Gross Injustice

Binyamin Rose

For the last five years, Judith Gross has been demanding her husband’s release from prison in one of the world’s last Communist holdouts. Alan Gross was arrested while on a US-sponsored technology assignment in Cuba, but although his health and spirits are failing, Mrs. Gross has had little luck fighting the high-stakes game of political chess that’s keeping him behind bars. In an exclusive interview, she shares how even the White House won’t say why Alan can’t come home.

My Brother's Keeper

Avi Friedman

Around the world, Jewish communities are beginning to feel that the protection they enjoy from local police and civic authorities is no longer sufficient to keep their communities safe, and have taken measures to augment internal security arrangements. With each new round of Arab-Israeli violence in the Middle East, Diaspora Jews — braced for the fallout in their own neighborhoods — are defending themselves.

The triumph of Rav Mottel Katz

Rabbi Yaakov Feitman

While destruction rained down on Europe, Rav Mottel Katz and his brother-in-law Rav Elya Meir Bloch were driven to rebuild the Telshe Yeshivah on American soil — even as their families were decimated in the inferno. Rav Mottel, whose 50th yahrtzeit is this week, didn’t speak a word of English, yet managed to replant black-on-white yeshivah life in a red, white, and blue world.

Conversations

What Are We Supposed to Do?
Rabbi Moshe Grylak A tried-and-true remedy — and it shook the heavens

Badgered into Submission
Yonoson Rosenblum Avatars of political correctness in search of dissenters

Drinking Doubt Away
Eytan Kobre Meaning is indispensable for generating happiness

Checks and Balances III
Mishpacha Readers The conversation continues...

Memorable Melodies of Modzhitz
Rabbi Mordechai Besser The struggling survivors became kings in shul on Shabbos

A Whole Song and Dance
Rabbi Ron Yitzchak Eisenman One of those small acts that are giant leaps of chesed

Diamonds
Jacob L. Freedman MD "Each Jewish woman is a bas Melech, Dr. Freedman!"

Streamlined Service
Riki Goldstein "JewishMusic Stream is still about classic kosher music”

Perfect Harmony
Riki Goldstein "The arrangements literally changed the entire song"

Hang On to the Glow
Riki Goldstein Back to the warm camp Shabbos memories

Marking Miracles
Faigy Peritzman The miracles are there, but our eyes are blind to them

Going Against the Current
Sarah Chana Radcliffe Wise to deny our kids something all their friends have?

Clothed in Splendor
Mrs. Elana Moskowitz When dressing up is spiritual, not superficial

The Spokesman: Part IV
D. Himy, M.S. CCC-SLP and Zivia Reischer Every sentence tells a story; make yours well told