Jack Engel, at The Blogs

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May 13, 2021, 7:27 AM

The Crisis in Israel

Missiles are falling on Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The residents of Lod are frightened by physical attacks by the Arabs. But lo and behold the pariah countries are still slinging diatribes against Israel. There is no ambiguity in their...

Feb 19, 2021, 6:42 PM

Purim 2021: Celebrating properly during COVID

A few words come to mind when I think about Purim: Simcha, joy, revelry and partying. Traditionally, the holiday is communal in nature; the celebration includes eating, drinking, and enjoying the company of friends. We deliver personalized mishloach manot, usually...

Jan 29, 2021, 8:40 AM

The Responsibility of Being Chosen

Every day I am bombarded with forwarded emails or WhatsApp messages that I generally ignore and erase. However, for some reason I decided to open one and was pleasantly surprised. It was a zoom session from Israel with a...

Jan 9, 2021, 12:59 AM

Dysfunctional Democracy

My heart is saddened and my mind is numbed, unable to fathom this week's nightmare. No words can adequately describe my embarrassment and shame witnessing American citizens’ heinous disregard for the sanctity of life and the law of the...

Nov 13, 2020, 7:39 AM

Death and the Humility of Life – A Tribute to Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z”l

Death is the ultimate equalizer. Neither wealth, scholarship, nor position can ward off the finality of death. For me personally, this past week has been extremely difficult. Our dear friend and congregant, Anne Hillelsohn, lost her battle with pancreatic...

Oct 23, 2020, 6:56 PM

Why I love my children

They are not my clones. They may even vote for the wrong candidate! And yet, the Torah offers a model of parental love that is profoundly realistic

Oct 9, 2020, 10:42 PM

For the Sake of Zion, I will Not Be Silent

An Orthodox reporter said he was attacked by an angry mob at a protest in Borough Park, Brooklyn, against coronavirus restrictions Wednesday night. “I was just brutally assaulted, hit in the head, and kicked at by an angry crowd...

Jun 4, 2020, 11:04 PM

Thinking about the Protests

I hear myself saying, “I am not a racist.” I hear myself saying, ”God created Adam to impress upon mankind that we all originated from the same ancestor.” I hear myself saying words in support of racial tolerance, yet,...

May 25, 2020, 9:47 PM

Shavuot – Searching for the Invisible God

We may be embarrassed to say it publicly, but most people throughout their lives have questioned their faith. I believe that doubts are not a challenge to faith, but rather a prerequisite. Who hasn’t struggled with the thirst to...

May 14, 2020, 2:21 AM

Nu!? So When Are You Opening the Shul???

From the years 1978 through 1992, AT&T used a commercial jingle, “Reach out and touch someone.” It sent the message that physical touch was unnecessary and could be replicated by using the phone to communicate. For another 28 years...

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About Me

Rabbi Jack and his wife, Miriam have reinvigorated Anshei Emuna, a Modern Orthodox Synagogue located in Delray Beach, Florida, in the ten plus years they have been at the Shul, through their experiences gleaned from serving in pulpits in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. They are advocates of a modern Orthodoxy, being open minded, yet adhering to the integrity of halacha. They believe that being an “ohr lagoyim” refers first and foremost to the entirety of our collective Jewish family.