As Britain Seeks a New Chief Rabbi, Extremists Rise

Two forms of religious extremism confronted me last week as I lectured in the United Kingdom and launched my new book at a press conference in Jerusalem.

Op-Ed: Matisyahu’s Shaven Face a Wakeup Call

By now many people have weighed into what must have been a very private decision for a famous individual. Of course I am talking about Matisyahu’s beard, or lack thereof.

Op-Ed: Fit and Healthy — End or Mean?

Despite suffering recent losses over the past week, the last-minute victories of Denver Broncos ‘miracle’ quarterback, Tim Tebow, have wowed sports commentators and football fans alike. Along with his recognition on the gridiron, Tebow’s act of bowing in prayer after scoring a touchdown has sparked popular interest, bringing the discussion of religion and its role in sports to the forefront.

Absence of Gratitude is Source of Rabbinical Burnout

There was only one non-family member whom I highlighted under the Chupa (wedding canopy) of my daughter eight weeks ago. His name is Shneur Zalman Fellig and when I was a boy of ten, from a broken family with a broken heart, he helped me heal and inspired me in the ways of Chabad.

Op-Ed: Chanukah at a Hockey Rink

The Coyotes vs Panthers hockey game last Tuesday was no ordinary game. Chabad of Florida performed a menorah-lighting ceremony on the ice during the first period intermission. The event looked nothing short of a huge Hanukka party. But the event itself was really quite ironic. How odd, I thought, to celebrate Hanukka in a sports arena, given that the concept of sports is emblematic of Greek culture.

Op-Ed: To Beard or Not to Beard, That is the Question

Musings on the fall of Matisyahu’s Facial Locks

Matisyahu is a friend of mine so I was not going to comment on his choice to shave off his beard. It was his personal decision. Live and let live. But I changed my mind when my children told me that they were reading all over the internet that young, impressionable, orthodox Jewish youth were also choosing to shave off their beards following Matisyahu’s lead (I’m assuming these were young men, rather than women, who made the choice). It was then that I decided to weigh in.

Op-Ed: Dealing with Rejection

My phone rings and I hear the subdued voice of a close friend on the other line, “He said no. I really thought this was going to work out. I feel so rejected.”

Op-Ed: Poison Pens Vs. Israel

A Jewish friend who leans right offers a shorthand way to understand how Americans see Israel. Liberals, he says, love Jews and hate Israel, while conservatives reverse the pattern.

Op-Ed: Why I had Almost Given Up on Chumash

When I was becoming more interested in Judaism, I learned that the word “Torah” comes from the word “hora’ah,” meaning to teach, to instruct. I was taught this meant that each day’s Torah portion had a vital lesson for our daily lives, even in this contemporary world. Frankly, I didn’t buy it.

Christopher Hitchens: The Fall of a Worthy Adversary

A journalist friend of mine emailed me at 1am Friday morning to tell me that Christopher Hitchens had died. The news brought with it a deep sadness and I instantly recited the Jewish prayer upon hearing of the passing of a friend, “Blessed is the true Judge.” That instinctive religious action captured the paradox of our unpredictable friendship, born in battle in four public debates – stretching from 2004 until 2010 – on G-d, faith, evolution, and religion, but solidified over food at kosher restaurants, kosher wines, and, of course, healthy swigs of whisky.

Op-Ed: Of Beards and Whiskers

He was a photographer at Crown Heights chasunas and worked the cash register at his daughter’s grocery on Kingston. He was friendly in a self-effacing way and was friends with my father. His name was Velvel Shildkraut.

Op-Ed Response: Solving the C.A.Y. Problem

Yisroel Newman makes an interesting point in his op-ed, Chevra Ahavas Yisroel, One Year Later: CAY has no business holding itself out as an official shul in Crown Heights unless it complies with the community’s standards. Therefore, if CAY wishes to continue operating in Crown Heights, it has an obligation to the community to change the way it operates.

Op-Ed: Chevra Ahavas Yisroel, One Year Later

Chevra Ahavas Yisroel is coming up for their first anniversary since they opened. It has been spoken about ad nauseum since its inception. Some praised the shul for their innovative weekly minyanim and their many unique events throughout the year.

Op-Ed: My Conversations with PETA About Shechita

About a year ago, a Chabad Rabbi got in touch with me and asked if I would agree to meet a senior Jewish PETA executive named Philip Schein. Philip’s wife Hannah, who also works for PETA, is in charge of PETA undercover investigations.

New and Improved: A Chanukah Message

While walking through the supermarket recently I found the laundry detergent, shampoo, body soap, and even paper towels, that I have been using for years are now “new and improved.”