Avi Ganz, at The Blogs

Apply for a Blog

Mar 20, 2022, 10:55 PM

When differences aren’t different enough…..

Syndrome /ˈsɪndrəʊm/ noun a group of symptoms which consistently occur together, or a condition characterized by a set of associated symptoms. A syndrome is only sought out, studied, and defined when something …..or some things….are different. There are syndromes with which most are...

Oct 2, 2020, 3:21 AM

(Oh, NO! Not) Another Covid OpEd

A relative wrote to me after Yom Kippur (which I spent at home, in quarantine....davening at the window of our laundry room; the one closest to the outdoor minyan happening nearest our building): "I expected you to write about...

Jul 9, 2020, 8:00 AM

It’s a PANDEMIC!

As of April 19th, 2020, 98 governments had declared a national state of emergency as a result of the Novel Coronavirus / COVID-19. That's a pretty big deal. The first thing we knew about this virus was that it is extremely...

Apr 30, 2020, 9:54 PM

Dear Saadya….

Dear Saadya, Tonight I'm not crying as much. It's not because I am any less sad. Tears are but one way to help digest that which is perhaps too difficult to digest. Tonight I am not crying as much because...

Jan 3, 2020, 4:16 PM

To Monsey, with love, from Alon Shvut

Our community has experienced the tragedy of a murderous attack on Jews and we know the value of a consoling gesture

Nov 13, 2019, 8:53 PM

Why I’m Excited for Israel Night

It's mid-November. College application season. High school seniors everywhere are scrambling to get paperwork together, essays written, fees paid, and, most of all, target schools identified. Is it too academic? Not academic enough? How's campus life? How's my degree...

Apr 17, 2019, 7:38 AM

The Pesach Seder: A Paradigm of Inclusion

One of the more well-known passages in the Passover Haggadah speaks of the 'Four Sons', in reference to whom, the Torah enjoins us to engage with our children on the Seder Night. In quoting the verses which instruct us to engage...

Mar 3, 2019, 8:03 PM

What is inclusion?

Do you know the joy of friendship, of caring and of love? Somehow I get the feeling that you do. Then we are not so different, we are very much the same... You do know who I am... I'm just like you -Abie Rotenberg We...

Oct 18, 2018, 9:09 PM

Pardon me, Your Chesed Is in the Way (of My Tzedek)

The story is told of a stately Israeli 'Rebbetzin' who was heading home on the bus after a trip to the supermarket. After she stepped off of the bus with all of her packages, she asked some young seminary...

Sep 3, 2018, 9:25 AM

Teshuva – Can all sinners repent?

Author's Note: If the below is offensive or triggers any personal pain, I am deeply sorry. If you have caused anyone pain and have not made amends with yourself and your victims, you are not entitled to forgiveness. If...

Load more

About Me

Avi Ganz is the program Director of Ohr Torah Stone's Yeshivat Darkaynu. He lives with his wife and five children in Gush Etzion where he plays the blues on his Hohner, and reminisces fondly of his days playing tackle football with the IFL.

Contact Me