About the Author


Rabbi Nechemia Coopersmith

Rabbi Nechemia Coopersmith lives in Jerusalem with his wife and children. He is the chief editor of Aish.com, one of the world's largest Judaism websites. He is the author of Shmooze: A Guide to Thought-Provoking Discussion on Essential Jewish Issues – a must-have little book for anyone who loves a good question, and the co-author of Rabbi Noah Weinberg’s 48 Ways to Wisdom and Wisdom for Living: Rabbi Noah Weinberg of the Parsha.


Israel At War: What You Can Do to Help Israel

The images are too horrific. The pain is too immense. The fear is too great. And confusion abounds. What can you do to help?

The Meaning of Hamas and My Son’s Bar Mitzvah

It’s no accident that the word “hamas” in Hebrew means violence and murder.

Thinking About the Roman Empire: A Jewish Edition

My answer to the question: What’s your Roman Empire?

Rosh Hashanah’s 4-Step Game Plan

The goal of Rosh Hashanah is to reveal God’s presence in the world. How do you do that?

Why You Make Bad Choices

Choosing life isn’t so obvious. Here’s a practical tool just in time for Rosh Hashanah.

Who Created God, Mommy?

A six-year-old asked his mother the following question: If God created the universe, who created God? She turned to me for an answer.

Overcoming Apathy and Discouragement and Preparing for Rosh Hashanah

Preparing for Rosh Hashanah should not be a downer. It’s an auspicious, exciting time for clarity and closeness, grounded in positivity and love.

Why Can’t Orthodox Jews Be Normal Like Everyone Else?

Why do they perform strange commandments that make them look so different?

When I Decided to Take God and Religion Seriously

I ignored the holiday of Shavuot the same way I ignored the issues related to God – more out of ignorance and apathy than informed choice.

Rudy Giuliani, Jews Are Not Getting Over It

The Jewish People aren’t living in the past; they’re creating the future.

The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Future of the Jewish People

Which team are you rooting for? Why?

The Coronation of King Charles III

What’s up with that anointing oil?

Is It Wrong for Non-Jewish Actors to Play Jewish Roles?

Jewface is overblown. The primary consideration in casting should be believability, not race, color, orientation or religion.

The Ambulance, The Snake, and My Son (It’s Not What You Think)

We may not feel it now, but ultimately everything God does is for the good. Try telling that to a 12-year-old.

God, Are You There?

How to feel that God is an active part of your life.

Morality: Who Needs God?

A look at relative and objective morality, and where God fits into the picture.

When a Black, Non-Jewish Woman Visited a Jewish Website

Dave Chappelle’s Pernicious Antisemitism

The comedian is far too smart to be as crude as Kanye, and that’s what makes his offensive jokes more damaging and dangerous.

The Gifts of the Jews: Revolutionary Jewish Ideas that Formed the Bedrock of Western Civilization

Fascinating insights from bestselling author, Thomas Cahill, who passed away this week.

10 Questions to Ask Yourself This Rosh Hashanah

Questions to help you reconnect to your life’s purpose, clarify your goals, and passionately embrace this upcoming new year.

How Do You Know You Have Free Will?

Free will is a pillar of Judaism. Here are three approaches to know that you have agency.

5 Ways to Jumpstart Your Personal Growth

This is the best time of year to shake things up.

I’m Sorry to Inform You

Overwhelmed with the news of four deaths in one week.

Will Smith’s Smack Heard Around the World

My three takeaways from the shocking incident.

How to Maintain Your Connection with a Deceased Parent

How can I “give” something to my father who is no longer alive?

Growth through Adversity: God is the Ultimate Coach

Choose life. Because the alternative is death.

When Bad Things Happen: Judaism’s First Approach to Wrestling with Suffering

How to be open to receiving and deciphering God’s personal message.

God, Paradox, and the Holocaust: When Our Minds Cannot Understand

The inability to fully grasp the nature of God is humbling and frustrating, and forces us to “live with the question.”

How Can Judaism Command to Know God Exists?

Either you believe in God, or you don’t. If you do, the commandment is redundant. If you don’t, it’s irrelevant.

The 6 Ways Rabbi Noah Weinberg Changed My Life

Want to understand what it takes to be a great Jewish leader? Learn from Rabbi Noah Weinberg.

Where’s the Empathy?: On Punching a Flight Attendant in the Face

By nature, we tend to be self-centered, lazy and mean-spirited. Empathy doesn’t come naturally; it needs to be chosen.

"Welcome to Holland" and the Cosmic Travel Agent

Having a special needs child has been compared to planning a vacation to Italy and somehow landing in Holland. What happens if you're too distraught to leave the plane?

Thanking God for Not Getting Shot

Taking things for granted is one of the biggest – and most common – mistakes we make in our relationships. What can we do about it?

Can You Have Your Fake Pork and Eat It Too?

Should we be disgusted by the idea of eating imitation pork?

My DIY Project and Our Fierce Drive for Independence

Why do we derive greater satisfaction when exert our independence and do it ourselves?

Why Believing in God Should Make You More Kind

The most concrete way we can connect to God is treating each other with kindness. The rest is commentary. Go learn.

Why God Matters: What Gives Life Meaning?

Whether you believe in God or not, we all need to wrestle with the question: Is there meaning in life?

The Man who Joined the Search Party Looking for Himself

Muster the courage to examine the only place we can truly find who we are looking for – inside ourselves.

We All Want to Fly: Two Short Messages for My Kids

God is speaking to us all the time, if we just look for His messages.

Rosh Hashanah: It's Not about Who's Been Naughty or Nice

Like a CEO of a major conglomerate, God is setting the budgets and determining each person's role, based on the level of responsibility we are ready to take.

Saying Goodbye to My Dying Father

Don't wait to say the things you've always wanted to say to those you love.

The Collapse of Afghanistan: What Does It Mean to be Truly Free?

No matter how much money, power and resources are poured in, freedom and peace cannot be imposed by outside forces. It must come from within.

My Battle with the Bulge: Four Key Takeaways on How to Change

How to increase the odds of success in your spiritual growth.

I'm Getting Too Fat and It's Time to Start Running Again

Why running is an ideal way for me to get into spiritual – and physical – shape.

Bruce Springsteen and Me

Springsteen helped me get through my angst-filled years as a teen.

Five Ways to Inject Some Life into Your Judaism

How to shake off the dust and find meaning in your relationship to Judaism.

Being Jewish: Why Bother?

Antisemitism is forcing many young Jews to ask: Why is being Jewish worth it? And that's a good thing.

A Doctor's Life: A Tribute to My Brilliant Father

Sitting shiva enabled me to appreciate my father's genuine greatness.

 

The Meaning of Rosh Hashanah and How to Prepare for the Big Day

A 20-minute in-depth exploration on the judgment of Rosh Hashanah and why it comes before Yom Kippur.

An Open Letter to Aish.com Readers from the Chief Editor of Aish.com

The world needs Aish.com's innovation and insights more than ever.

Featured at Aish.com

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