What do the laws of ritual sacrifice outlined in the Torah have to teach us about being quarantined? In this week's Parashat Hashavua, Avraham Eisen reflects on equality before the law, equality before pandemics, and what the values behind ancient practices that still have lessons for us today. […]
This week’s Parsha is made up of two separate and consecutive Torah portions – Vayakhel and Pekudei. It’s ironic that Parshat Vayakhel (‘he convened’) comes at a time when all public meetings have been forbidden in an attempt to halt the spread of the coronavirus. […]
What kind of grocery shopper are you? Do you flip over the box and check out the nutritional information and indgredients, or just toss it in the cart? This week's Parasha, Ki Tisa, makes it clear that we should be reading the box carefully. Yael Dinur on Judaism, food, and how it got to our dinner tables. […]
On the Shabbat before Purim, it is customary to add a reading to the weekly Parsha that is called, “Parshat Zachor.” The reason behind this tradition is hidden in a verse from the added parsha, “Remember what Amalek did to you.” This verse, now linked to Purim, is an echo that reminds us of how the Amalek lineage eventually begets the evil Haman. […]
It is easy to understand why Purim might be someone's favorite Jewish holiday. There are costumes, noisemakers, jam-filled triangle cookies, and even a theological justification for drinking without inhibition! In a Jewish holiday calendar so often filled with solemnity and grief, Purim stands out a holiday unlike any other. […]
Will you indulge us for a moment? Can we take a minute to point out a few challenges in how we launch our children on their Jewish journeys? Don’t worry – we won’t just kvetch; we also have a pretty good solution for how to address these challenges. […]
Avraham Eisen explores the relevance of this lesson for our current complicated political reality […]
How does the end of Egyptian slavery compare with the end of the Holocaust? […]
Five must-see spots on the "other side" of Tel Aviv The neighborhoods of south Tel Aviv are the "wrong side […]
Nehama Dormont – a participant on BINA Gap Year in Tel Aviv, is summarizing her first five months on the […]
