Tuesday, October 27th 2026 |
THEODORE “TED” ROBERTS was a humorist and writer, who lived in the Deep South of Huntsville, Alabama and wove stories based on his lifelong love of Judaism. Roberts’ collection of columns that ran in the CCJN with his sobriquet “The Scribbler on the Roof,” are archived here in the hopes that reading his homespun brand of Talmud will bring you continued joy and love of Jewish learning and culture. Roberts, 89, died on March 2, 2020 and was buried in his hometown of Memphis.
By TED ROBERTS, the SCRIBBLER ON THE ROOF
Many bible scholars, both Jewish and Christian, make the obvious point that Christianity stresses forgiveness while Judaism gives it a glance, says it’s a nice thing, but then bounces back to justice,...
By TED ROBERTS, the SCRIBBLER ON THE ROOF
Our bible, according to my concordance, tells us repetitively to love G-d. How can we comply with this mandate – Love G-d? I love my wife, kids, a few highly select...
By TED ROBERTS, the SCRIBBLER ON THE ROOF
As I look back at my grandparents, I’m filled with wonder. Now, I’m a grandparent, too. And by the way, we never called them Bubbe or Zayde. It wasn’t cool then. Only...
By TED ROBERTS, the SCRIBBLER ON THE ROOF
It’s Saturday and I need to write a story – but wait a minute. It’s Shabbos – and you can’t push a pencil across paper on Shabbos, say the rabbis. The Chumash...
By TED ROBERTS, the SCRIBBLER ON THE ROOF
He had returned; just as he promised two years ago, the day he left us. Who could forget that day? He walked out of Shtetle Grinz at the head of a procession...
By TED ROBERTS, the SCRIBBLER ON THE ROOF
Here’s a basic question that our sages have ignored: Why did The Creator of the universe wait so long to hand us the Book of Books – the Torah?
Consider the generations...
By TED ROBERTS, the SCRIBBLER ON THE ROOF
What a genius our Moses was: jurist, diplomat, five-star general, navigator, and lawgiver. And what a job he had leading our stiff-necked ancestors through the sandy wastes of Sinai.
Consider he descends...
By TED ROBERTS, the SCRIBBLER ON THE ROOF
Every culture treats its mothers differently. If you had the time (about two years) a careful analysis of the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic holy books would reveal a significant difference in their...
By TED ROBERTS, the SCRIBBLER ON THE ROOF
Our Torah is full of conundrums and nothing brings them into the light of examination like Pesach. Well, the holiday has gone and as usual it leaves a trail of mysteries in...
By TED ROBERTS, the SCRIBBLER ON THE ROOF
We Jews are the inspiration of every innovation in the wide, wide world – maybe a slight exaggeration, but basically correct. We held the torch of truth in every nook and cranny...
