May 20, 2024
Published by Rabbi Yosef A. Cohen, MD at May 20, 2024
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Yizkor: Coming Together in Mourning

Last night at 2 a.m., my daughter Tova woke me up, tears streaming down her face. She was terrified, convinced that animals were coming to get her. I held her hand and asked where the animals were coming from. She said they were coming through the front door. Together, we […]
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May 20, 2024
Published by Rabbi Yosef A. Cohen, MD at May 20, 2024
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The Merit that Saved Us From The Sea

The miracle of the parting of the Red Sea was indeed a remarkable event. The Torah highlights that the Jews were walking ביבשה בתוך הים, on dry land within the sea. Some Rishonim note that as the Jews were crossing, the sea began to revert to its natural state even […]
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May 20, 2024
Published by Rabbi Yosef A. Cohen, MD at May 20, 2024
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The Celebration of Seder Night

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been reflecting on the unique way we celebrate Pesach. On Purim, we celebrate our deliverance from those who sought to annihilate us. On Chanukah, we celebrate our religious freedom, allowing us to serve God without Greek interference. Both of these holidays commemorate victories achieved […]
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May 20, 2024
Published by Rabbi Yosef A. Cohen, MD at May 20, 2024
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Maintaining Enthusiasm

I feel compelled to start with a brief digression. I missed you all last week, and my children especially missed being in shul the past few weeks. Nowhere else have we found a place where kids gather around the Bimah during Kiryat HaTorah or come up together to sing. Where […]
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March 3, 2024
Published by Rabbi Yosef A. Cohen, MD at March 3, 2024
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Chanukah

Few episodes in Tanach stand as models of terrible events that will befall the Jewish people throughout their history. In brutal fashion brothers, flesh and blood, gathered together and plotted to murder and then eventually settled on selling one of their own. Tragic in its own right, the episode will […]
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May 9, 2023
Published by Rabbi Yosef A. Cohen, MD at May 9, 2023
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Halachot of Zoom

Many interesting halachic questions suddenly became relevant to many more than previously with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic where people were told to remain home and isolated from others. One such issue that within a few hours became a global controversy is the permissibility of using Zoom during the Pesach seder. For many families the idea of not spending the holiday with their extended relatives is completely foreign. The seemingly simple idea was to allow people to follow health protocols by leaving Zoom on before chag so they can, at least virtually, be with their extended families.
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