The Infiniti Game
Finite games are played to win. Infinite games are played for their own sake. Finite games are usually performed in front of an audience of some kind. Infinite games are participative.
Rabbi Sacks’ Message for Tisha B’Av During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Here is a short message as we head towards Tisha B'Av and will be marked in strange and difficult circumstances because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Why Are There Riots?
The organizers of these protests, which quickly turn to violent riots, undoubtably seek anarchy, as they openly state.
Remembering The Wall (Part I)
Rabbi Pappenheim suggests that “chomah” is related to “milchamah,” as the main purpose of building a city wall is to protect its inhabitants from enemy warfare.
Pass It On
As soon as a person gets used to whatever they have, or are doing, it becomes mundane, and we feel that it isn’t so special or important after all.
Pious Foolishness
In one particular synagogue, however, the shamas would rely on the out-of-town beggars who normally arrived during the night to light up the oven. But many times, the beggars would not show up, and the synagogue would be freezing in the morning. People began to complain.
When Suddenly…
The Talmud (Kritut 9a) states that “peta” connotes shogeg (by mistake), while “pitom” could connote oness (by accident), meizid (on purpose), or shogeg. The Midrash (Sifrei to Numbers 6:9) disagrees.
How Riots Are Setting The Stage for Mashiach
Hashem arranged that people should rely on human malchus in order for us to understand in human terms what malchus is all about, and subsequently develop the ability to appreciate His divine malchus.
First Follow, Then You Can Lead
When ten of the men came back with a demoralizing report and the people panicked, at least part of the blame lay with Moshe.
The Ninth Day Of Av
With this terrible virus in the world things sure seem to take on a new light... Today we suddenly feel G-d's presence more than ever. We feel something changing in the whole world, not just in our neighborhood or in our city or state.
One Small Deed
There was one guy in front of me in line, a thirties-looking man with an open-necked blue shirt. He’d seen the same scene I did, with an up close view right from the door. Like an angel to the rescue, he opened the door and stuck out a twenty.
The Religious Significance of Israel
Only in Israel can the Jewish people construct a political system, an economy, and an environment on the template of Jewish values.
Take A Breather (Part III)
The Shelah (1555-1630) writes that not everyone can be cognizant of their chayah and yechidah during their lifetimes. Only bnei aliyah (spiritually-elevated people) can connect with their chayah-yechidah.
Connections (Part II)
My dear son, you are still very young, only 18 years old. Life is ahead of you and you are just beginning your journey down the path of life.
View From Her Tent
Esther says that she’s had a few trials in her life and the key to her faith is looking at the positive and not harping on the bad. Something she’s worked on perfecting her whole life.
Everything Is Done For A Reason
The Jews told Yirmiyahu that they understood that they had to do teshuvah, but they did not believe that a churban was imminent.
Take A Breather (Part II)
Rabbeinu Yonah notes that the nefesh and ruach represent man’s instinct for thriving and surviving in a physical or material way.
Lessons From Pinchas For The Coronavirus
We have moral duties as individuals, and we make political decisions as nations. The two are different.
The Three Weeks Of Happiness
Going back to the history of our nation, we can clearly see how after each horrible event we received greatness and glory.
A Message From Moshe With Help From Above
For years I have been interested in stories about families that lost someone they loved, like the one I am compelled to write now.
Kohelet, Tolstoy, And The Parah Adumah
Science deals in causes and effects, not purpose and meaning. In the end, he concluded that only religious faith rescues life from meaninglessness.
Take A Breather (Part I)
Maimonides explains that “ruach” also means a life-giving spirit, which is what remains of a person after death (Ecclesiastes 12:7).
Do You Know Anyone Called Zvi?
They realized he must have got on a bus, but they had no idea which bus. They had no way of knowing whether it had been a bus to Ramot where we live.
Korach: Cancel Culture’s Precursor
Their aim was to discredit Moshe, damage his credibility, raise doubts among the people as to whether he really was receiving his instructions from G-d.
All About Hair
In another famous Talmudic passage, the rabbis speak about taming the force of the Evil Inclination for idolatry, which took on the form of a lion made of fire.
A Tribute To The Lubavitcher Rebbe
Throughout some of my hardest times, I always felt as if the Lubavitcher Rebbe, though I never met him, was always there for me.
To Life
I didn’t realize that the anecdotes I gave my offspring, and then grandchildren, would truly be heard and also remembered.
Spying On The Land – Or Touring?
They were about to enter a land they had not seen. They had no idea what they were fighting for.
Kneading The Dough
Rabbi Mecklenberg writes that “arisah” is related to “eres” (bed): Just as dough consists of a mixture of flour and water, so too a bed’s mattress rest on a mixture of interplaced beams or planks.
Chevron – Forever And Ever
The things that the meraglim saw were true, however, Hashem is always trying to see the good and to concentrate on what is positive.