By Mark Gerson | Substack | Published March 20, 2025

This evening – on Shabbat – Jews the world over will bless our sons to be “like Ephraim and Menasseh.” This is strange and thus, intriguing. We would expect the Jewish tradition to have us bless our sons to be like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses or King David.

But Menasseh and Ephraim, who never say a word in the Bible? It would be as if the USA focused President’s Day on Millard Filmore rather than George Washington or Abraham Lincoln.

There are several explanations for this interesting choice of role model…

By Mark Gerson | Substack | Published March 10, 2025

A while ago, a dear friend – a very successful businessman, a highly civically engaged citizen, a generous philanthropist and an idealist dedicated to bettering his community and country – texted me. He wanted my advice on something important.

When we connected the next day, my friend told me that his Congressional district is likely to have an open seat – and that he is seriously thinking about running for it. It is quite possible: my friend has the ideas, motivation, freedom, emotional intelligence and money-raising capacity to make him a very plausible candidate and an outstanding Congressman.

He asked me: Should I do it?…

By Mark Gerson | Substack | Published March 4, 2025

Along with everyone else, I watched the televised disaster of a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelensky, President Trump and Vice-President Vance on Friday. As I watched, and reflected on it afterwards, I thought about the year 1979.

This is when the Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin came to the United States to negotiate what would become the Camp David Accords with President Jimmy Carter and President Anwar Sadat. Before going to Camp David, he made three stops. 

He met with the three great American Rabbis of the day– Menachem Schneerson, Moshe Feinstein and Joseph B. Soloveitchik – to receive Torah guidance for the upcoming summit…

By Mark Gerson | Substack | Published February 16, 2025

My mother was a teacher. She taught formally and she taught informally.

As Rick [my brother] just explained in the varied and wonderful stories he told, our mother had an insatiable curiosity. If she did not know a subject, no problem – she would learn it. She learned to teach, and she taught to learn. Fraida Yavelberg, my mother’s dear friend of 55 years sitting right there, told me a few minutes ago that she always emerged from a conversation with my mother having learned something new.

Me, as well…

By Mark Gerson | Substack | Published February 10, 2025

In Exodus 11, God is preparing the Jews to leave Egyptian slavery – en route to being a free people in the Promised Land. He tells the Jews that there will be one last plague- the slaying of the first born- after which the Pharaoh will send them out of Egypt.

God then gives the Jews an assignment for our exit. He tells Moses to “speak, please, in the ears of the people: Let each man request (vayishalu) of his fellow and each woman from her fellow silver vessels and gold vessels.”

One tantalizing ambiguity arises from the text: Who is God instructing the Jews to request gold and silver from – the Egyptians or each other?…

By Mark Gerson | Substack | Published January 30, 2025

One of the people my wife and I respect immensely is our friend Samantha Ettus. An author and an influencer, Samantha had a substantial following going into Oct. 7, focusing on women’s issues.

After Oct. 7, her focus shifted completely. She became a consistent, articulate and forthright advocate for the Jewish people and the state of Israel. When her house burned down in the LA fires, she got a lot of responses from people who said that she wished that she were in the house at that time.

She is a Jewish hero…

By Mark Gerson | Substack | Published January 27, 2025

It is, of course, impossible to see intangible things. But sometimes an intangible thing is so vibrant, so pronounced and so real that it is as though it can actually be seen.

I had that experience. I was in Washington DC for inaugural activities – and saw an intangible thing.

This was enthusiasm…

By Mark Gerson | Substack | Published January 20, 2025

Today is a dual American celebration. It is Martin Luther King Day — a time to reflect on, learn from and celebrate the greatest American of the 20th century. And it is also Inauguration Day — a time when all Americans, regardless of whom we voted for, can similarly acknowledge the greatness of our political tradition.

It is fortuitous that the two days coincide this year — as there is one lesson in particular, especially in these politically polarizing times, that we can learn from Dr. King. And Dr. King, who called himself a “Hebraic Christian,” seems to have learned it from the source that explicitly inspired his sermons and teachings — the Torah…

By Mark Gerson | Substack | Published January 16, 2025

It is Leviticus 10:1. Aaron’s sons, Nadav and Abihu, bring a “strange fire” to the holy altar – one that the text tells us “God had not commanded.” A fire descends from “before Hashem” , consumes them, and they die.

Moses comes to his brother to console him, and speaks profoundly. So is Aaron’s response. The text tells us: “Aaron was silent.”

Why would the text tell us that “Aaron was silent”? To show us that this was not the time for words – even, or perhaps especially, like the profound kind that Moses offered. There would be plenty of time to explore the meaning of Nadav and Abihu’s life, and actions.

This time – in the immediate aftermath of a tragedy – was not it…

By Mark Gerson | Substack | Published January 11, 2025

It is Exodus 14:26. The Jews, who have endured hundreds of years of brutal Egyptian slavery, have a shot at freedom. God had just enacted the Ten Plagues, each afflicting a different aspect of Egyptian philosophy and society that enabled the slave system. The Jews, led by Moses and instructed by God, are on the run toward the desert. The Egyptians, even after the Tenth Plague (the death of the firstborn), are in pursuit on their chariots – the most advanced military transportation of the time.

If the Jews make it to the desert, they will be enroute to becoming a free people in the Promised Land. If they are captured, they will be either enslaved or killed…

By Mark Gerson | Substack | Published January 9, 2025

In early Genesis, God decides to create the world. He could have done so by blinking his proverbial eye, snapping his fingers or just willing it. Instead, he creates through speaking - through “And God said” — teaching us the importance of words at the very beginning. The message is clear: If God creates his world with words, then we, who are created in his image, create our world with words.

This theme is consistent throughout the Torah and in Jewish thought. Vows, which the Torah discourages in Numbers, must be kept – with only limited exceptions…

By Mark Gerson | Substack | Published January 7, 2025

Our family just returned from a trip to Israel – which was, as are Israel trips, amazing. Erica and I often reflect on how everyone should go to Israel for vacations – and not just for Zionist reasons. Everything that people seek in trips – beaches, history, food, culture, people, hiking, volunteering, music, urban vibrancy, rural calm and desert charm – is in this country which is so small that a traveler can enjoy it all in a week. Moreover, the flights leave at night and return at night – meaning that a visitor can depart the country at midnight and be home by 6am.

We had one of the most Israeli experiences we have had…

By Mark Gerson | Substack | Published January 3, 2025

On May 1, 2023, Jordan Neely was riding the northbound F train on the New York City subway. He took over a subway car, yelling “I'm willing to die! I'll do anything! I'm willing to die and go to jail! I don't care!" He lunged at people, and threw down his jacket when people tried to leave.

The subway riders were terrified.

It would later turn out that they had every reason to be…

By Mark Gerson | Substack | Published December 30, 2024

A couple of weeks ago, I was having dinner with a friend in New York. He told me that he has been married for 22 years — and his relationship has become functional. He told me it’s all about who is picking one child up here and dropping another off there — that kind of thing. He said that much of his communication with his wife is on a Google Sheet, which they use to manage the schedule of their busy family. The passion they once shared, he said, is gone.

He wanted to know whether the Torah had any insights regarding how he could understand and improve his marriage. As always, it does…

By Mark Gerson | Substack | Published December 26, 2024

This year is concluding, appropriately enough, with a strange political story. Kay Granger, who had represented the 17th Congressional District in Texas since 1997, had missed every vote since July. Seemingly, no one even knew where she was – until the Dallas Express found out: she was in a home for people with impaired memories – suffering from a condition that likely pre-dated her re-election in 2022.

Of course, Kay Granger is not the only national political figure who insisted on staying in office past her point of competency…

By Mark Gerson | Substack | Published December 23, 2024

In early Genesis, God has an important task: To create the world. He could have done so with a breath, a wink, a smile, a thought or nothing at all. Instead, he creates the world in a way that will simultaneously introduce one of the most important ideas in the Torah.

God creates the world with nine, “And God saids” – teaching us how important words are. If God creates his world with words and we are created in his image – then we, too, create our world with words.

By Mark Gerson | Substack | Published December 20, 2024

In or around 1997, Loring Justice (my great friend and brother in Elvis) took a class on Jewish Law at Yale Law School. The professor was a brilliant and inspired Rabbi, Michael Whitman, who hailed from Memphis – of course, the home of Graceland. We learned a great deal, Loring solidified his status as an honorary Jew, and then moved on with our lives.

I do much of my Torah study during the hour I spend every morning on the treadmill – where I listen to Torah commentary and take notes on the Ipad in front of the screen. As I do this every day, I am always looking for more sources of English language, pshat (highly textual) commentary.

A few months ago, I found a great one: “Mining the Riches of the Parsha.” The commentator, a Rabbi in Canada, mentioned that he had taught at Yale Law School in the 90s. I realized then that it was Michael Whitman – a generation later!

By Mark Gerson | Substack | Published December 16, 2024

What is the most urgent economic issue of our time?

There are a lot of candidates, including inflation, debt and housing.

But according to many of our leaders, there is one that surpasses them all…

By Mark Gerson | Substack | Published December 11, 2024

A few weeks ago, United Hatzalah had its young leadership gala in New York City. The honoree was Scooter Braun — who turned it around and said that he was instead going to give the honor to Joe Teplow, the remarkable entrepreneur and EMT who went with him to Israel after October 7 and introduced him to United Hatzalah.

In both Scooter and Joe’s talks, they referenced the dual (or combined) purpose of the evening: to enable committed Jewish singles to meet each other while supporting the life-saving work of United Hatzalah…

By Mark Gerson | Substack | Published December 9, 2024

The Torah is equally helpful in victory and defeat.

Last week, I published in these pages a consideration of three lessons that the Democrats – following the 2024 election – can learn from the Torah.

My great friend Rabbi David Wolpe, whose sermons (available on the Temple Sinai website) have taught me so much Torah, emailed with appreciation for the article and a challenge: What are three lessons that the Republicans can learn from the Torah?

By Mark Gerson | Substack | Published December 6, 2024

Forbes recently posted an interview with my fellow United Hatzalah supporter and dear friend Bob Book.

I don’t love Bob only because he always brings (and smokes with) me the world’s best cigars, often from the Mamilla Mall in Jerusalem where a mention of his name is enough to get the proprietor to keep the store open after hours. Bob is also a great businessman, a deeply committed philanthropist, a great friend, a fierce supporter of the people, institutions and ideas he believes in…

By Mark Gerson | Jewish Journal | Published November 27, 2024

If the Democrats do consult the Torah, they will realize – right at the beginning – something that may surprise them: They should be feeling great right now. 

After the recent resounding Republican victory, the Democrats have started a process of determining how they lost so conclusively.  They are looking at politics, candidates and much else – but there is one source that none seems to have consulted.  This is the Torah, the sacred text for Jews and Christians that starts with Genesis and concludes with Deuteronomy.

By Mark Gerson | Fox News | Published November 24, 2024 | 10:00am EST

It is Genesis 6, 10 generations after Adam and Eve, and things are not going well in God’s world. God observes widespread corruption and immorality, with robbery being the common practice. 

God is furious and regrets having created mankind – and resolves to destroy the world in a flood.  

But there is a glimmer of hope. God decides to save one man and his family, and through them, eventually recreate the world…

By Mark Gerson | Fox News | Published September 15, 2024 | 8:00am EDT

Torah based immigration framework would eliminate the non-strategic incoherence that plagues the US system.

Since the Naturalization Act of 1790, immigration has been a consistently contentious issue in American politics.

Throughout history, America’s religious leaders have offered guidance and opinions on immigration, in general terms and concerning specific legislation.

In recent years, much of this religious guidance has centered on a verse from the Torah...

By Mark Gerson | Fox News | Published September 1, 2024 | 10:00am EDT

In about 250 words, Ten Commandments deliver universal moral guidance.

Earlier this summer, Republican Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry signed into law a requirement that all public classrooms display the Ten Commandments. Broadly similar laws are moving through legislatures and courts in a variety of other states – as they have at various points over the past 75 years. Especially as the school year begins, it is worth considering: Should the Ten Commandments be placed in every classroom?  

By Mark Gerson | Fox News | Published August 24, 2024 10:00am EDT

How might parents use this concept to help our children in this back-to-school season?

In the past two weeks, a quintessentially local story became news around the world. The Charles Middle School in El Paso, Texas, banned all-black clothing for the coming school year because such attire "has become more associated with depression and mental health issues and/or criminality than with happy and healthy kids ready to learn." 

By Mark Gerson | Fox News | Published August 11, 2024 10:00am EDT

Moses and Joseph both needed to be publicly truthful and that's what woke insanity also needs. Gender is a choice – and, indeed, a complicated one as there are many genders. If a 12-year-old girl believes that she is a boy or "nonbinary" and wants to undergo life-altering surgery, she is vulnerable to harm – by adults suggesting that she not make irreparable changes, at least until she is old enough to get a tattoo. Climate change is "the No. 1 existential threat to the world," and a good reason for young people to live in debilitating fear and decide not to have children. Yearning for a colorblind society is racist…

By Mark Gerson | Fox News | Published July 13, 2024 | 5:43pm EDT

I will always remember when I first met Dr. Ruth.

It was a few months before her 75th birthday – so, a little more than 21 years ago. I was at a Jewish charity event, and was walking by a few of the tables where various auction items and services were being offered. One was "Lunch with Dr. Ruth Westheimer at the Ocean Grill." I felt a tap on my shoulder.  

I turned around and it was Dr. Ruth. She had two words for me, and delivered them in her famous…