The recent frenzy over the billion dollar plus Powerball prize raises a serious question about the halachic and moral viability of lotteries. There is more to discuss than just the greed, which we addressed in the past. We must remember that until relatively recently, lotteries were illegal in most states and were instead run by

As we conclude the four parshiot that deal with the stories of Jacob and his sons, we are again confronted by unresolved questions about Jacob’s actions as a father. The question of how could Jacob openly favor Joseph surfaces again in our parsha: it appears that Jacob repeats the same mistake by openly favoring Ephraim

“Do you know if anyone in his family is taking medications and what those medications are for?” “Can you give me the name of a friend of her father and a different friend of her mother I can speak to about her?” “What are the circumstances that led to his parents’ divorce?” “Is anyone in

Known for its exhilarating tours across the Holy Land, OU Israel thought it was high time for an off the beaten track adventure overseas. They’ve set out to discover India—Jewish India. And unlike Columbus, they made sure to hire top-notch navigators. Rabbi Dr. Ari Zivotofsky and Dr. Ari Greenspan, a globe-trotting duo for over three

Jonathan Pollard is scheduled this month for release after spending thirty years in prison. He was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to spying on the United States. There are two possible responses to release after such a long sentence. One is to become bitter over the time lost, the life that could

Last month, there was a news story in which an Orthodox Jewish woman sued her gym for refusing to allow her to work out in a skirt. Yosefa Jalal of Crown Heights sued Lucille Roberts (a women’s-only gym franchise) for violating federal, state and city religious discrimination statutes. I saw this posted and re-posted on Facebook

In the wake of the recent spate of terror attacks in Israel, there have been calls for people to take action to prevent these attacks. Some of the specific actions being sought are for people to learn Torah. Thus, for example, in the US there is a “Shmira Project” – organizing people to learn Torah

NCSY Turns an unfortunate event into a unforgettable learning opportunity When Midwest NCSY found itself with a posul, unusable, Sefer Torah at its annual winter Shabbaton, they turned an unfortunate situation in to an unforgettable learning opportunity: the chance to welcome a new Sefer Torah to the Jewish people—a Sefer Torah that was partially written

Is one required to wear a hat and jacket when praying, as is common in many orthodox circles? The answer is no. However, one is required to dress in an appropriate and respectful manner that is consistent with the social norms of where one lives.1 In previous generations, a hat and jacket was standard dress

The New York Times recently published an article that was so appallingly flawed and dangerous that it simply beggars belief. Its subsequent “clarification” only serves to highlight how bad it was. The article, Historical Certainty Proves Elusive at Jerusalem’s Holiest Place, was a masterpiece of obfuscation and falsehood. It took minor academic debate about the