Justice.” That’s because: a) anyone…
Pandemic Populism
While there are hopeful signs that the U.S. economy can reopen and people can go back to work, this transitional phase is no utopia. Almost 20 percent of the nation’s…
Why I Just Volunteered for a Covid-19 Vaccine Trial
The notion of testing covid-19 vaccines by deliberately infecting volunteers with the novel coronavirus — something that’s now on the table — isn’t necessarily crazy or unethical. It’s smart, and…