Stephanie Mishkin Admissions Assistant Recently my daughter Dillan, in tenth grade, and I were discussing the upcoming holiday of  Yom Kippur . She mentioned that she recently learned in Rabbi David Ehrenkranz’s  Talmud  class that  Yom Kippur  is intended to be a happy holiday. In fact, the  Talmud  in  Taanit  30b quotes Rabban Shimon Ben Gamliel as stating that  Yom Kippur  is one of the happiest days of the year for the Jewish people. However, this seems quite strange. My image of  Yom Kippur  involves trepidation and looming judgment, the somber tones  of Kol Nidrei  and the recitation of  u’Netaneh Tokef.  So how is  Yom Kippur  a joyous day?   The  Talmud  gives two explanations as to why  Yom Kippur  is actually a joyous holiday: מִשּׁוּם דְּאִית בֵּיהּ סְלִיחָה וּמְחִילָה, because it provides pardon and forgiveness, and יוֹם שֶׁנִּיתְּנוּ בּוֹ לוּחוֹת הָאַחֲרו...

Rabbi Dr. Yaakov Jaffe Dean of Judaic Studies I find it very gratifying whenever students approach me to say they believe that microwaves or tables in our lunchroom have become non- kosher.   It’s a gratifying feeling – even if it creates a new action item of needing to fix the problem – because it demonstrates that our students have internalized the message of the importance of  halacha  in their daily lives, while also having the ability to recall and apply the lessons about  halacha  that they have learned in the classroom.   In fact, every time students ask about eating dairy-equipment desserts after our scrumptious meat lunches – an increasingly common occurrence these days – it serves the same purpose of demonstrating how they have learned the material and content of  halacha , and also developed a feeling for and commitment to  halacha.   I heard a few weeks ago about a recent graduate who upon arrival at university noticed a few ...