Enemy of the Soviet Government This week, I discovered that my father, Rabbi Moshe Greenberg, was considered an enemy of the state in the Soviet Union at the young age of just 18 years old, considered so dangerous that a memo about him was disseminated among the highest echelons of power, even those closest to Stalin. This memo was only recently discovered: In June 1950, a deputy minister of the...
Giving Thanks with Firefighters
Israelis were very excited when their firefighter delegation was sent to California.
What was so unique about this occasion, and what does it tell us about the meaning of gratitude?
“Long Live the King” — That’s You!
Who is a king in Jewish tradition, and what is his role?
A Honeymoon with G-d
The newlywed soldier and our moment with G-d.
The Pulse of the World
Gorbachev, the Rebbe, and how to be a “heart” of the Jewish people.
The Favorite Mitzvos
Why do we like certain mitzvos over others?
You don’t have to be a Jew to be a Levite
Antisemitism Today On Sunday, CNN aired a 1-hour program about anti-Semitism in the United States. They showed that there’s been a dramatic increase in hate crimes against Jewish people over the past few years; according to the FBI, the most persecuted religious minority in the country is the Jewish minority — and by a very wide margin. Anti-Semitism, they said, is the earliest form of...
Taxes in the Torah
What was the Torah’s commandment regarding taxes, and can it be fulfilled in our day?
A Conversation on the Plane
What do Israeli kids know about Judaism? Why did Moses break the tablets? And what is the secret to Jewish continuity?
What Is the Difference Between Sitting and Standing?
Why do we stand up for certain prayers but sit for others? And what is the deeper meaning behind it?