The original Succot celebration

October 17, 2019

By TED ROBERTS, the SCRIBBLER ON THE ROOF

Succot, like perfect sweet and sour cabbage soup, has two flavors. A single holiday with two themes.  We celebrate the bounty of the grape and olive harvest in the Promised Land; also...

The Mask

October 03, 2019

By TED ROBERTS, the SCRIBBLER ON THE ROOF

My friend, Herb, likes to get an early start. On the golf course, he stands 20 feet in front of the tee. When he eats out, he brings a drink from home...

The Baal Shem Tov’s Midnight Visitor

August 09, 2019

(Editor’s note: In only one instance did Ted get one by this editor. This column originally ran in April of 2018 under a slightly different title.)

By TED ROBERTS, the SCRIBBLER ON THE ROOF

The followers of the...

A Homemade Midrash

July 19, 2019

By TED ROBERTS, the SCRIBBLER ON THE ROOF

It was the oldest of Midrashim. In fact it was the first Midrash – whether you believe they came from the Presence who spoke atop Sinai – or,  depending on your beliefs, ...

A Prayer for Springtime

June 16, 2019

By TED ROBERTS, the SCRIBBLER ON THE ROOF

You can learn a lot from your rabbi – you can also learn a lot from nature. To watch a mama cat handle its young may be as informative as a chapter...

An earthquake in Iran?

October 07, 2018

By TED ROBERTS, the SCRIBBLER ON THE ROOF

Our G-d is a jealous god, as He repeats many times in his book and I intend not to denigrate his feelings. Don’t argue with me – argue with Moses, who wrote...

A bris in Passaic

August 10, 2018

By TED ROBERTS, the SCRIBBLER ON THE ROOF

“And I will establish my covenant between me and you and I will multiply you exceedingly. . . and I will make you exceedingly fruitful.”  So spoke G-d to...

Fathers, You Must Mark the Trail

June 15, 2018

By TED ROBERTS, the SCRIBBLER ON THE ROOF

“If Oedipus Rex had taken that kid to the ballgame more often, we wouldn’t have had all that trouble.”

                         ...

Besht: The Baal Shem Tov’s midnight visitor

April 20, 2018

By TED ROBERTS, THE SCRIBBLER ON THE ROOF

The followers of the Baal Shem Tov love to tell of his courage in facing up to his opponents. The holy man, they used to say, could walk among wolves without drawing...

Chanukah and Christmas: A Study in Ecumenicism

December 10, 2017

By TED ROBERTS, the SCRIBBLER ON THE ROOF 

Chanukah and Christmas have many similarities: They both fall in December. They both delight the merchant classes. They’re both lighthearted holidays that don’t sufficiently emphasize their religious and historical origins....