J Blog

Recently, I have been taking fewer pictures. I found that whether I was attending a gathering of friends, a family trip, or a simcha, I spent so much time capturing the moment that I was not “in” the moment. Bear in mind that this is not easy for me. I am constantly worried that I will not have memories of the event when I want to recall them. Rabbi Yakov Nagen shares a wonderful story from the Zen tradition that confirmed for me ...

Beyond A Code of Jewish Law: Rabbi Avraham Danzig's Hayei Adam Simcha Fishbane / Academic Studies Press 2021 Reviewed by Rabbi Barry Gelman “In 1801 and again in 1818, Rabbi Abraham Danzig published his comprehensive code of Jewish law, the Hayei Adam. This work was the first such publication to become popularly accepted by Jewish laymenn (and subsequently by learned Rabbis) since the publication of Rabbi Yosef Karo’s Shulhan ...

Family Corner is a space to offer interactive and thoughtful ideas for family engagement with the Parshat Hashavua (weekly Torah reading). This week in the Parsha (Vayakhel) we encounter themes of Shabbat, Tzedakah (Charity), being artistic, following instructions. Parsha Summary Moses teaches the rules of Shabbat. (35:1-3) Moses asks the Israelites for a donation of gifts and those who are skilled help build the Mishkan under the ...

This enigmatic passage in the Talmud (Beitzah 16a) offers us insight into a realm of spirituality that is sometimes overlooked. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן ...

וְאַתָּ֞ה תְּצַוֶּ֣ה ׀ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְיִקְח֨וּ אֵלֶ֜יךָ ...

When referring to the ornamental crown around the top f the Table and Alter in the Mishkan (Tabernacle) the Torah says that the crown was “for it” (Lo). On the other hand, when referring to the ornamental crown on the Ark, the Torah says that that the crown was “on it” (alav). Considering that these three crowns were very similar, the different language used to describe the crown placement is noteworthy. Rabbi Bahya Ben ...

The month of February is all about the heart. Celebrate American Heart Month by learning more about how you can gain and maintain great cardiovascular health as well as reduce your risk for heart disease. Heart disease can affect people of any age or gender and has no boundaries. In the last 20 years, heart disease has been the leading cause of death in both adult men and women in the United States. Increasing rates of obesity and hypertension ...