The Heaven-Granted Home

Shiphrah and Puah, two midwives in Egypt, were commanded by the tyrant Pharoah to kill all male Israelite babies. As Exodus’ first chapter describes, however, the women sensed that above the monarch reigned a higher power. They feared God. So, “they did not do as the king of Egypt had told them; they let the […]

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Will the LA Fires Turn California Red?

The inept politicians who slashed fire department budgets and ignored warnings bear responsibility for engulfing our city in flames. Wildfires are still burning through my hometown of Los Angeles, displacing thousands of people and ruining billions of dollars of property.  The two largest fires, in the Pacific Palisades and Eaton, near Pasadena, are already the most destructive […]

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A Bris, a Wildfire, and 1,000 Meals

The Time: 9 a.m., Wednesday, January 8 The Place: Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles, 8657 West Pico Boulevard The Occasion:  Bris of baby boy Muchnik, son of Rabbi Eli and Bassie Muchnik, founders of Chabad of Picfair Village The tables were set, delicious food was laid out, and the crowd gathered to welcome yet another […]

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Let’s Bring Jewish Vibrancy to 2025

Welcome to 2025, a year brimming with potential—not just for the world at large, but for the Jewish people. As I sit here reflecting on what it means to step into this new chapter, I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the generations who came before me. Millions of Jews—countless souls whose names we […]

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