I’ve been curious about our practice of singing/saying a daily psalm, which derives from the final mishnah in Tamid, in which it opens with saying “השיר שהיו הלויים אומרין בבית המקדש” – “The song which the Levites would say in...
On Monday, I had the opportunity to return to Trattoria Natalie, located on 8681 West Pico Boulevard in Los Angeles. While I had had a pleasant experience my first time going there last year, I was excited to try different...
Last week, my sister and brother-in-law bestowed upon us not one, but two expansions to “Firefly: The Game” (which they had also gotten for us (a year ago)), which was exciting. While I have written previously about the supply decks...
Eight years ago, in my second year of rabbinical school, I got very fascinated by a particular topic and subsequently endeavored in much research. While I had hoped (and still hope) to write an article on the topic, it seems...
Every year, I seem to receive a book or two, merely on account of my serving as a rabbi, for which I am thankful to receive these books. Last week, I received Joseph Telushkin’s Rebbe: The Life and Teachings of Menachem...
A half-year ago, I began this website with the aim of producing content Monday-Friday and, with the exception of certain weeks (whether being away on a work trip or other things going on), I was able to do that. Now...
A week ago, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School released its seventh volume of its מילין חביבין – Beloved Words (Milin Havivin) journal. In a unique direction, this issue focusses on the arts, with sections on painting, dance, theater, music, poetry, literature,...
This past Sunday, I held an Irish Whiskey-tasting – my first-ever. Along with 15+ other people, we were able to sample 7 different Irish whiskies. While I have had Jameson and Bushmills, I really did not have much of a...
A curiosity of mine for a few years now has been the noticeable absence, when reading through the statements of the early rabbis, as to why they do not mention a reason as to why Jews are supposed to light...
Last week, at Hillel International‘s inaugural Global Assembly, Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller, the Executive Director of Hillel at UCLA, was recognized for his 39 years of service with Hillel in advance of his upcoming retirement from Hillel this summer. “It is...
