"For that, they expelled R' Yirmiyah from the Beit Midrash"
The Role of Legal Formalism in Jewish Law
"Rabbi, do you mean to tell me that God actually cares whether I say Shema at 9:22... or 9:23?!"
"Rabbi, do you really think it makes a difference to God whether I drink 5.2 fluid ounces of wine per cup at the seder... or 5.3?!"
These questions and others like them are common amongst adolescents and . . .
The Gift of Shabbos
The Challenges and Opportunities of Shabbos Observance in Contemporary Times
Judaism and the West
The Legacy of Yaakov and Esav
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה לָהּ שְׁנֵי גוֹיִם בְּבִטְנֵךְ וּשְׁנֵי לְאֻמִּים מִמֵּעַיִךְ יִפָּרֵדוּ וּלְאֹם מִלְאֹם יֶאֱמָץ וְרַב יַעֲבֹד צָעִיר
And the Lord said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two kingdoms will separate from your innards, and one kingdom will become mightier than the other kingdom, and the elder will serve . . .
The Shabbos After Project
A few years ago, my former student, Immanuel Shalev, described to me some of the more reflective moments he had as a founding member of YU's hit a cappella group, the Maccabeats. He told me about the way in which, at the height of their fame, his group would come to a community for Shabbat and people who hadn't stepped foot in a shul . . .
Kids Who Care
What is most important to you?
A. Achieving at a high level
B. Caring for others
C. Being a happy person
That was the question Harvard Graduate School of Education professors Rick Weissbourd and Stephanie Jones asked of some 10,000 teenagers from 33 different schools across the country over the last 10 years. In June of . . .
Imitatio Dei
The Secret Formula for Forgiveness
The Right Answer
"We're out."
"No you're not."
"Yes we are."
"But we're at the exit and you're not here."
"We found another one."
"Nice try. There isn't another one. Keep working at it and we'll see you soon!"
With that, the faculty member hung up . . .