Levi Brackman’s Website

The prisoner exchange between Israel and Hizbullah was so painful and disturbing that, in my eternal search for optimism, I tried to find some light and hope. At first I thought that at least there is some type of common ground being show here.The Is...

In his latest column in The Forward and in other of his recent writings, David Klinghoffer has complained bitterly about the names and insults that have been hurled at him by what he terms as mostly “liberal Jews” because he dared to poin...

The Bible talks about all types of Tzara’at (leprosy) including Tzara’at that inflicts buildings. The Torah relates, “G-d spoke to Moses and Aaron saying: when you arrive to the land of Canaan that I give you as a possession, and I ...

We humans can be destructive to ourselves. Many people live unhealthy lifestyles because it gives them short-term enjoyment, ignoring the long-term suffering it causes. The same thing applies to religion. It has now, yet again, been proven that relig...

Jewish communities risk shuning next generation of Jews who are products of mixed marriages Last week the New York Times published a long essay by a Harvard Law Professor Noah Feldman. While once affiliated with Modern orthodoxy, Feldman is not reli...

We Jews paid with the lives of six million of our brothers and sisters last time we waited for the world to step in and save us—this time that type of waiting is not an option The Iranian nuclear threat is uppermost in the minds of many Israeli...

Making a point not to celebrate Christmas is a powerful way of emphasizing our Jewish identity and saving our children from identity issues in the future Since my weekly column appears on Friday, I was not planning on writing about the Seattle Inter...

Recently I was listening to a debate on the Radio, in which the presenter was arguing against giving money to charity. He said, “I have worked hard for my money and I want to keep it for myself. I work hard to be able to have a nice car, a beau...

As the polls close in Israel I am reminded of when, in February 2001, Ariel Sharon became Prime Minister. Sheindy and I were living in Israel at the time. As I left my apartment in central Jerusalem the morning after Ariel Sharon’s overwhelming...

Predicting the future is big business. From newspaper astrologist to corporate consultants they all profit from our insatiable desire to know the unknowable. Often when contemplating major changes I am tempted to check my astrological reading. I...

Radicals and radicalisation are the words on everyone’s lips. People are trying to understand the process of how normal people become radicalised to the extent that they become suicide bombers. They therefore talk about radicalisation as if it ...

Radicals and radicalisation are the words on everyone’s lips. People are trying to understand the process of how normal people become radicalised to the extent that they become suicide bombers. They therefore talk about radicalisation as if it ...

The Bible talks about all types of Tzara’at (leprosy) including Tzara’at that inflicts buildings. The Torah relates, “G-d spoke to Moses and Aaron saying: when you arrive to the land of Canaan that I give you as a possession, and I ...

This week has seen mass demonstrations all across the United States over the issue of immigration. Indeed this is a big issue. In order for there to be a strong and safe country, the borders must be safe and secure. However, many of those who are arg...

Predicting the future is big business. From newspaper astrologist to corporate consultants they all profit from our insatiable desire to know the unknowable. Often when contemplating major changes I am tempted to check my astrological reading. I...

As a teacher, rabbi and writer I am fortunate to be able to interact positively with many people. Often people come to speak with me or join a class that I give with a passionate craving for spiritual knowledge and inspiration. Unbeknown to them thei...

A student of mine recently started to become religious and decided to go to Israel and study in a Yeshiva (rabbinic college). When I questioned his motives he told me that since all rabbis and religious people he had ever met were such incredibly goo...

We are told that as humans we were given the gift and responsibility of freedom. In decent societies people who abuse their freedom forfeit it and are imprisoned. Western leaders maintain that they are the leaders of the “free” world and ...