Creating a sense of national unity has its shadow side, too
Posted on August 22, 2025 12:37 pm by sfriedman
As published in the J Weekly. August 21, 2025
Re’eh Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17
I remember the first time my wife Dena and I visited Yosemite. As we rolled down our windows approaching the park, we were greeted by the scent of pine and cedar while taking in the views. While I had never been there before, everything felt oddly familiar.
Embarrassed, I...Read More »
Why did Jews slaughter red heifers?
Posted on July 4, 2025 4:56 am by Rabbi Daniel Stein
As published in the J. Weekly, July 3, 2025 Parashat Ḥukat Numbers 19:1-22:1
When I was a child attending the Hebrew Academy of Toledo, a now-shuttered day school in Ohio, we listened to many songs written and performed by Country Yossi, an Orthodox parody songwriter who was a kind of...Read More »
A note on the Israel-Iran situation
Posted on June 13, 2025 3:01 pm by Rabbi Daniel Stein
Dear Friends, Last night, we watched as Israel launched a large scale attack against Iran’s nuclear capabilities. These attacks came in the wake of the IAEA’s unique announcement finding Iran to be in breach of international agreements about its nuclear program. This afternoon, we began to see the beginning of Iran’s response, as it launched long range missiles against Tel Aviv. For all of us,...Read More »
A message on the DC Violence
Posted on May 22, 2025 1:10 pm by Rabbi Daniel Stein
Dear Friends,
I was shocked, as I am sure many of you were, to awaken to the tragic news of Sarah Milgrim’s and Yaron Lischinsky’s outrageous murder. I am filled with equal measures of sadness and outrage. I am saddened for their tragic life, and for families who will have struggle with the void left in their absence. Already, we have learned...Read More »
This week’s Torah portion fueled a 1,000-year argument
Posted on May 18, 2025 1:47 pm by Rabbi Daniel Stein
Published May 15, 2025 in JWeekly
Emor Leviticus 21:1–24:23
In “The Big Book of Jewish Humor,” editors Moshe Waldoks and William Novak share one of my favorite Jewish jokes:
“A Jew who has been shipwrecked on a deserted island for three years is finally reached by rescuers. Proudly he shows them around the island, pointing out the irrigation...Read More »
Torah Commentary Shabbat HaHodesh
Posted on March 28, 2025 2:32 pm by Rabbi Daniel Stein
This week, we read the final of the special Torah readings leading up to Passover. In their own ways, each of these readings helps us prepare for the festival: In one of them, we learn about the obligation to contribute...Read More »