The Laps We Keep Walking

 

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "The Laps We Keep Walking."

This Rosh Hashanah, a difficult year of health challenges alongside the blessing of early retirement led me to confront a central truth: life rarely offers uninterrupted good fortune or a straight path from strength to success. Walking laps despite a limp became my personal reminder that accepting a limitation is not the same as accepting defeat—and that resilience can mean simply taking one more step forward. Remembering my grandmother’s final expression of gratitude to my grandfather, who had patiently cared for her through years of memory loss, reminded me not to wait to thank the people who stand beside us. Amid private sorrow and a deeply divided public culture, we need gratitude, humility, compassion for burdens we cannot see, and the courage to begin again.

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The Laps We Keep Walking

Israel Must Act. G-d Determines the Outcome.

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Israel Must Act. G-d Determines the Outcome."

Israel’s recent military achievements show the extraordinary courage, skill, and resolve required to defend a people surrounded by enemies committed to its destruction—but they cannot guarantee that danger will disappear. The horror of October 7 showed, at terrible cost, that even a strong and technologically advanced country must never allow confidence or complacency to replace vigilance. Through Moses standing at the Jordan, the article reminds readers that we may not control the future or see the final results of our efforts, but we are never excused from doing what is right and necessary today. This Rosh Hashanah, it calls on Jews everywhere to stand with Israel, protect Jewish life, care for those carrying the wounds of terror and war, confront antisemitism without fear, strengthen Jewish unity, and join prayer to courageous action.

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Israel Must Act. G-d Determines the Outcome.

There Is No “Other Jew”

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "There Is No 'Other Jew.'"

Antisemitism isn't someone else's problem anymore — it's outside our museums, our vigils, our synagogue preschools, and it doesn't check your politics, your zip code, or how observant you are before it strikes. Every time we tell ourselves "that's not really about me," we hand hatred exactly the cover it needs to keep spreading. There is no Orthodox Jew's problem and no secular Jew's problem, no Zionist's problem and no anti-Zionist's problem — there is only us, together, or we are all exposed. The answer isn't fear and it isn't silence; it's showing up louder, standing closer, and refusing to let anyone convince us that someone else's fight isn't our own.

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There Is No “Other Jew”

The Work of Living After October 7

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "The Work of Living After October 7."

Reading Tuesdays with Morrie after October 7 made me think differently about fear, loss, and what it means to keep living. Morrie’s lessons reminded me that we cannot ignore danger or grief, but we also cannot let them take over our hearts, homes, or communities. I believe Israel must face its failures honestly, protect its people, and rebuild with strength and care. Most of all, I came away believing that the answer to terror is not only survival—it is choosing love, connection, purpose, and Jewish life again and again.

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The Work of Living After October 7

Israel Needs a Drone Army—Before the Next War

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Israel Needs a Drone Army—Before the Next War."

Israel helped pioneer military drones, but a recent exercise in Germany—where Ukrainian drone teams rapidly exposed US troops and armored vehicles—shows that even advanced militaries must adapt faster and field drone capabilities at scale. Ukraine has demonstrated how drones can help a smaller force find attackers, slow advances, protect troops, and learn more quickly than a larger adversary. Israel needs both a drone sword to identify and disrupt confirmed threats before they strike, and a layered, affordable shield to protect soldiers, communities, and critical infrastructure when prevention fails. That requires a permanent joint drone, counter-drone, and electronic-warfare effort; AI-enabled command systems; domestic production; trained operators; and the ability to field, sustain, and replace drones at scale across the IDF—before the next warning becomes another tragedy.

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Israel Needs a Drone Army—Before the Next War

When No One Is Watching, What Does G-d See?

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "When No One is Watching, What Does G-d See?"

Character is often revealed in small moments when no one is watching. An MRI patient must trust others with personal belongings, while a shopper can choose whether to offer a stranger a small courtesy. Judaism teaches that our response to another person’s vulnerability or need is a moral choice between blessing and indifference. God sees whether we honor trust, show kindness, and treat others as fellow human beings rather than inconveniences.

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When No One Is Watching, What Does G-d See?

Don’t Wait Until Death to Learn How to Live

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Don't Wait Until Death to Learn How to Live."

Every choice we make ripples out and touches other people, even strangers we'll never meet—that's what it means to be responsible for one another. Giving something up for someone else isn't a loss, but one of the most meaningful things a person can do. Holding onto anger only traps us, while forgiveness and the path of return set us free. And love doesn't end with death—it lives on through memory and duty, just as every life, however ordinary, carries real and lasting purpose.

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Don’t Wait Until Death to Learn How to Live

From Freebies to Control: The Mechanics of the Mamdani Agenda

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "From Freebies to Control: The Mechanics of the Mamdani Agenda."

Rooted in the grit of New York immigrant life and the timeless wisdom of Jewish tradition, true compassion is not found in state-mandated dependency, but in the fierce commitment to building human self-sufficiency. While political figures like Zohran Mamdani and the DSA offer the dangerous allure of "free" handouts—converting basic human survival into political leverage and bundling state reliance with a radical anti-Western agenda—this strategy ultimately degrades personal dignity and paralyzes actual progress. The higher path, championed by Maimonides and the hard-won American dream, demands that we empower the individual through work, education, and opportunity rather than comforting them in poverty. We must reject the seductive trap of a political machine that trades freedom for control, choosing instead to give struggling families the dignity of a future over the false promise of a freebie.

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From Freebies to Control: The Mechanics of the Mamdani Agenda

Jews Never Quit

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Jews Never Quit."

Throughout Jewish history, every generation has faced challenges that seemed impossible to overcome, yet the Jewish people have endured by adapting, rebuilding, and remaining faithful to their mission. From Moshe’s lessons in Devarim to Job’s unwavering faith, Judaism teaches that perseverance does not mean avoiding hardship—it means continuing forward despite it. Today, as Israel faces security challenges and Jews worldwide confront rising antisemitism and shifting alliances, the answer remains the same: we adjust, strengthen ourselves, and continue. The Jewish people have survived because we never surrender our hope, our values, or our determination to build the future.

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Jews Never Quit

There Is Still Time Today to Make Yesterday Jealous

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "There is Still Time Today to Make Yesterday Jealous."

Inspired by an Uber driver’s profound phrase to "make yesterday jealous," the author reflects on how individuals can overcome the heavy, lingering burdens of past hardships. This mindset aligns closely with the Jewish tradition of teshuvah, which emphasizes that people are defined by their present choices and can actively repurpose past mistakes into fuel for renewal. Modern neuroscience reinforces this spiritual concept through neuroplasticity, demonstrating that the adult brain physically rewires its circuits every time a person chooses a new, constructive behavior over an old pattern. Ultimately, embracing this perspective acts as a disciplined resilience against despair, proving that we are not prisoners of what has been but are entirely capable of shaping our time and destiny.

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There Is Still Time Today to Make Yesterday Jealous

The Abyss Taught Me That Connection Is Everything

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "The Abyss Taught Me That Connection Is Everything." 

A terrifying dream of being cut off from everyone and everything I love became a powerful meditation on what it means to belong. Through the ideas of karet, exile, and Zion, I came to see that the deepest human fear is not pain but disconnection from G-d, from people, and from purpose. The dream also reminded me that life is meant for relationship: to cleave, to build, to return, and to create continuity rather than isolation. In the end, it left me with a renewed gratitude for belonging and a deeper conviction that connection is what makes life meaningful.

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The Abyss Taught Me That Connection Is Everything

Don’t Fall for the DSA Branding Machine

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Don't Fall for the DSA Branding Machine."

Something significant just happened in New York — and most people missed what it really means. A political movement is selling affordability and social justice on the surface while systematically inverting moral reality underneath, recasting terrorists as victims, democracies as villains, and Jews as obstacles to progress. This isn't a policy disagreement or a generational shift in the Democratic Party — it's a branding operation designed to make radical ideas sound compassionate, and it's working. The question is whether enough Americans will see through the packaging before the moral rot becomes permanent.

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Don’t Fall for the DSA Branding Machine

JD Vance: A Korach for Our Time

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "JD Vance: A Korach for Our Time."

Israel is fighting an existential battle for survival against a radical Islamic Iranian regime dedicated to the total destruction of the Jewish state. True moral clarity requires standing firmly with allies under siege, not lecturing a democracy from a distance while treating its enemies with diplomatic indulgence. Israel does not need sermons from Washington about restraint; it needs allies who understand that national security is the first duty of government, and that the fundamental threat to peace is not Israel’s defense, but the terror apparatus in Tehran—and the Western leaders who fail to see the difference.

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JD Vance: A Korach for Our Time

Be Bold and Settle Our Entire Land of Israel

 

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Be Bold and Settle Our Entire Land of Israel."

As Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government boldly allocates $350 million to establish 61 new Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, he acts as a modern Caleb and Joshua—faithful and courageous in claiming our biblically mandated and historical land despite international condemnation. We must be clear: we cannot and will not let Hamas and its terrorist affiliates steal our Jewish ancestral land or erase our indigenous connection to it. The Bible reinforces this imperative, teaching that fear blinds us to God’s promise while faith empowers us to overcome seemingly impossible obstacles, just as the spies once trembled before the giants of Canaan. Just as the rabbi today courageously corrected a congregation drifting into herd mentality during Shabbat Mussaf, so too must we—especially today’s B’nai Mitzvah, celebrating on the symbolic date of 6/13 (613 mitzvot)—reject secular conformity and stand firm in Jewish responsibility. We are commanded not to blend into the global herd but to break from it, sanctify our actions, and move forward with unyielding faith to build and secure the Land of Israel.

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Be Bold and Settle Our Entire Land of Israel

Eyes That Do Not See: The Moral Vanity of Anti-Zionism

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Eyes That Do Not See: The Moral Vanity of Anti-Zionism."

A blind woman regains her sight only to reject the man who loved her, and the story becomes a metaphor for the deepest moral failure: refusing to see the truth once it is in front of you. The piece argues that much of the world treats Israel the same way, condemning the Jewish state through distorted morality while ignoring its history, its self-defense, and the reality of the war it faces. It says critics apply double standards, overlook October 7, and dismiss Israel’s contributions and repeated efforts toward peace. The central message is that the world’s problem is not lack of information, but a refusal to recognize truth, history, and Jewish sovereignty honestly.

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Eyes That Do Not See: The Moral Vanity of Anti-Zionism

Mamdani's Enablers

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Mamdani's Enablers."

A recent progressive Jewish gathering at Gracie Mansion hosted by Mayor Mamdani exposes a glaring communal hypocrisy, where the desire for political access overrode solidarity in the face of his anti-Israel actions. This selective morality is not just political, but mirrors a broader cultural gap within Jewish life between the high ideals we preach and how we actually treat one another. Across everyday interactions—from a rabbi’s immediate suspicion of a neighbor's kitchen to a leader weaponizing theology to crush a vulnerable soul—we repeatedly trade basic empathy for rigid judgment and convenience. Ultimately, true community cannot be reduced to political alignments or superficial compliance; it demands that we close this moral gap and begin practicing the genuine decency we expect from the outside world.

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Mamdani's Enablers

America at 250: Renewal or Collapse

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "America at 250: Renewal or Collapse."

As the United States approaches its historic 250th anniversary, the foundational promise of liberty that allowed American Jewry to flourish is increasingly being weaponized to hollow the nation out from within. Modern antisemitism and anti-Zionism have mutated into a sophisticated war on objective truth, systematically using propaganda to turn the world's singular Jewish nation and its people from victims into villains. This dangerous societal decay was thrown into sharp contrast by the profound spiritual vitality of a recent Shavuot retreat, showing in practical terms that the grotesque libels spread by bad actors are total inversions of reality. Ultimately, Western civilization faces a binary choice to either aggressively defend the rule of law and truth, or surrender to an institutional collapse where hatred is normalized and the forces of destruction are mistaken for progress.

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America at 250: Renewal or Collapse

Seeing Shavuot Through the Eyes of a Child

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Seeing Shavuot Through the Eyes of a Child."

When my five-year-old grandson asked for pictures of the Torah and Ten Commandments for Shavuot, his sincere remark that “Hashem is so happy that you made these for me” stopped me in my tracks. His excitement revealed the Torah not as an ancient relic but as something alive, personal, and meaningful, embodying the innocence and clarity that adults often lose. This moment reflected Shavuot’s deeper message: though the Torah was given at Mount Sinai over 3,000 years ago, it is spiritually renewed each year as we return to it as changed people with new experiences and questions. Judaism endures not through nostalgia alone but through active engagement—learning, teaching, struggling, and returning—so that every generation, like my grandson, rediscover the Torah as something new and bring the covenant at Sinai to life once again.

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Seeing Shavuot Through the Eyes of a Child

Why I Came Back to Shul

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Why I Came Back to Shul."

After drifting away from synagogue due to youthful disillusionment with the social hypocrisies and flaws of its members, I was drawn back by a series of persistent spiritual nudges, including the recurring appearance of the number 613. Returning to communal worship brought a shift in perspective, realizing that faith is about personal responsibility rather than the perfection of others. Through shared humor, imperfect traditions, and rallying together during a local family's medical crisis, I rediscovered the profound strength of a real, human community. Ultimately, the synagogue is not a showcase for saints but a vital sanctuary where fragile generations gather to look past their egos and connect with G-d.

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Why I Came Back to Shul

Israel Must Win the Information War

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called "Israel Must Win the Information War."

For over three thousand years, the Jewish people have maintained an unbroken connection to the Land of Israel, making the modern Jewish state a restoration of an indigenous people to its ancestral homeland rather than a colonial anomaly. Today, however, this historical and legal reality is obscured by a powerful campaign of narrative inversion that frames Israel’s defensive actions as oppressive aggression while portraying terrorist groups as “resistance” movements. Lasting peace requires not only security and political compromise, but also a clear global recognition that Israel’s existence is legitimate and permanent, and that ideologies calling for its destruction must be rejected in favor of coexistence. To meet this challenge, Israel must transform its hasbara into a proactive, sophisticated, and morally grounded effort that tells its story clearly, confidently, and compellingly in the digital age.

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Israel Must Win the Information War