Why I Choose to Be an Orthodox Jew – The Alternatives [Part 2/3]
In a first post, I wrote I chose to be an Orthodox Jew, focusing mainly on belief in a Creator. How does that get me from Creator –> this particular belief system? In part...
Author: tostien
Why I Choose to Be an Orthodox Jew – What to Live For [Part 1/3]
In article 1 (below) I discuss living for meaning and how that brings one to go towards an infinite purpose beyond our lives and world which is destined to end. In article 2 I...
Teaneck, NJ Kosher Restaurants
Kosher Restaurants in Teaneck, New Jersey You can find kosher restaurants in most cities with sizable Torah observant Jewish populations, but Teaneck is so large it can boast two different strips of kosher restaurants...
Book Review: The Great Partnership, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks; Part I – Philosophy
Relationships are Meaning One summer day in my childhood I returned from swimming with my grandfather to his house where I was staying. Waiting at the front door were two smiling missionaries. It didn’t...
Kosher Hotels – Monsey, NY – Ora v’Simcha
Fancy Kosher Hotel Ora in Monsey, NY The most popular article on this blog is about the now kosher Raleigh hotel in South Fallsburg, NY. Clearly, it’s something people are interested in, as the article...
Where Did Earth’s Water Come From? Talmud & Science
The Question: Earth’s Water Came From Where? MinuteEarth / MinutePhysics are great YouTube channels discussing various topics about earth / physics in short videos. I highly recommend them. The writer, a theoretical physicist, even has a video...
Philadelphia, PA – Kosher Vacation
Introduction to Philadelphia Philadelphia has quite a few places to visit with the family. My favorites are the Franklin Institute and Please Touch museum. You can spend a day in each. As with many...
Hamas Supporter Conversations with this Jew
In issues of political contention, I often have hard times making decisions. There’s typically a reason they’re in contention in the first place. The Torah helps solve a lot of these and let’s us...
Shavuous Learning, Keeping Customs & Love of Mitzvos
My Shavuous Experiences Shavuous is one of the three regalim, three pilgrimage festivals, along with Passover and Succos [Sukkot]. Jews celebrate the anniversary of receiving the Torah at Mt. Sinai, but there are no special...
Compassion for the Sinner – A Personal Story
Typically I post when I feel I have an answer. On a high level, I’ve written about things why good things happen to bad people and how there can be seeming evil in the...