Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Alan Gerber
Legacy of Kristallnacht is a message for all time
A version of this column was published in 2018. In 2018, the 80th anniversary of the Kristallnacht atrocities came less than two weeks after the Pittsburgh massacre. Each event in its time shook our people to the core. An essay and a book demonstrate the wisdom of the old truism: “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” One of our community’s leading educators is Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky, rosh yeshiva of Toras Chaim at South Shore.
It was decided on Shavuot: G-d versus gods
On Shavuot, we commemorate the pact of spiritual loyalty that G-d and the Jewish people pledged to each other at Mount Sinai. Yet a plain reading of the biblical text shows us that not long after the Jews committed their loyalty to G-d, many abrogated their sacred promise and worshipped something else: the Golden Calf. While still encamped at Mount Sinai, the Jews — or at least some Jews — violated their commitment and ended up worshiping an idol in the image of a Golden Calf.
A tunable CTD grammar governs the spatial programming of the transcription cycle
Abstract RNA polymerase II transcribes all protein-coding genes in eukaryotes, with its C-terminal domain (CTD) acting as a regulatory platform throughout the transcription cycle. Despite its simple sequence, the conserved heptad repeats encode a regulatory grammar critical for transcription initiation, elongation, and termination.
Measuring the effects of campaign events: Specifying and comparing estimates of the effect of Trump’s conviction
1. Introduction Scholars debate how much campaigns, and events that take place during campaigns, matter for election outcomes (e.g., Holbrook, Reference Holbrook1996). The consensus is that typical campaign events like debates and speeches tend to have small effects on vote choice compared to “fundamentals” like voters’ economic perceptions and partisanship (e.g., Erikson and Wlezien, Reference Erikson and Wlezien2012; Sides and Vavreck, Reference Sides and Vavreck2013).
Sefiros: A Jewish morally-based math lesson
In his commentary on the Counting of the Omer, “The Siddur Illuminated By Chassidus, Shabbos” (Merkos/Kehot, 2015), Rabbi Eliyahu Touger, formerly of Cedarhurst, now of Jerusalem, teaches us that “the root of the term ‘sefirah,’ translated as ‘counting,’ also has the meaning of luminance, as in the phrase, ‘even sapir,’ a luminous sapphire stone.” (Yechezkel, 1:26) “Similarly,” he continues, “the Ten Sefiros are so named because they shine forth Divine light.
Purim, certainly joyous, also a serious holiday - The Jewish Star
kosher bookworm Posted Wednesday, February 25, 2026 12:00 am Purim is a serious holiday. Joyous, yes, but serious too. With that in mind, I bring to your attention the gifted author and lecturer, Rabbi Evan Hoffman, and his wonderful and learned essay, “Purim and the Struggle Between Nationalists and Moderates.” “Over the past few years my focus has been on the late Second Temple period and the early rabbinic period (200 BCE to 250 CE),” he told me in an interview several years ago.
American Journal of Political Science | MPSA Journal | Wiley Online Library
Supporting Information Filename Description ajps70036-sup-0001-Appendix.pdf672.8 KB Appendix A: Survey Details Appendix B: Full survey text for outcomes Appendix C: Additional Results discussed in the main text REFERENCES 1995. “It's Abortion, Stupid: Policy Voting in the 1992 Presidential Election.” The Journal of Politics 57(1): 176–186. 1975. “Mass Political Attitudes and the Survey Response.” American Political Science Review 69(4): 1218–1231. 1997.
‘Inside Chanukah’: Full historical presentation - The Jewish Star
Rabbi Aryeh Pinchas Strickoff, author of “Inside Chanukah: Fascinating and Intriguing Insights on Chanukah, Its Miracles, and its History” (Feldheim 2012), perhaps said it best in his perceptive opening preface: Jewish holidays serve a much loftier purpose than simply marking special moments in time or commemorating historical events, though those functions are no doubt important.
For Samuel Pepys, a wild British Simchat Torah - The Jewish Star
What an irony. I always knew that the first commentary on a Sukkot machzor describing the rather sharp medieval reaction to a British-based Simchat Torah service would come from the pen of a former British chief rabbi, in this case, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks.
There is a difference between ‘error’ and ‘sin’ - The Jewish Star
‘Teshuva’ permeates much of the Rav’s writings.” As we are now in the midst of the yemei ratzon, with Rosh Hashana just around the corner, I would like to bring to your attention a book of divrei Torah from the Rav, Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, zt”l. “Teshuva and Yomim Noraim,” edited by Cedarhurst attorney B. David Schreiber, contains three drashot delivered in 1965, 1966 and 1972. The first two were originally given in Yiddish, and the third is a reconstruction of an English shiur.
Liberty Bell and this week’s Torah connection - The Jewish Star
The origin of the verse inscribed on the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia is in Behar, one of this week’s parshiot. Its theme speaks to the ideological foundations of our republic, of freedom and political and economic equality for all.
Sefiros: A Jewish morally-based math lesson - The Jewish Star
In his commentary on the Counting of the Omer, “The Siddur Illuminated By Chassidus, Shabbos” (Merkos/Kehot, 2015), Rabbi Eliyahu Touger, formerly of Cedarhurst, now of Har Nof in Jerusalem, teaches us that “the root of the term ‘sefirah,’ translated as ‘counting,’ also has the meaning of luminance, as in the phrase, ‘even sapir,’ a luminous sapphire stone.” (Yechezkel, 1:26) “Similarly,” he continues, “the Ten Sefiros are so named because they shine forth Divine light.
The seven Noahide Laws can define the world - The Jewish Star
When we think of Noach we tend to envision a flood and a world covered with water. However, in the historical sense, the biblical saga of Noach is transcended by a short listing of mitzvot that, if observed, can properly define the civilization quality of our world.
For Samuel Pepys, a wild British Simchat Torah - The Jewish Star
What an irony. I always knew that the first commentary on a Sukkot machzor describing the rather sharp medieval reaction to a British-based Simchat Torah service would come from the pen of a former British chief rabbi, in this case, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks.
When President Harrison opened US doors to Jews - The Jewish Star
President Harrison and his appointees didn’t go along with the mob. They did not restrict Jewish immigration.” Little known and even less hailed, President Benjamin Harrison played a crucial role in the immigration of Eastern European Jewry to this country in the 1890s and into the early decades of the 20th century. In “American Passage: The History of Ellis Island” (Harper Collins, 2009), journalist and historian Vincent J.
An old find: Some Tisha b’Av reading for adults - The Jewish Star
The upcoming fast of Tisha b’Av gives us an opportunity to re-learn and relive past tragedies of our people in a depth of scholarship that would benefit all. Learning from past error and tragedy serves to help prevent repetition of same, or so we hope and pray. This essay is devoted to a brief summary of “Hasidic Responses to the Holocaust in the Light of Hasidic Thought” (Ktav, 1990) by Rabbi Pesach Schindler, one of Israel’s premier historians of the Holocaust.
Nazi Games: Revisiting 1936 Olympics in Berlin - The Jewish Star
As the Olympic Games in Paris attract world attention this week, I would like to bring to your attention a unique and historically interesting book on the most infamous Olympic Games of all, the Berlin Olympics of 1936. In close to 400 pages, “Nazi Games” by Dr. David Clay Large, an acclaimed and accomplished historian of modern Germany, deals extensively with the history of just about everything about the events and personalities of the 1936 games, with Hitler and his Nazi stooges ruling Berlin.
3-Weeks reading: ‘Heroes of Spirit,’ 100 Shoah tales - The Jewish Star
While the popular jingle goes, “Summertime and the living is easy,” for the Jewish people, the summertime has proven to a hot time of the year, literally as well as figuratively. Beginning with the destruction of the First Temple and for many summers thereafter down through history, there was and is nothing easy, ritually, about the summer.
Pulitzer hid from the prize of his religious past - The Jewish Star
No name in journalism is as emblematic of the profession itself as Joseph Pulitzer. This is not on account of talented reportage, scandals uncovered or a gifted personality. Rather, the name earned its longevity through its bearer’s endowment of a much sought after journalistic prize, the crown jewel of the American writer’s craft, bar none. So much for Pulitzer, the name. The man behind that name is another story.
Some reading suggestions for the Three Weeks - The Jewish Star
Jerusalem. Just the sound of the word should set off tremors of deep passion in the heart of every connected Jew. Jerusalem represents the very center of the Jewish faith since time immemorial. No other earthly abode has as much resonance in the Jewish faith’s historical experience as does this sacred city.
Applying some of Solomon’s wisdom to our lives - The Jewish Star
In Bible study, teachings of morality often take a back seat to the teachings of law, custom and history. The book being brought to your attention this week explores morality in the context of our religious traditions.
Considering the chesed legacy of Ruth and Boaz - The Jewish Star
In his essay “Megillat Ruth and the Story of Yehuda and Tamar: A Study in Biblical Contrast,” Rabbi Alex Israel of the Pardes Institute quotes the following the following from Ruth Rabba 2:14: Rabbi Zeira said: This Megillah contains not impurity nor purity, not the forbidden nor the permitted. Nonetheless, it has been written to publicize the extent of the reward that is bestowed upon people who engage in acts of kindness and welfare — gemilus chasadim.
Tehillim: A tribute on yahrzeit of King David - The Jewish Star
In the introduction to his classic translation of the Psalms, Rabbi Avraham Davis states: “In the Pentateuch and the prophetic writings, G-d speaks to man. In Sefer Tehillim, man addresses G-d. In the other sacred books, G-d reaches out to His people through His prophets, to draw them near to Him. In Sefer Tehillim, man’s soul reaches out to G-d in a constant search for knowledge and nearness to Him... G-d does not speak to man but speaks within man.
Readings selected for a meaningful Pesach - The Jewish Star
The Pesach Seder may be the most observed family ritual on the Jewish calendar. Accordingly, many books deal with Pesach observances, and I’ve referenced several in recent columns. This week’s choice is “As If We Were There” (Kodesh Press, 2016) by Rabbi Dr. Gidon Rothstein, whose writing can be found at one of the most distinguished websites, Gil Student’s torahmusings.com. This book is a reflection of the rabbi’s learned background.
As Pesach nears, discovering our tradition anew - The Jewish Star
With the onset of Pesach, I find the study of the historical and philosophical side of our religious tradition to be of great inspiration in getting myself into the “holiday mood.” Thus, this week’s essay will focus on two works by Rabbi Dov Lipman that should help assist many in getting into this holiday mood.
Answering questions from children of tomorrow - The Jewish Star
Here we are, on the cusp of the holiday of Pesach that in every manner of theme and observance surely defines us as a people. To help us prepare to respond to our children who may questions the Expodus experience, I am presenting excerpts from “The Inside Story — Exodus” (Meaningful Life Center, 2017), by Rabbi Yanki Tauber of Woodmere. The Festival of the Child And you shall tell your son on that day: “This is done because of what G-d did for me, when I came out of Egypt” (Exodus 13:8).
Purim to Pesach with a stop at the Golden Calf - The Jewish Star
Purim is now behind us and the next time we are going to witness a full moon is exactly one month from now, Pesach. With that exciting thought in mind, I was taken by an essay by Dr. Adele Berlin in her work, “The JPS Commentary: Esther” (Jewish Publication Society, 2001) wherein she details the thematic and historical link between the Exodus and the Book of Esther. Please consider these details as narrated by Dr. Berlin and compare them to what you yourself learned of this in school.
On Shabbos Zachor: Remembering to remember - The Jewish Star
Rabbi Daniel Rose wrote the following that will serve as the keynote to this week’s essay: “These days of Purim,” the Book of Esther says, “should be remembered and celebrated.” On the Shabbos before Purim, we read about the Torah’s instructions that we never forget the cowardly attacks of Amalek, the primordial nemesis of the Jewish people. “Remember” — This Shabbat is called Shabbat Zachor, the Shabbat of remembering.
As Purim nears, 2 books for Esther’s Megillah - The Jewish Star
Perhaps the two most popular literary works on the Jewish calendar are the Megillah and the Haggadah. Here are two unusual commentaries that pull together ancient pshat and drash in a modern lingo that should help further enrich an already crowed field of Megillah publications. The first is titled “The Kol Menachem Megillah: The Book of Esther,” with commentary and insights based upon the works of the late Lubavitcher Rebbe complied and edited by Rabbi Chaim Miller.
Mendelevich’s Jewish war defeated communism - The Jewish Star
Editor’s note: With life in Russia increasingly under the gun, and with its Jews again in the crosshairs, we revisit this column from 2013. How ironic that a published history of the struggle to liberate Soviet captive Jewry begins with two words — Yosef Mendelevich.
Potpourri of books for upcoming Purim holiday - The Jewish Star
With Shabbos Shekalim and Adar II approaching, our minds, hearts and, yes, our pocketbooks are once again focused upon the most joyous of holidays, Purim. In the winter holidays volume of his three book series, “Celebrating the Jewish Year” (The Jewish Publication Society, 2007), Rabbi Paul Steinberg reminds us that “throughout the month of Adar and on Purim, we are bound together as a community.
Of ‘Esther: Power, Fate, and Fragility in Exile’ - The Jewish Star
As we enter Adar I, with Purim five weeks away, I’m pleased to presentexcerpts from an online interview with Dr. Erica Brown, author of “Esther: Power, Fate, and Fragility in Exile” (Maggid Books, 2020). Dr. Brown is Vice Provost for Values and Leadership at Yeshiva University and founding director of its Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks-Herenstein Center for Values and Leadership. “The megillah keeps us on the edge of our seats because of the tensile range of emotions throughout.
In 1927 book, American Jews viewed Lincoln - The Jewish Star
Throughout history, heads of state have served as the personification of their people and their civilizations. For some, their legacy was to be one of cruelty, for others of plunder and ruin. The American Republic is fortunate to have had presidents who not only served well in their time, but who were able to extend their legacy of honest and effective governance beyond their time into eternity. Such is the legacy of Abraham Lincoln, whose 215th birthday we celebrate on Feb. 12..
Joyous ‘Purim Eternal: Inspiration and Depth’ - The Jewish Star
In an essay titled “Double Adar,” Rabbi Berel Wein writes that “there is an underlying value that the month of Adar possesses that no other month in the Jewish calendar can lay claim to. This idea of the joy of survival, of the ultimate downfall of the wicked, of the better tomorrow in physical, spiritual and national terms, belongs exclusively to Adar.
January Tu B’Shvat’s hope for an early spring - The Jewish Star
Next Thursday, Jan. 25, in the midst of winter, we celebrate Tu B’Shvat, the beginning of spring — albeit a spiritual spring — on the Jewish calendar. This week I will present several pieces that will hopefully give you a better appreciation of this unique holiday, and add warmth to these frigid days. First, we have an interview that Eric Simon conducted with Rabbi Dov Lipman for Torah.org. “Trees are often a metaphor for humans,” explains Rabbi Lipman.
The world’s longest hatred, ‘A Lethal Obsession’ - The Jewish Star
At over 1,000 pages, “A Lethal Obsession: Anti-Semitism from Antiquity to the Global Jihad” (Random House, 2010) does not lend itself to a quick read. Nevertheless, due to this large tome’s exquisite organization I am able to select several facets of this work to bring to your attention. Each self-contained chapter treats a different element of the history of anti-Semitism as a unique situation in world history.
Excellent translations … as we begin Shemot - The Jewish Star
Rabbi Berel Wein, in his introduction to a translation of the Kli Yakar by his friend, Elihu Levine, said in regard to the art of translation: “To be truly faithful to the original, the translator has to be able to capture the thought process and true intent of the author. If this is true regarding translations of the usual run of books and journalism, how much more so is this skill necessary when translating works of the Torah.
For the Jewish people, new world began in 1492 - The Jewish Star
It is not unusual for a book’s title to include a year. 1776 and 1912 are among my favorites. They resonate deep meaning and so does the year 1492. “1492,” subtitled “The Year the World Began,” by Notre Dame history professor Dr. Felipe Fernandez-Armesto (HarperOne, 2009), details the numerous events that occurred in the year that, according to the author, changed history forever.
‘Inside Chanukah’: A full historical presentation - The Jewish Star
Rabbi Aryeh Pinchas Strickoff, author of “Inside Chanukah: Fascinating and Intriguing Insights on Chanukah, Its Miracles, and its History” (Feldheim 2012) perhaps said it best in his perceptive opening preface: “Jewish holidays serve a much loftier purpose than simply marking special moments in time or commemorating historical events, though those functions are no doubt important.
‘The Forgotten Man’: Viewing the Great Depression - The Jewish Star
A version of this column was published in 2008. With the economic situation deteriorating each day, anything dealing with the history of past economic disasters is bound to peak our interest. “The Forgotten Man,” published by Harper-Collins, provides us with appropriate reading fare.
Rabbi discovers all sorts of ‘accidental Zionists’ - The Jewish Star
Let me start by saying that this is a very informal, somewhat irreverent book — zany at times about subjects that are dead serious. To put a smile on the face of an impending disaster takes some doing, and in this Rabbi Ian Pear succeeds.
Appreciating the teachings of our prophets - The Jewish Star
I am happy to note and bring your attention to the Mitoch HaOhel series of essays by the staff of Yeshiva University, “From Within the Tent: The Haftarot,” published by Maggid. This comprehensive 745-page work contains a series of scholarly essays on every haftarah, written by a distinguished group of rabbis and professors from YU.
Tower of Babel and its totalitarianism tradition - The Jewish Star
With the world swirling around us with the turmoil of violence and murder, all at the behest of governments and their terrorist surrogates, it behooves us to take a close look at the biblical saga of the Tower of Babel and its role as the harbinger of the totalitarian rule that has become commonplace today. This week’s essay will be devoted to reviewing several works that deal with this theme from our religious perspective. Rabbi Joseph B.
Viewing Genesis through a new literary lens - The Jewish Star
One of our nation’s oldest Jewish publishers, Urim Publishing, brought to the Jewish reading public a fascinating literary work, “Six Days of Cosmology and Evolution: A Scientific Commentary on the Genesis Text With Rabbinic Sources” by Daniel Langer. With the upcoming Torah readings from the book of Genesis, this timely contribution is a unique literary experience tailored to both our religious and intellectual needs.
As the new year turns, always waiting for rain - The Jewish Star
Yom Kippur has passed and the hints of a winter chill envelop us with every step. The weather now garners increased attention as we are about to eat our meals in the sukkah. Any forecast of rain casts a pall upon our holiday plans. Yet, rain is a commodity that we will soon pray for and welcome as a gift and sign of Divine grace, especially for our brothers and sisters in Eretz Yisrael.
Here’s a whale of a tale on behalf of repentance - The Jewish Star
With Yom Kippur just a few days away and Sukkos next week, this week’s essay will bring to your attention several books and essays devoted to the themes of teshuvah, repentance in the Jewish tradition. Rabbi Yosef Deutsch concludes his excellent series of compilations of Talmudic and Midrashic sources on the holiday themed books from the Bible with his take on the Book of Jonah (“Let My Nation Be Warned,” Feldheim).
A guide to responsible and effective repentance - The Jewish Star
I’d like to call your attention to an excellent work by Rabbi Immanuel Bernstein entitled, “Teshuvah: A Guide For The Mind And Heart During Elul, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur” (Mosaic Press). Rabbi Bernstein is candid in his introduction: “The aim of this book is to help guide the reader through the process of teshuvah, beginning with Elul, moving through Rosh Hashanah, the Ten Days of Teshuvah, and Yom Kippur.
Trajectories of internalizing symptoms among autistic and nonautistic youth during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic elicited increases in anxiety and depression in youth, and youth on the autism spectrum demonstrate elevations in such symptoms pre-pandemic. However, it is unclear whether autistic youth experienced similar increases in internalizing symptoms after the COVID-19 pandemic onset or whether decreases in these symptoms were present, as speculated in qualitative work.
African-American convert’s take on Tisha B’Av
By Alan Jay Gerber In a rare observation concerning the saddest day on the Jewish liturgical calendar, Ahuva Gray, Chicago born granddaughter of sharecroppers from Mississippi and an adult convert to the Jewish faith, wrote about Tisha B’Av in her exquisite 2010 autobiography entitled, “Journey to the Land of My Soul.” There is much to be learned from these wise words, a sample of which I choose to share here: “Four years had elapsed since I had first observed the fast of Tisha B’Av. The...
Jewish politics: A lesson for today’s politicians
By Alan Jay Gerber Only a British born and bred rabbi — Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks zt”l— could have authored the following theologically-based teaching: To paraphrase Shakespeare, “The influence we have lives after us; the power is oft interred with our bones.” Much of Judaism is an extended essay on the supremacy of prophets over kings, right over might, teaching rather than coercion, influence in place of power.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Alan
Contact Alan, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack