“Ma, there’s a fire!” is not what I wanted to hear as I was preparing for Passover by self-cleaning the oven. This was followed shortly by an explosion as the oven’s glass door shattered, leaving glass and burn marks all over the kitchen. Thankfully no one was hurt (except the flooring, which bears the marks […]

Wherever you fall on the religious spectrum, the day of the Passover seder is busy. You’re either frantically working to make sure your seder is all good to go, hurrying to finish work so you can get where you’re going on time or traveling trying to make it to a new destination. When hosting, there […]

Dear Jew in the City, My family’s Pesach traditions are so strict and burdensome that I don’t want to observe the holiday anymore. The work is too much and I’m starving the whole time. Is there room for me to be more lenient? -A.E.   Dear A.E, Thanks for your question. As I mentioned last […]

Dear Jew in the City, Are Orthodox Jews allowed to consume alcohol? Thanks, Sam Dear Sam, Thanks for your question, though I really wonder what prompted it. Anyone even passingly familiar with Jewish ritual life would be aware that wine plays a regular role in it. We usher Shabbos in and out with kiddush and havdalah […]

Former NBA star Amar’e Stoudemire has relocated to Brooklyn to help coach the Nets, but that’s not stopping him from having a traditional Pesach at home with his children. Between a rigorous schedule of Gemara study, prayer and attending player practices and games, Stoudemire’s days are full, with Passover preparations notwithstanding. He says, “I think […]

Several times each day, we describe God in our prayers as a shome’a tefila, One who hears prayers. “Hear our voice, Hashem, our God…accept our prayers with compassion…don’t turn us away empty…Blessed are You, Hashem, Who hears prayer.”  This blessing of the Amidah prayer paints a nice, neat picture of the relationship between our prayers […]