Rabbi Shimon fled to the cave to escape a death sentence for publicly criticizing Roman culture. According to folk tradition, during his twelve years of isolation, he engaged in mystical meditation and wrote the Zohar, the central work of Kabbalah. 

Blessed are You O Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who differentiates between light and darkness, between Israel and the nations, between sadness and joy, between war and peace, between Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut; blessed are You O Lord, who

It should come as a shock to no one that President Obama's speech yesterday on the Middle East has engendered strong reactions from the across the global and ideological spectrum, particularly in response to his comments on Israeli-Palestinian peace.

One of my favorite Israel memories, beyond the classic touristy ones, is of a rainbow flag flying over Jerusalem.

I spent part of my first year of rabbinical school living in Jerusalem.

Shabbat and Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel's Independence Day. On the surface, these holidays have little in common. One has existed literally since the beginning of creation, the other since 1948.

Delivered at the Religious Action Center's Consultation on Conscience, Washington, D.C.

It is such a great honor to be with you today as part of the RAC's 50th anniversary celebration. Modim anachnu lach - How grateful we are for this crucial pillar of our

Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart.
-Deuteronomy 6:4-6

Recently, leading

And when you enter the land that the Lord will give you, as He has promised, you shall observe this rite.

The deadline for the inter-movement Rabbinic sign-on letter for foreign aid to Israel is Friday. If you are a Rabbi add your name here. If you are not a rabbi you can also support foreign aid to Israel by clicking here to email your member of Congress and let