Howard Blas and Ilana Trachtman have prepared a new book "A Different Spirit: Creating Meaningful B'nai Mitzvah for Children with Disabilities," Behrman House Publishers. This book includes a remarkable group of essays by educators and parents dealing with B'nai Mitzvah celebrations for children with a range of physical, intellectual, and neurological disabilities.

The Torah’s distinction between land and urban property reflects a deeper principle: land represents a divinely ordered reality that resists permanent human ownership, whereas cities represent human-created environments that lend themselves to the illusion of permanence.

If we want certain institutions and causes to be supported for the benefit of society--then we need to look in the mirror and realize that we are the ones who need to step forward. We need to feel a personal challenge and responsibility.

The narrative of Esther is not simply a tale of palace intrigue. It is a layered meditation on exile, identity, moral courage, and divine providence.

Far from being only a necessary skill for entering the work force or getting into law school, literature that includes the broadest possible range of voices and experiences itself fulfills a Torah value. Without it, we would be hard pressed truly to internalize the basic fact of God’s spark in every human soul.

The Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals, founded in 2007, offers a vision of Orthodox Judaism that is intellectually sound, spiritually compelling, and emotionally satisfying. Based on an unwavering commitment to the Torah tradition and to the Jewish people, it fosters an appreciation of legitimate diversity within Orthodoxy.