The Bizarre Holiday of Rome
The Gemara (Avodah Zarah 11b) tells us of a curious holiday that was celebrated in Rome every seventy years. In…
Read More
The Sun of Yaakov and Brilliance of Jerusalem
As Yaakov departs for his uncle’s house in Haran, he encounters “the place” and stays there for the night “ki…
Read More
Jerusalem and Rome: The Clash of Tzniut and Chitzoniut
As we progress further into Sefer Bereishit, we turn from the rivalry of Yitzchak and Yishmael to the struggle between…
Read More
Ornan’s Threshing Floor: The Purchase of an Exclusive Relationship
Our parsha opens with the account of Avraham Avinu’s purchase of a burial plot for Sarah Immeinu. Seeking to bury…
Read More
The Akeidah and Jerusalem’s Pillar of Holy Fire
The famous story of the akeidah is familiar to us: Avraham Avinu is called upon by God to bring his…
Read More
The Battle, the Bread, and the Wine of Jerusalem
Ma’aseh Avot Siman L’Banim, the actions of the forefathers are a sign for the children. Four kings, led by Amraphel…
Read More
The Lowly Jew’s Fire for Jerusalem
The Midrash Rabbah (Noach, 32) recounts a bizarre story about the great Tannaitic sage Rebbe Yonatan, who was a principal…
Read More
What can we do for Eretz Yisrael now?
I’ll be honest. After a week of standing in stairwells or bomb shelters with children in my arms, after a…
Read More
Jerusalem: The Sukkah of Peace
Every day, when praying tefilat Arvit, we recite the blessing of hashkiveinu, asking Hashem to safeguard us from all kinds…
Read More
Seeking Tzion: The Missing Ingredient of Our Lulav Experience
With the oncoming Chag HaSukkot, Jews around the world will be enthusiastically choosing their daled minim in order to fulfill…
Read More