Dear Jew in the City, The month of Elul is a beautiful concept, but can be hard to relate to. What do I do actionably in Elul? What should we be trying to accomplish pre-teshuva? Best, Matt Dear Matt- Thanks for your question. First, let’s examine what Elul is. You might not realize how much […]
Being in the TV news business, I’ve been preoccupied with this week’s solar eclipse. It not only makes for great TV (and price gouging on eclipse glasses), it also makes for a few Torah thoughts. The ‘experts” call this an extraordinary cosmic coincidence. But is it? The sun is 400 times larger than the moon, […]
16 years ago today, God gave me a second chance at life. I was working in a summer camp in Israel for my third summer in a row, and Thursdays were usually the day that I’d be with our cab driver from morning to night running all over Jerusalem doing errands. Every time we passed […]
Dear Jew in the City, A few weeks ago, you discussed when Moshiach will come. What will happen when he gets here? Sincerely, Incredulous Dear Incredulous- Ah, a follow-up question! I love a good sequel as much as the next guy but with rare exception, they’re usually not as satisfying as the original. Here, […]
Dear Jew in the City- We see a fire and brimstone God throughout the Torah, and then a softer God elsewhere. But isn’t a relationship where the other person is sometimes abusive and sometimes nice still an abusive relationship? From, Trying to Connect Dear Trying- Thanks for your question. By “we see a fire and […]
Dear Jew in the City- In reading the Exodus-related Torah portions, I just don’t understand the story of the golden calf. How could a people who had just seen open miracles so quickly turn to idolatry? All the best, Cowed Dear Cowed- Thanks for your question. Actually, it makes perfect sense. I’ll explain. […]
