Israel Rubin

Rabbi Yosi ben Kisma was offered a dream budget--enough money to build a school, a yeshiva, a kollel and an entire Torah community to his liking. So why would he turn down the opportunity?

When opening the door for Elijah, the children gather round to watch the quivering liquid ripple, hoping to detect some sign of its sampling by the visiting prophet. But surely there's more meaning to this cup than a child's imagination

You will hear one long note, three short beeps, nine shorter beeps, and a long note. If you feel you reached us in error, this is the right place, for to err is human and to forgive is divine . . .

Instead of probing into prominent people’s privacies, I would pursue celebrities like Ahasuerus and Vashti of Persia. I would get a better picture, or portrait, of the megillah’s principal personalities . . .

On Passover night we begin the Seder by breaking the middle Matzah. This important symbol, called “Yachatz,” precedes the saying of the Hagaddah. Half of this Matzah is hidden for the Afikoman, which is then eaten at the end of the Seder.

Although the hamantash has been around for thousands of years, it was considered a moot point in higher academic circles. Other than being a tasty snack, it seemed to hold no special significance...