Author Archives: Rabbi George Gittleman

So, what does it mean to be a Jew? Other than the Halakic/Jewish legal definitions – your mother was Jewish or you converted through a recognized/acceptable process – are there other elements of Jewish identity, like a minimal level of … Continue reading →

Last month, I gave two talks on the Jewish American Experience as a “Lunch & Learn” and also for the “Rebbe’s Tisch”.  I started with an overview of American Jewish history, and then made some general observations about the exceptional … Continue reading →

Last night, to get ready for Hanukkah, I pulled off the shelf a volume of the Mishnah Torah, Maimonides’ great compendium of Jewish law, to see what it had to say about Hanukkah. Four chapters deal with the laws of … Continue reading →

Some 20 years ago I was sitting at the dinner table at Rabbi David Hartman’s home in Jerusalem. Rabbi Hartman had assembled an interesting mix of people from all streams of Jewish life. Sitting across from me was a man … Continue reading →

The recent eruption of the “Occupy” movements and their focus (if you could call it that) on economic justice has gotten me thinking about how tzedek, the Hebrew word for justice, applies to economics. Of course, Judaism is not monolithic … Continue reading →

Death don’t have no mercy in this land, Oh death don’t have no mercy in this land.  Well he’ll come to you house and won’t stay long, Next thing you know one of your loved ones will be gone.  Oh … Continue reading →

As a parent I thought I had some insight into why Israel agreed to the terms of Gilad Shalit’s release: 1,000 Palestinians freed from jail, hundreds of them with blood on their hands, for his freedom. I thought to myself, … Continue reading →

One of my favorites stories about the Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Hassidism is about his morning prayer practice. Apparently he would daven Shacharit (pray the morning service) much longer than his followers and they became accustomed to waiting … Continue reading →

Hineini, here I am. Tonight I want to explore with you this rare – it only appears 8 times in Torah – and important word. Hineini. The first hineini is uttered by Abraham as a response to God’s call at … Continue reading →

The Hassidic saying attributed to Rabbi Levi Yitzkhak of Birditchev, kol haolom kulo gesher tzar meod v’ha-eekar lo l’fakhed klal/The whole world is a narrow bridge but the essence is not to be afraid, has been running through my head … Continue reading →