Judaism

Makom, a branch of the organization Jew In The City (JITC), was founded in 2014 by Allison Josephs, to help Jews who feel they no longer want to stay in their community of birth find a new community of choice – instead of leaving Judaism altogether in frustration.

If we are expected to pray for someone and we neglect to do so, we are robbing them of something that is rightfully theirs.

When judging others, Avraham Avinu did not compare the status of the tzaddik to himself. Rather, he expanded the definition of a tzaddik.

The subtlety of nature is greater many times over than the subtlety of the senses and understanding. -Francis Bacon

How often do we create mental cages of our own? How often do we allow other people's opinions of us to become our reality?

Rebbe Nachman is telling us that we can overcome any obstacle we face if we really want to. The lie of the yetzer hara is to tell us we can't.

The test was not whether Abraham would sacrifice his son but whether he would give him over to G-d.

Obviously, we need to understand what drove the mistakes we made and feel remorseful for them, but we cannot and must not ruminate on them.

A story is told in the Gemara (Shabbat 53b) of a man whose wife died, leaving him an infant son. The man was too poor to afford a wet nurse to feed his baby, so he miraculously grew breasts and nursed the baby himself.

Abraham was shown that his test was not only about his own faith…. By this test, G-d created the means for Abraham’s descendants to survive all adversity.

It is permitted to engage in routine activities or movements even if one’s intention might be for the exercise.

What can the dynamics between Yitzḥak and Yishmael in Parshat Vayeira teach us about Israel’s ideal relationship with the Muslim world?

Rabbi Shlomo Zalman of Hanau writes that the word teivah means "box, chest" and refers to the written word because books that contain written words are stored in a teivah.

Obviously, it is at least a Rabbinic mandate to love one's spouse in addition to the love one must have for every other Jew.

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Mama Rachel's image gives us strength despite the darkness. It's written that she is constantly crying over her children. Hashem tells her to cease crying, but she never lets up.

"To be honest, I don't remember clearly," replied Mr. Silver. "We did discuss repaying, but I don't remember whether in the end Mr. Kaplan paid. I assume, though, that since I didn't return the loan document to him, the loan was not paid, but cannot say for sure."

While there is plenty of room for cooperation and interaction with other larger cultures, it is important for the Jewish people to remember that a key role God wants it to play is to often stand on the other side and follow our own path.

Sanctified For Its Time… ‘Within Thirty Days Of The Shemittah Year’ (Rosh Hashana 10b)

Question: Why do we say Shalom Aleichem at Kiddush Levana, when we bless the new moon, and why do we do so three times? Is it because we have not seen a new moon for a whole month? Can you explain a little more about this mitzvah? Ira Warshansky Philadelphia, PA

G-d Almighty says to a Jew: In order for you to succeed in your shlichus (mission) in this world, “Lech lecha,” you must depart, “me’artzechah,” from your land. In a spiritual sense, this refers to materialism. We must depart from our own materialism.

Exodus passengers were separated on the port into men and women, invoking the worst associations to these concentration camp survivors.

We are accustomed to talk about our difficulties and hardships, but not to share our deliverance from them.

When a person knows his destination, then as he comes closer the journey becomes easier…But when has no idea when his journey will end, it is more difficult, and he therefore merits reward for every step that he takes on this journey.

Yeshayahu is anticipating the future destruction and exile and is trying fruitlessly to inspire the people of his generation to return to Hashem before it’s too late.

If these past 18 months taught us anything it is that no one knows what the day holds. We are not in control.

It would seem that the crimes of idolatry and immorality are more heinous than theft, yet the generation would have escaped destruction if their sins had only been between man and G-d.

What about the akeida was so unique, when throughout the generations thousands of Jews have given their lives for Kiddush Hashem?

The word “Torah” means “teaching” or “instruction,” and it is difficult to teach ethics through stories whose characters are fraught with complexity and ambiguity.

This is the deeper meaning of the mabul: Hashem was not destroying the world; he was recreating it. The generation of the Flood had become so corrupted that Hashem decided to start over again with Noach.