Among the more curious acquisitions to cross my desk this week was a pair of rare Talmud volumes that owe their existence to one of the most brilliant – and most vexing – rabbinic figures of the early ...

Even though the title of this column is “Torah by the Numbers,” we’re starting this week with a look at the end of Chanukah and the three tragedies commemorated on the 8 th, 9 th, and 10 th of this ...

The name of Hashem has been blurred to avoid sheimos. What an exciting family heirloom to own! You and I have had some follow-up communication after your initial email to me; that is because I had to ...

When I was in elementary school, our choir performed and recorded (on LP) a song called “Everybody Loves Saturday Night.” To show the universality of that sentiment we sang it in four different ...

Sociologists call it homophily, the human instinct to surround ourselves with people who think like us. It feels natural, even efficient. Decisions move faster, meetings are smoother, and consensus ...

Bronze sculpture of an ibex from Iran, 1st millennium BCE. Fishes are not named in either sedra – only the requirement of having fins and scales. Be aware that fish can have different types of scales ...

In the financial world, few things offer more comfort than receiving a large sum of cash. The challenge is how to handle a windfall responsibly based on the markets, economic environment, and personal ...

Occasionally, when I’m introduced to someone, and the person introducing me says, “He writes a column in The Jewish Press about antique Judaica,” I receive the response “That’s you?! How do you know ...

All 14 Jews the Iranian regime arrested have been released, Iranian opposition activists and journalists told JNS, after news reports last week that the Islamic Republic arrested some 600 people ...

One of the biggest line items in any frum family’s budget is yeshiva tuition. The cost of a yeshiva education has continued to rise, becoming a financial burden for many families. For years, Rabbinic ...

Booby-trapped tunnel shaft uncovered by IDF combat engineers. While mainstream media are focused on events in Iran, IDF soldiers are continuing Iron Sword operations in Gaza as they work to dismantle ...