_(english).jpg "Taking the Spiritual Dive")
_(english).jpg "Genetic Screening for Breast Cancer Genes")
_(english).jpg "Judaism and the 12-Step Program")
+.jpg "Moshe, Miriam and Prophecy")
+.jpg "Don't Give Up")
About the Author
Rabbi Shraga Simmons
Rabbi Shraga Simmons spent his childhood trekking through snow in Buffalo, New York. He holds a degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin, and rabbinic ordination from the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem. He is the senior editor of Aish.com and the director of JewishPathways.com.
An expert on media bias, he was the founding editor of HonestReporting.com, and is the author of David & Goliath: The Explosive Inside Story of Media Bias in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (2012). With drama and a biting edge, David & Goliath is a definitive treatment, fully resourced with over 2,000 footnotes. Readers are privy to secret negotiations with CNN executives, and how a grassroots campaign was cited by the New York Times as effecting sweeping changes in Mideast media coverage.
David & Goliath has been praised by politicians, professors and journalists: Former New York Mayor Ed Koch hails it as "Invaluable for anyone wanting the inside story," and James Taranto of the Wall Street Journal calls David & Goliath "of crucial importance for the future of the Middle East."
Rabbi Simmons lives with his wife and children in the Modi'in region of Israel.
_(english).jpg "ABC's of Purim")
ABC's of Purim
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsSumming up the Purim holiday: They tried to kill us, we won, let’s eat.
+.jpg "The Mysterious Copper Mirrors")
The Mysterious Copper Mirrors
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsRabbi Shraga Simmons shares an inspiring insight from the weekly Torah portion. Your life can change in just one minute! To download the MP3 ...
_(english).gif "Secrets of the Four Species")
Secrets of the Four Species
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsThe key to joy is success in our relationships. This includes our relationship with other people, with ourselves, and with God.
_(english).jpg "A Quick Overview of the High Holidays")
A Quick Overview of the High Holidays
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsThe most important time of the Jewish year is often the most misunderstood. Here's all the basics you need to know.
_(english).jpg "Reading the Megillah")
_(english).jpg "How To Be a Good Shabbat Guest")
How To Be a Good Shabbat Guest
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsA guide to making your visit more pleasurable for you and your hosts.
+.jpg "Discovering Ourselves")
Discovering Ourselves
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsThe Talmud says that Moses, before his death, wrote 13 Torah scrolls - one was kept in the Holy Ark, and the remainder was distributed one to each ...
+.jpg "Laws of the Four Species")
Laws of the Four Species
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsThe Torah says: "You shall take ... the beautiful fruit (Etrog), a palm frond (Lulav), myrtle twigs and willow branches of the stream -and ...
_(english).jpg "Make the Omer Count")
Make the Omer Count
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsInstead of counting "down" toward the big day, we count "up" from one to 50. Why?
_(english).jpg "Revolutionary Illumination")
Revolutionary Illumination
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsA new invention allows you to turn the light "on and off" on Shabbat. No timers, no switches.
Pronouncing the Name
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsParshat Ha'Azinu includes the verse: "When I say God's Name, it should be with greatness." The commentators explain this to mean when we say God's ...
_(english).jpg "Tefillin: A Primer")
Tefillin: A Primer
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsTefillin: Everything you need to know about those powerful black boxes, placed on the head and arm.
_(english).jpg "Why Dairy on Shavuot?")
Just Too Much
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsRabbi Shraga Simmons shares an insight from the weekly Torah portion. Your life can change in just one minute! To download the MP3 file to your ...
Exploring the Al-Chet prayer
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsWhen one begins to look at the task of teshuva (repentance), it can be overwhelming. We've made so many mistakes this past year that it's hard to ...
_(english).gif "Laws of the Four Species")
Laws of the Four Species
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsThe special mitzvah of waving the 4 species: Esrog, Myrtle, Willow and Lulav.
_(english).jpg "Gifts to Friends and the Poor")
Gifts to Friends and the Poor
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsGiving food and money spurs feelings of camaraderie and unity among Jews. It's also a special mitzvah on Purim.
Perfect Travels
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsRabbi Shraga Simmons shares an inspiring insight from the weekly Torah portion. Your life can change in just one minute! To download the MP3 ...
ABC's of Chanukah (Hanukkah)
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsEverything you need to know about the holiday of Chanukah - Hanukkah.
The Big Picture
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsParshat Ki Tavo speaks about bringing the first fruits of the harvest to the Temple in Jerusalem. There we make a declaration of gratitude, ...
In Broad Daylight
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsAnother year, another cycle, and the Five Books of Moses is drawing to a close. At the end of this week's parsha, God tells Moses to climb the ...
_(english).gif "Why Jerusalem Matters")
Why Jerusalem Matters
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsFor millennium of exile, Jews always turned toward Jerusalem. What memory were they eager to preserve?
Family Fun with the Ten Plagues
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsAdd an experiential, dramatic element to the evening.
_(english).jpg "Ganza Megillah")
Ganza Megillah
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsA detailed summary of the Purim story - the next best thing to reading the whole megillah by yourself.
_(english).gif "People of the Book")
People of the Book
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsJews have long been known as the "People of the Book." Here's why.
Sub-Atomic Miracles
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsRabbi Shraga Simmons shares an inspiring insight from the weekly Torah portion. Your life can change in just one minute! To download the MP3 ...
_(english).gif "All Nite Tora-thon")
All Nite Tora-thon
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsWhat does Torah learning mean to the Jewish people? And is it really worth staying up all night for?
Pleasure of Eating
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsParshat Ki Teitze includes an interesting labor law: When workers are picking produce in a field, like strawberries for example, they are permitted ...
_(english).gif "Matityahu's Revolt")
Matityahu's Revolt
by Rabbi Shraga Simmons and Rabbi Shimon ApisdorfFor the Maccabees, it was not physical life at stake, but the spiritual life of the Jew.
_(english).jpg "Boys' Names")
Boys' Names
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsThe origin and meaning of some of the most common Jewish names for boys.
Constructive Criticism
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsIt's been 40 long, hot years in the desert. The era is drawing to a close with the Book of Deuteronomy ― Moses' swan song, his final appeal to the ...
Capital-K King
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsParshat Shoftim tells how a Jewish king had to keep a Torah scroll by his side at all times. This scroll was actually written in miniature, and ...
Above the Stars
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsRabbi Shraga Simmons shares an inspiring insight from the weekly Torah portion. Your life can change in just one minute! To download the MP3 ...
_(english).gif "Building a Sukkah - Basics")
Building a Sukkah - Basics
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsHave your hammer and nails on hand? It's time to build a Sukkah!
The Festive Purim Meal
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsGet out the silly string afor the wackiest time of the Jewish year. But don't forget the rules.
_(english).gif "Four Parshiot")
Four Parshiot
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsIn the weeks surrounding Purim, four special Torah readings inspire the rest of the year.
Walking with God
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsHuman cloning is a hot topic and there is much debate medically and ethically. But how do we understand cloning from a metaphysical perspective? In ...
ABC's of Elul
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsThe last month of the Jewish calendar is actually the most important – serving as preparation for the High Holidays.
_(english).gif "Shmini Azeret and Simchat Torah")
Shmini Azeret and Simchat Torah
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsGod adds a special day at the end of Sukkot, a day of great intimacy with our Creator, as He asks His Jewish children to remain with him for extra personal time together.
Where is Jerusalem?
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsA verse in Parshat Re'eh (Deuteronomy 12:5) tells us to serve God "at the place that God chooses." This "place" refers to Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, ...
_(english).jpg "Girls' Names")
Girls' Names
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsThe origin and meaning of some of the most common Jewish names for girls.
Precautionary Measures
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsRabbi Shraga Simmons shares an insight from the weekly Torah portion. Your life can change in just one minute! To download the MP3 file to your ...
ABCs of Tu B’Shvat
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsThe “new year for trees” has a special set of meaningful customs.
Life's Most Important Thing
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsEvery person has one thing that he is living for. Let's call it a "personal bottom line." For some it is money, for others prestige, for ...
The Test of Wealth
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsRabbi Shraga Simmons shares an inspiring insight from the weekly Torah portion. Your life can change in just one minute! To download the MP3 ...
