By Rabbi Mordechai Levin
One of Pesach’s most important symbols is the matzah, which we eat during the festival’s eight days. The commandment to eat matzah appears 10 times in the Torah. Jewish tradition requires eating matzah on the first two nights of Pesach. On the other days of Pesach … More
By Rabbi Mordechai Levin
There are many books about happiness, but no simple or easy recipes to attain it. Can happiness by found in money, pursuit of honor, buying material things, gambling, food, etc? Is it possible that some people are searching for happiness in the wrong places?
In his … More
By Rabbi Mordechai Levin
At the age of two, an Israeli child, Avichai Sheli, lost his hearing due to a disease. The physicians told his parents that their son would never speak, and until he was four years old, they thought he was mute.
But his mother ignored the physicians … More
By Rabbi Mordechai Levin
Western civilization has adopted several teachings and moral values of Judaism, but many people are not aware of it.
Many people believe that “love your neighbor as yourself” was first said by Jesus, not realizing that he was simply quoting the Hebrew Bible (Leviticus 19:18), written … More
By Rabbi Mordechai Levin
In several days we will celebrate Pesach, the holiday which commemorates our ancestors’ exodus from slavery in Egypt 3,200 years ago. We will gather at our homes for the Seder, and we will read the Haggadah, the book used to tell the story.
In the Haggadah … More
By Rabbi Mordechai Levin
We would all like others to give us the benefit of the doubt; however, we sometimes find it difficult to do the same for them.
If someone fails to show up for an appointment, we assume she just did not care. But perhaps her absence was … More
By Rabbi Mordechai Levin
Researchers at the University of California identified three people in the world who have a powerful autobiographical memory, a condition called hyperthymestic syndrome, from the Greek words for excessive (hyper) and remembering (thymesis). These people can remember what they did and what happened every day of … More
By Rabbi Mordechai Levin
Published by the Omaha World Herald – January 22, 2011
In questionable situations, we would all like others to give us the benefit of the doubt; however, we sometimes find it difficult to do the same for them. If someone fails to show up for an … More
By Rabbi Mordechai Levin
Published by the Omaha World Herald – February 19, 2011
Thanks to YouTube, I recently was able to watch and listen to Jewish psychiatrist and neurologist Victor Frankl, founder of the school of existential psychotherapy known as logotherapy. His first and most famous book — which … More
By Rabbi Mordechai Levin
Published by the Omaha World Herald – April 9, 2011
The commandment to honor parents is one of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:12): “Honor your father and mother.” To honor parents does not mean that we have to obey everything they say. For instance, even if … More
Rabbi Levin 
is the rabbi of Congregation Beth Israel in Munster, IN. He received his rabbinic ordination from the Latin American Rabbinical Seminary, and is a member of the Rabbinical Assembly. In 2010, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City for his years of dedicated service to the Conservative movement and the Jewish community...Full bio