About 15 years ago, when my eldest child was five years old, I came in from work later than he did and saw his jacket, socks and shoes scattered all over the place. I started calling him and berating him for this and that and the other thing all at once, he replied, “Eema,…
Eikev Asher tishmiun/If you will only listen to do the laws that G-d set forth. Eikev, if you will only. The root of the word is heel and the commentaries tell us not to grind any of the commandments under your heel as if they were dust, or small commandments which could be neglected. We…
In the book of Devarim/Deuteronomy, we have Moshe rehashing history, but with a twist. If you compare the original scenes in the original three books of the Torah, they are told with a different lense. Moshe is unable to bring the Jews into the promised land. He is afraid when he dies, that the…
Summer makes me nostalgic. I guess there are fond memories attached to school days, but it’s the summer, when I was free to be me, that brings on the nostalgia. I remember 30 years ago, commuting to Manhattan, pre-Gamara car and smartphones. There were the men in the multi-seaters facing each other, spreading out…
This week, those who are learning daf yomi will complete 176 pages of Bava Basra, to complete the masechtah. I am proud to say, I am amongst the lucky. I am not a religious feminist. I have stated many times that I am happy with the mitzvoth given to me by the torah, I…
Israel’s Use of Targeted Killings: A Weapon of Necessity Alex Grobman, PhD The Israelis prefer “extrajudicial punishment,” “selective targeting,” or “long-range hot pursuit”—to describe their counterterrorism policy. 1 Whatever term used to describe this “counter-offensive” in which Israel employs fighter jets, helicopter gunships, tanks, car bombs, booby traps or snipers to eliminate terrorists who are…
Whenever a new president comes to power, we hear about changes in the gift and estate tax. But what is it and how does it affect the average person? Well, when you earned your money, you had to pay income tax on your annual earnings. When you invested your money and it increased in…
Your child is born, and there are checks in his name with beautiful cards that come your way. Now is the time to think about what to do with the money you child will get at his birth, for his birthdays and holidays, bar/bat mitzvah, sweet 16, and gifts from Grandma and Grandpa. There…
In 1820 Congress passed the Missouri Compromise which formalized slave states and free states and the rules of return of slaves etc. In 1865, the 13th Amendment was passed, freeing the slaves. 45 years. It’s been 150 years since the African Americans were freed, but we still see and hear about black rage as…
YESHIVA KETANA OF LONG ISLAND BOY HEADS TO THE WHITEHOUSE By: Suri Stern It is with great joy that I announce that Avrahmi Berkowitz, the son of Brynde and Ephraim Berkowitz, brother of Dr. Yehoshua Berkowitz, is headed to Washington as Special Assistant to President Trump, and assistant to Jared Kushner. Avrahmi is a long-time…