19-year-old Yanky Hill flew back to Jerusalem this week after spending time in Ukraine and then New York with friends. As a singer who is making his own way, despite the family footsteps of his brother Singer Ari Hill and his grandfather, actor Steven Hill, he recently released a song in Yiddish and Hebrew called […]

14-year-old Dvora Polak, an avid musician who has been homebound for several years due to a rare condition, was excited to perform before a large virtual audience at Chai Lifeline’s Chanukah Gala. She says that she was shocked by a “wonderful surprise” when Kenny G and Andrea Bocelli, among other famous names in the music […]

Dear JITC- I’ve already been experiencing a very hard time with lockdown. Not listening to music during the three weeks seems daunting from a mental health perspective. Is there any leniency in that regard considering the state of the world? Thanks, Tsippy Dear Tsippy- I hesitate to answer this question because it strays dangerously close […]

Dear JITC- Are hobbies allowed according to halacha? Thanks, Margaux Dear Margaux- Thanks for your question. I assume your starting point is the statement of the Shulchan Aruch in Yoreh Deah (246:25) that anyone who is able to engage in Torah and neglects to do so is guilty of “despising” the Torah. This is actually […]

Throughout my childhood, I spent a good amount of time hopping around to different churches, reading up on meditation and mindfulness, and surfing the web for some kind of answer to life’s most basic question: “Why are we here?” I’d pose this question to my friends and teachers, but I didn’t feel satisfied with anyone’s response. […]