It was the first week of the war. The second shiva house that I attended. It was held in a Jerusalem hotel, because the hero who had died defending people in the Gaza envelope was a lone soldier from France. His name was Binyanmin Lev. Binyamin’s mom spoke about how Binyamin had left the safety […]
“When I was growing up, learning about the Holocaust, I often wondered what I, as a Christian, would have done in those days if I were a German. Would I have been that person to hide my Jewish neighbor? After October 7th, I didn’t have to wonder anymore. It was my opportunity to use my […]
On Passover, Jews around the world lean into storytelling as a way to transmit our national identity and pride in our distinct history, religion, culture, and traditions. As a people, we deeply understand the power of stories to shape us. In recent weeks, we’ve seen some great, positive portrayals of Jews and Judaism on screen. […]
My mother was diagnosed with cancer 20 years ago. The disease was asymptomatic for years, but once it went into high gear, she had to begin treatment which tied her down to the hospital. When she made progress in fighting the cancer (she appears to be in remission, thank God!) and her new treatment protocol […]
It was the fall of 2023, and the Yeshiva University men’s basketball team was riding high. They were on a 50-game winning streak and were gearing up to try for the conference title at the NCAA Division III tournament. They had talented players on their team, including six Israelis. Then, once October 7th happened, the […]
Dear Jew in the City- If there’s no Temple anymore, why are we still counting an Omer that’s not even being brought? Didn’t other Temple-related actives just cease after its destruction? Thanks, Losing Count Already Dear Count, That’s a pretty good question. Let’s first explain what “counting the omer” is. Leviticus chapter 23 […]
