Jewish Blogs

Parshat Toldot: Wells of Faith

In Parshat Toldot, the Torah tells us that Yitzchak dug wells. The Avot were the progenitors of the Jewish people and their actions were indicative of everything that would happen to their descendants in the future. The Midrash says in the name of Rav Yehuda that Yitzchak dug four well. In the future his children would have four camps in the desert. The Rabbanan taught ...

Finding Values in Detroit Sports: Tigers Fans, Lions Fans and Ndamukong Suh

As a rabbi blogger who writes about sports, I’m always interested in the values that can be learned from watching sports. There are many situations in which the players, coaches, management or fans will do something that leads us to discuss how the situation was values driven.In Detroit, there are three situations that occurred here recently that I believe speak ...

Thanksgiving is Part of the Jewish Experience

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. It is certainly my favorite secular holiday. I love waking up on Thanksgiving morning knowing that it will be a relaxing day spent with family and friends. I will contemplate all the things for which I am thankful, including being an American.This week one of my children asked if Thanksgiving was a Jewish holiday ...

Whole Wheat Oatmeal Banana Loaf

I’ve been meaning to share this delicious whole wheat oatmeal banana bread with you for some time now, just I keep wondering whether the photo is just a little bit strange? You’ll forgive me right? I made this cake for Simchat Torah, and rushed outside to photograph it just before the holiday began. My usual outdoor spot was occupied by ...

Dvar Torah Toldos: Keeping the Faith

Rashi brings down the Talmud (Yoma 28b) asserting that Abraham observed the entire Torah and more, and ostensibly, this can be extended to include the other patriarchs as well; this is pretty much what we all learn in 3rd grade, and it has its source in this week’s parsha:“Abraham listened to My voice and observed My mandate, My commandments, My decrees ...

Ryan Braun and Justin Verlander Win MVP Awards

Here in Detroit we couldn’t be happier. Detroit Tigers’ ace Justin Verlander won both the Cy Young Award and the MVP Award for the American League this year. Justin is the first starting pitcher to win the MVP Award in 25 years and the first Detroit Tigers player to win both awards since Willy Hernandez did so in the memorable ...

Chanukah Centerpiece: Yarn Wrapped Hurricanes

Here’s a really simple idea for your Chanukah table this year, yarn wrapped vases! You can use this idea to make a stunning Chanukah centerpiece, or make a bunch to place individually. I’d go for a bunch together, as they look amazing in a group. And it’s just a simple as wrapping some yarn around a glass vase or even a jar.I first saw ...

Hilchot Shabbat: Final Halachot of Havdala class #17

Havdala is recited twice, the first time in Maariv with the blessing of Ata Chonantanuand again over a cup of wine.Why do we say Havdala in the blessing of Atah Chonen? The Yerushalmi in Brachot says, “Im ein da’at havdala minayin.” Without intellect, it is impossible to distinguish between different things. To make Havdala, one needs a measure of intellect. On Shabbat we are focused solely ...

Responsibility not Chesed

Chesed is never quite disinterested. Even the tahara (purification) of a deceased person, chesed shel emes done without any expectation of reciprocity, provides the one performing the mitzvah with a feeling of satisfaction. Part of that satisfaction lies in the feeling that doing chesed is in the category of eino mitzuveh v’osei – one who performs without being commanded — and that one has therefore gone beyond ...

Lechem Oni

The Torah refers to the matzah as lechem oni (the bread of affliction). The Gemara explains that it is lechem she’onim alav dvarim harbeh, bread over which we say many things. Accordingly, Rabbenu Chananel notes that we recite the hagadah over the matzah. Just as on Shabbat we say kiddush on a cupof wine in order to lend formality and significance to the words, the matzot add an aura of importance to the telling of the ...

MJL is Hiring!

Calling all smart, talented, writerly, computer-savvy, and unemployed people! MyJewishLearning.com is on the hunt for an Editorial Assistant to join our team. Besides working with an awesome crew (seriously, we’re great, and we’ll get you donuts for your birthday), you’d be working in a lovely, casual Manhattan office and getting hands on with everything that goes into running a Jewish ...

Backing up Birth Control, and Each Other

In an ironic, but perhaps unplanned turn of events, this year’s Back Up Your Birth Control Day of Action comes the day after the premiere of season 4 of 16 and Pregnant. (And if you think I haven’t been waiting for this television event since the end of last season…you would be wrong.)Like it or not, MTV’s shows about teen ...