Yisrael Ben Yosef

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Aug 19, 2020, 10:38 PM

The Rabbi as Jackie Mason

My synagogue recently went through the process of search for a new rabbi. The committee responsible for selecting candidates ploughed through resumes in search of the ideal. They even sent out a survey to see what was important to...

Oct 17, 2018, 8:32 PM

A favorite story, true, and compelling. A young rabbi went for a Shabbat interview with a new Congregation. It was a small synagogue but with potential. And the Rabbi made a fine impression. Everyone seemed keen on hiring him...

Aug 8, 2018, 5:14 PM

Taking Leave of Yosef

I received a surprise call yesterday afternoon. It was from the president of my synagogue in Arnona. He told me he had sad news for me. My friend Yosef was found dead in his home. I was more shocked than...

Jul 17, 2018, 5:10 PM

The World Cup and the Haredim

Finally, it's over. After weeks of hype and then all consuming excitement over the World Cup of Soccer, it's over. Who won? Who cares! OK. OK, I know. Who cares? Only half the inhabitants of the planet. No sporting event,...

Jul 10, 2018, 3:57 PM

Do you remember as a child in synagogue being put in your place by some grouchy old man with the proverbial "shhhh" or still worse "shah!". I think many of us have that not so fond memory of our...

Jun 26, 2018, 6:35 PM

Early this morning I was walking home from minyan. As it happened I came to an intersection with only a few seconds left until the light would change from green to red. I had a choice. I could run...

Jun 20, 2018, 12:08 AM

Great Me/Small Me

"Where were you?" "Couldn't you see I needed your help?" "My Mom had to call my sister because I couldn't get her on her feet alone...and you sat outside and did nothing!" With those words my wife berated me early...

Jun 13, 2018, 9:47 AM

Tales from the Tayelet: The Work of our Lives

We learn from many sources.At the beginning we learned from our parents. They taught us right from wrong, the good from the bad. Later we went to school to learn from the learned knowledge we would need to get...

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About Me

Yisrael Ben Yosef holds Masters degrees in both Philosophy and in Education from the University of Western Ontario. He was a former Supervisor of Clinical Pastoral Education. He founded and served as Director of the Jewish Institute for Pastoral Care in New York City. He has authored two books "Whence My Help Come:Caregiving in the Jewish Tradition" and "The Torah and the Self", both published by Mazo Press, Jerusalem.