Parshat R’eh – Taking Responsibility
The essence of Ahavat Yisrael is the willingness to take responsibility for Israel’s future. It is being prepared to sacrifice everything for the defense of the Jewish people and liberation of the homeland.
TORAH SHORTS: Parshat Reeh: Spiritual Navel-Gazing
The soul's emphasis is always right. -Ralph Waldo Emerson
The Art Of Being A Caretaker (Part IV)
Since caretaking is a twenty-four/seven occupation, the smart caretaker needs to learn how to delegate often and wisely. Save your strength and time for when you are needed most.
The Second Tithe And The Basis Of Strong Societies
Tocqueville believed that democracy encouraged individualism. As a result, people would leave the business of the common good entirely to the government, which would become ever more powerful, eventually threatening freedom itself.
Start The Day Right
By consciously choosing each day to "give over" their lives and their will to G-d, they are able to stay clean and sober one day at a time.
Do You Have a Spiritual Compass?
What is this mysterious place that Hashem wants us to find? Why doesn’t Hashem provide the coordinates for it? Why not give an address for Moshe to plug into his GPS?
Better Than Thousands Of Gold And Silver Pieces
For this reason money is compared to the wisdom of the nations of the world without Torah. It is merely a collection of shiny things.
No Shortcuts
We like convenience. In fact, our world is driven by it. We expect no less than high-speed internet and sophisticated toys and attractions.
Is It Proper To Take A Selfie?
I would strongly advise anyone to limit picture taking, especially when it involves sending and sharing via social media and the like.
Professional Happiness – Parshat Re’eh
A genuine smile is a form of energy, an inner light radiating out from the soul.
The Perfect Storm
With no choice, and a heavy heart, we forked over the three thousand shekel (There went my sheitel fund.) and remembered to thank the volunteer committee as well.
Daf Yomi
The Wedding Day Fast
“He Gives Her Over In Marriage”
(Kesubos 47a)
The Switched Jacket – Who Is Liable?
Benzion turned around, charging again. Zvi swirled the jacket and snapped it so hard that it tore. He hugged Benzion, and the dancing resumed.
Q & A: The Mantle Of Leadership (Part I)
Question: As we now read the book of Devarim, the Torah tells us that Moses was instructed by Hashem to appoint a successor. Moses wanted His sons to succeed him, but Hashem tells him to appoint Yehoshua as the next leader. Why was this request of the greatest and most righteous of men denied? Also, were Yehoshua and Caleb the only named leaders or personalities to enter the land of Canaan?
M. Gorin
Via email
When You Give You Get
Just days before the celebrations, the situation had all the makings of a powder keg that would inevitably leave one family, and particularly one young man, feeling slighted and deprived.
Parshat Ekev – Difficult Mitzvot
When facing our enemies, it's often necessary to don a ruthlessness seemingly at odds with our inner nature. The 'hands of Esav' can sometimes be utilized to achieve the goals of 'Yaakov's voice.'
The Rebbe’s Kibbud Av V’Eim For His Parents
Everyone saw how the Rebbe would make sure to visit his mother at her home every single day. Even when he had the burden of Klal Yisrael resting upon him, the Rebbe found time to go by foot from his office to his mother’s house.
Being Aware of Awareness
Rebbi encourages reflecting upon Hashem’s presence and omniscience. “Look at three things and you will not come to sin: know what is above you, a seeing eye, and a listening ear, and all of your actions are recorded” (Avot 2:1).
The Long and Short of a Well-Rounded Shabbos
How might we frame what a successful Shabbos looks like? Is there a method for how we can approach this?
A Prayer Regarding Politics And The News
Make a portion of your Torah a part of me so that I do not waste my time reading articles and hearing analysis based on guesses and futile evaluations that pop up all of a sudden and are just as quickly proven wrong.
The Art of Being A Caretaker (Part II)
It is obvious that to maintain the patient’s mental health, the caretaker has to help their charge be as pain-free as possible. This can be a daunting task when dealing with something as thorny as cancer breakout pain.
Yearning For Connection: The Secret Of The Mouth
You can’t see, touch, or smell your mind or consciousness. You will never see someone else’s inner world.
TORAH SHORTS: Parshat Ekev: The Hard Way
Human beings hardly ever learn from the experience of others. They learn; when they do, which isn't often, on their own, the hard way. Robert A. Heinlein
The Power Of Gratitude
The more positive emotions – such as contentment, gratitude, happiness, love and hope – they expressed in their autobiographical notes, the more likely they were to be alive and well 60 years later.
The Source Of Financial Success
True emunah is when a person lives by the principle of ‘cast your burden upon Hashem, and He will sustain you.’
The Gates Of Tears
Reb Noson explains that crying is an especially propitious means for arousing oneself to better serve G-d.
Too Crowded
As Malbim explains, the Land will be expanded in order to accommodate all those who return from the long exile. There will be room enough for everyone.
To Be Patronizing Or To Be Real
When people approach him and tell him what a terrible speech it was, he knows he struck a chord and he considers it a good speech.
Of Thorns And Thistles (Part II)
Now that we’ve seen the entire list, we can better appreciate a comment that Rashi made off the cuff.