Israel: A Country Built on Miracles
In May 1948, 5 Arab armies were poised to invade the new state of Israel. All the Jews had in their arsenal were rifles and machine guns...
Rabbi Jonathan Feldman
BLOG
Search
Rabbi Dr. Avraham Twerski zt’l: Fearless Advocate for Those Suffering From Mental Health Issues and
The recognition upon his passing of Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski zt’l has already shown us the many facets of his greatness. Over the years...
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks: The Loss of a Jewish Global Visionary
The Jewish world and the whole world have lost a great teacher and leader, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. Rabbi Sacks was an unparalleled scholar,...
Coming Together on Yom Kippur Under the Stars in the Center of Tel Aviv
The two renowned Chasidic masters, the brothers Rav Elimelech and Rav Zusha were rounded up with some of the simple folk they used to...
Flying High on Rosh Hashanah
Many of us have childhood memories of a scary scene from a movie. In mine, the hero is trapped in a room with metal walls, and a suddenly...
Yom Haatzmaut Reflections: Israel -Jewish State or State for the Jews?
At the beginning of the Zionist movement in 1903, the British offered the ‘Uganda Plan’, which would have relocated Jews fleeing the...
Quarantine Diaries: How Is Israel Different From Other Countries: A Unique Passover
Passover in Israel during Conovirus has been a unique experience. Unfortunately, thousands of individuals were alone for Seder. Many of...
Quarantine Diaries: Lessons from a Global Crisis
There are many comic interludes posted online, and humor is an effective outlet in these anxious times. One good post was: “G-d could we...
Quarantine Diaries: Responding to the Challenge
I have now been in quarantine for six days, and while I have mostly been able to keep my spirits up despite the isolation, there are...
Quarantine Diaries: AIPAC, Israel and the Unity of Purim
Last week I attended the AIPAC conference in DC, an inspiring three-day gathering of pro-Israel conferences, lobbying, and general...
Rip Van Winkle, Tu B’Shvat and the Secret of Jewish Perseverance
Four months ago, a friend gave my wife a small sapling kumquat tree as a birthday present. We replanted it into a bigger pot, and every...
Jewish Genius, the Times Op-Ed Controversy, and the Talmud
Brett Stephens’ recent Op-ed on The Secret of Jewish Genius generated much discussion and controversy. I believe the most important but...
Who Is The 'Real' Jew?
Who is the ‘real’ Jew, the genius scientist, the pious Rabbinic scholar, or the nebby actor? For the early Zionists, it was none of...
The Soul of Shabbat and the Big Shabbat Dinner
Here is the d'var Torah I shared at the service before the dinner (to only 200 people, by the time 1000 young adults were there...
Why Wasn't Our Family Store Looted on Kristallnacht ?
Why Wasn’t Our Family Store Looted on Kristallnacht? This picture shows Nazi soldiers standing in front of the store our family owned and...
The Miracle of Yom Kippur in Tel Aviv: A Postcript
Yom Kippur in Tel Aviv is a remarkable experience. You would think that I would say ‘Yom Kippur in Jerusalem is a remarkable experience’,...
Yom Kippur: Making This Year Count
Y Yom Kippur -Making This Year Count (This was my talk on Yom Kippur) On Rosh Hashanah our 12 year old daughter sat in on the Natanah...
A New Me For The New Year
When we think of a New Year celebration, what comes to mind are parties, champagne, and a midnight toast to the coming year. The Jewish...
A Time to Laugh and a Time To Weep: Meaningful Melancholy on the 9th of Av
There is a time to laugh and a time to weep. Most people think this simple yet insightful truism comes from a song written by Pete Seeger...
Our Aliyahversary, One Year In by Shifra Feldman
Today, August 1st our family is celebrating our one-year Aliyah anniversary. I get chills up and down my arms just writing that...