Grandparents and Special Friends Day at Ohr Chadash Academy (OCA)
We were thrilled to welcome close to 350 Grandparents and Special Friends to OCA to see our school in action, spend time in classrooms with interactive Chanukah projects and songs, hear student performances and Divrei Torah while enjoying a delicious breakfast, and get a glimpse of all that our students learn and experience each day. […]
Ten Findings from Behavioral Genetics
Rabbi Azriel Hauptman Behavioral Genetics is the study of genetic and environmental influences on behaviors. In other words, the task of behavioral geneticists is to weigh in on the age-old debate of nature vs. nurture and determine how much influence your DNA or your environment has on your personality, intelligence, temperament, and other psychological factors. […]
For Love Is as Fierce as Death
Rabbi Zvi Teichman Praiseworthy is the man who has made Hashem his trust, and not turned to the arrogant and to strayers after falsehood. (תהלים מ ה) The Midrash states that the first half of this verse refers to none other than Yosef, who placed absolute faith in G-d. Yet, the Midrash also says that […]
Parshas Mikeitz
Rabbi Berel Wein The entire narrative of the story of Joseph and his brothers, as he sent off the Jewish people to Egyptian society, slavery and ultimate redemption, is meant to illustrate to us the guiding hand of Providence in human affairs. There is no question that all of the participants in this dramatic narrative […]
Is Dried Fruit the Top Banana?
Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow There was a villager – we’ll call him Reuven – with a taste for fine liquor and a nice collection of schnapps barrels. Reuven knew how to enjoy his liquor responsibly. His brother, Shimon, on the other hand, didn’t know when to stop. Shimon loved visiting his brother and helping himself to […]
A Lump of Coal
Allan Rolnick, CPA There’s one person this year who shouldn’t be getting too many presents come holiday time. That’s crypto-whiz-kid Samuel Bankman-Fried, or SBF. Odds are good that you had never heard of 30-year-old SBF before last month when Alameda Research (his “hedge” fund) and FTX Exchange (his crypto exchange) collapsed in what some have […]
Cultivating Gratitude
Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow There are some questions surrounding the details of the marriage of Rebbe Akiva to Rachel, the daughter of Kalba Savua. According to the Ben Yehoyada (Nedarim 50a), the following is what transpired. Rebbe Akiva initially performed kiddushin, the first stage of marriage, with Rachel. This was done in a quiet ceremony so […]
Parshas Vayeishev
Rabbi Berel Wein Modern writers and commentators have found the biblical narratives of the book of Bereshis irresistible in their penchant for psychoanalyzing people described in terms of modern understanding and current correctness. In so doing, they do a great disservice to Jewish tradition and present a distorted picture of the message that the Torah […]
Bais Yaakov Auction Leaves an ‘Impression’
Mrs. Judy (Margaretten) Landman, Bais Yaakov Class of 1992 Bais Yaakov Impressions Auction 2022 did just what it sought to do; leave an impression. For the more than 600 women attending this gala event, the impression was that of a stunning evening, with delicious gourmet food with a twist (grilled fruit in caramel sauce!) prepared […]
“Our Councilman, Our Leader”
BJLife/Isaac Draiman Photo credit: Mike Diamond The Annual Reception in honor of Councilman Isaac “Yitzy” Schleifer was jam packed with political star power. The brightest star in the room however, was Maryland’s biggest political star, Governor-Elect Wes Moore. Not only was it impressive for the Governor-Elect to choose Councilman Schleifer’s event as his very first […]
