Who shall live and who shall die: God’s iPhone, Rosh Hashanah 5769

Published on September 26, 2008

The U'netaneh Tokef prayer says: On Rosh Hashanah it is inscribed, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed: Who shall live and who shall die, who shall perish by water and who by fire, who by famine and who by thirst . God's got it on His iPhone, of course.

Is our fate really sealed? Is change possible?

By Marty Kaplan
Published on September 25, 2008

Within the calendar that constitutes the Jewish cathedral in time, no days are more saturated with the experience of human nature, and with experiments in human change, than the Days of Awe. This is when we are asked, paradoxically, both to steep in our powerlessness to escape our species' fate, and yet also to try out behaviors that can rescue us from our destinies.

Kol HaMispallel—All those who pray

By The Web Guy
Published on May 12, 2008

Video of Kol HaMispallel by the Yeshiva boys choir.

Six self-help books seek to help you get sealed in the Book of Life

By Sandee Brawarsky
Published on September 21, 2006

Self-help books are essential tools.

Holiday tunes for when you haven’t got a prayer

By George Robinson
Published on September 21, 2006

The High Holidays provide some of the greatest frissons one can experience in a synagogue. And the music is, indeed, a big part of those rising chills.

Song of the Sons

By Rabbi Perry Netter
Published on June 29, 2006

The centerpiece of the third section of the Tanach, the section known as Ketuvim (the Writings), is the Book of Psalms. The Book of Psalms contains some of the most majestic poetic images in the history of the Hebrew language.

Classical Musicians’ Volume Decreases

By Beverly Gray
Published on March 9, 2006

There was a time when Jews dominated the ranks of American orchestras, and superstars like Leonard Bernstein and Isaac Stern were musical ambassadors to the world. The fact that today's master Jewish musicians tend to have proteges with names like Yo Yo Ma, Kyung-Wha Chung and Lang Lang is one hint that for many Jews, classical music is no longer a top priority.

Bob Dylan: In His Own Lyrics

Published on October 13, 2005

Nods to religion in Bob Dylan's song lyrics.

Other Voices

By Sandor Slomovits
Published on June 18, 1998

My father has always revered Joe Louis. Asurprising hero, perhaps, for a man born and raised in far-awayHungary. Not the hero one might expect of a Jewish cantor, whose workall his life has been singing liturgy in synagogues. Yet, among themost vivid memories I have from my childhood in Hungary and Israel,through my teen-age years in the United States, are the stories myfather told of Joe Louis.