Aryeh Cohen

Apr 17, 2024 | jewschool.com | Aryeh Cohen

Moving from Purim to Pesach this year is hard. Purim hits too close to home—the threat of a massacre of the Jewish community, the massacre of the Shushanites, the instability at the end of the Megillah—who will next get the King’s ring and license for genocide? Pesach offers liberation, Divine intervention in the world, the appearance of God over the splitting sea (according to the midrash) when everybody could literally point and say “this is my God”, and God’s crushing of cruel oppression.

Mar 13, 2024 | jewschool.com | Aryeh Cohen

Someday, hopefully soon, maybe not so soon, this war will be over. Even President Biden and Vice President Harris have—though wanly and unconvincingly—called for a temporary cease fire. The question that the political pundits have been worrying about is “the day after.” What will happen in Gaza the day after the war ends? Who will be in charge? Who will supply food and water and housing? Who will control the borders and internal security? Will Hamas still be a political force?

Feb 1, 2024 | jewishjournal.com | Aryeh Cohen

The machinery of death roared to life again this week. Kenneth Smith was killed in Alabama on Thursday using a method which the American Veterinary Medical Association declared was unacceptable for euthanasia of most mammals. In his trial, the jury had voted to spare his life, but the judge overruled their verdict in a maneuver which is no longer legal. Why do we as a society continue to kill to demonstrate our disdain for murder?

Jun 26, 2023 | jewschool.com | Aryeh Cohen

Skip to content When one thinks of the Temple in Jerusalem one thinks of solemnity and gravity—the sacrificing of animals and incense; the Levites’ music: the push of the crowds; hopefully the presence of God.