The Torah column is supported by a generous donation from Eve Gordon-Ramek in memory of Kenneth Gordon. Bamidbar Numbers 1:1–4:20 The Book of Exodus describes how God reveals the covenantal laws to the people of Israel at Mount Sinai. The Book of Leviticus then instructs the Israelites on the laws of sacrifice, purity and ethics, meant to…
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Columns
Off the Shelf
Dwell in the past with 2 new books, including Cynthia Ozick’s latest
Some of us prefer not to dwell on the past, while there are others who emphatically choose to dwell in it. How we relate to our history and its…
Astrolojew
Month of Sivan: This summer, let truth be your shield
Sivan 5781 May 12-June 10, 2021 Sivan is the month of Shavuot, the festival celebrating Divine revelation. Big, dramatic changes are revealed with the…
Celebrity Jews
'Shadow and Bone' is Jewish; Rogen is done with Franco; etc.
Bardugo’s witches a Netflix hit It’s been a wild ride for young adult and fantasy author Leigh Bardugo. The 46-year-old Israeli American has seen her…
Organic Epicure
A lifelong habit is the key ingredient for Alec’s Ice Cream
The first time Alec Jaffe made ice cream, it was for a class assignment for the Jewish day school he attended in Irvine. While he doesn’t draw a direct…
Torah
This week’s Torah takeaway: Give yourself a needed rest
The Torah column is supported by a generous donation from Eve Gordon-Ramek in memory of Kenneth Gordon. Behar-Bechukotai Leviticus 25:1–27:34 I, for one,…
Mixed & Matched
Issue of patrilineal descent raises some more questions
I was delighted by the many responses to my April column, “At a loss after my rabbi said I’m not allowed to read Torah.” Let’s walk through the…
Torah
Hot take: The Torah's notion of sacrifice isn’t outdated
The Torah column is supported by a generous donation from Eve Gordon-Ramek in memory of Kenneth Gordon. Emor Leviticus 21:1–24:23 One of the most…
Celebrity Jews
Crystal and Haddish, buddies on screen and off; A girl for Gadot; etc.
Real-life buddies make a buddy film Who knew? Billy Crystal, 73, and Tiffany Haddish, 41, are real-life friends; Crystal even read a Torah portion at…