I feel so raw today. Tonight is Tishaa Ba'av, and this fast is definitely one of the hardest days of the year for me. Not just because I am a horrible faster but because of all the feelings. I know there are many people out there that have a hard time connecting to the day. We are hungry, we watch a lot of Holocaust movies. We try to imagine what it would be like have the Beit Hamikdash back, but frankly it's all so abstract. I have the opposite problem. I weep all the way th

This week, we are beginning the time period called, “The Nine Days.” These are the days that precipitate the historical destruction of the Beit Hamikdash, the Holy Temple, and many subsequent tragedies that befell the Jewish people. We ask “Why did God choose to destroy the Beit Hamikdash, the beacon of divinity and peace in the world?” The classic answer is that the Jews were embroiled in Sinat Chinam- “baseless hatred.” We had stooped so low, we hated each other so much, th

I’ve noticed this trend for a while. First I saw magazines that were dedicated to Jewish women, having as a rule, no pictures of women. Then I heard about all the women that were being photo-shopped out of Charedi (right wing Jewish orthodox) newspapers- even newsworthy women like, presidential candidates. Last week I saw someone post a picture of a mazal tov ad in a Monsey newspaper, wishing congratulations to new couples on their engagement. Except, only the names of groom’