Evil does not exist in a vacuum. A culture is needed for evil to be nurtured, in which it…
Menachot 2: The Power of Logic
There is seemingly no better proof for a Talmudic viewpoint than support from a biblical verse…
An Introduction to Masechet Menachot
“Now it came to pass after many days, that Cain brought of the fruit of the soil an offering…
Re'eh: Springtime
“Guard the month of the spring, and make Pesach to the Lord your G-d, because it was in the month…
Zevachim 88: Clothes Make the Man - and Woman
The fashion industry is a one that employs millions of people worldwide and both reflects and molds…
Zevachim 88: Back-to-Back
One of the frequent questions Rashi asks in his commentary to the Chumash is lamah nismicha,…
Goodbye Greece
As I sit on the plane, having just spent ten glorious days in Greece, let me share some final…
The Charm of Chalkis
Something that one might be fairly certain will never appear in a shul, no matter where it is or…
Salutations from Salonica
As one enters the beautiful Yad Lezikaron shul in Salonica, one notices plaques on the wall. But…
Impressions from Ioannina
One of the beautiful experiences in travelling around the Jewish world is seeing the richness and…
Commentary from Corfu
“Ma rabu ma’asecha Hashem, how beautiful are Your creations, G-d!” After…
Arrival in Athens
Philosophy, mathematics, democracy, the Olympics, architecture, libraries, trial by jury, mythology…
Chukat: Time to Talk
Parshat Chukat marks the transition from the generation that left Egypt to the one that would enter…
Korach: Holy and More Holy
The Torah was "edited" with great precision. Narrative and law are often intertwined; one…
Zevachim 48: Go North
“The ox and goat of Yom Kippur are slaughtered in the north” (Zevachim 47a). As we…
Zevachim 47: I Agree!
Other than belief in G-d, there is almost nothing in Judaism that is not subject to debate. Does G-…
Shelach Lecha: An Old Name
Of the twelve men sent to bring back a report about the land of Israel, only one of them—…
Zevachim 46: What's On Your Mind?
One of the classic debates of the Talmud – and one with no clear resolution – is…