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Bayit Shlishi: The Challenge of the Third Temple

One topic I’ve found that is sure to mix it up at any Shabbos table (no matter what the brand of Judaism of the people sitting around it) is that of Bayit Shlishi, the Third Temple. Since 1967, Israel has (technically) had the opportunity to build the Third Temple, but for a host of reasons [...]

On Sgulot

My local chat list here in Israel had the following message yesterday:
“A special Yasher Koach [Well done!] to all the women who participated in baking challah for Nitzana Chaya bas Devora and David ben Freida.  They have b”H been blessed with a baby girl just 9½ months after the Shabbos that challah was baked for [...]

Reflections on Shacharit #2: Thanking G-d for Human Life

Depending on who you talk to, Birkot HaShachar can mean either all of the morning prayers before the Psalm section known as Pesukei D’Zimra, variously defined chunks of that section, or a single group of 15 blessings for awaking, rising, being a Jew, being free, etc.  However you slice it, this section of the prayer [...]

Reflections on Shacharit #1: Shlepping Yourself Out of Bed.

The logical place to begin looking at the Shacharit prayers is with the waking moments of the morning. As Jews, we believe that everything we do, every action we undertake, is not only an opportunity to remember G-d, but to bring holiness in to the world. There is nothing mundane, nothing inconsequential. [...]

Reflections on the Morning Prayers (Shacharit): Introduction

After a long hiatus brought on by the absolute insanity which is the life of an American Jew by Choice between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, I am happy to be here posting again on JBC.org, and I have to give my props to Avi for the great job on the new format. It [...]

Tefillin - The Breakfast of Champions

I thought I would take a break from denominational disputations to write a bit about one of my favorite Jewish spiritual practices - laying tefillin. If you are not sure what that means, go study here. As a Jewish male, I am obligated to put them on each weekday morning, and since I [...]