After Noah: The Mystery Of The Flood
Why does the Torah use the Name that connotes Divine mercy rather than Divine judgement when telling of the Creator's decision to destroy humankind? Could there be more to this story?
The Great Trait Of Gentleness
Let’s remember the litmus test for whether Hashem is happy with us is “If people are at ease with us, Hashem is at ease with us.” People are at ease with a gentle person!
Emerging From Formlessness Waters Reborn
A central question in the story of Noach is why Hashem specifically chose to destroy the world through a FLOOD. Hashem could have chosen any form of destruction, and yet, He chose water. Why?
Reflection On Sukkot
When we examine the lives of the fathers of our nation, we see that they had to continually confront challenges and crises.
B’reishit: Creation’s Secret Internal Structure
There's a hidden understanding of our Torah that has yet to reach the English-speaking Jewish world.
An Open Invitation?
The Evil Inclination only comes in when there is an inviting accessible point of entry.
Living with the Original Ideals of Creation
The process of life: The ideal is revealed, taken away, and then remains as our goal as we journey through life, trying to recreate that ideal. The KEY is to be inspired by the goal, not discouraged by the struggle.
The Incredible Word Bereishis
One of the highlights of a Jewish man’s day is the public sanctification of Hashem’s Name. He does this with the answering of, “Amein, yehei shemei rabbah…” And Bereishis stands for, “Ameim, yehei shemei rabbah b’kol tefillah.”
An Auspicious Day
A Jew who recognizes that he may lack merits, like the aravah, yet prays to Hashem because he has the will and desire to cling to Hashem – his prayers will be answered.
Keeping Our Commitments
Teshuvah mei’ahava is the pure teshuvah where one regrets the transgression itself. It is this type of teshuvah that amazingly can convert a sin into an actual mitzvah.
A Light Unto The Nations
There are unfortunately many people of Jewish extraction who believe the election of the Jews, our “chosenness,” to be a birthright or a guarantee of a sort of superiority over other nations.
To Widen Our Embrace
You must tell yourselves: I am not my pain. I feel pain, but it alone does not define who I am.
TORAH SHORTS: Parshat Haazinu: Sky, Earth and the Four Winds
A handful of pine-seed will cover mountains with the green majesty of forests. I too will set my face to the wind and throw my handful of seed on high. -Fiona Macleod
Divine Protection
We have nothing to fear from our enemies if we have faith in Hashem; it is specifically the shaky and unstable sukkah that actually symbolizes Hashem’s strength and might.
A Lasting Sukkos Message
Perhaps we might suggest that since this mitzvah symbolizes the Clouds of Glory that came without complaining, Hashem made it a free mitzvah to ensure that no one should complain about a mitzvah that commemorates no complaining.
Ari Fuld on the Passing On of Leadership – Parshat Vayelech
We're going to talk about something that is probably one of the most practical pieces of advice for today. We're talking about handing over leadership.
The School Year Begins…
It's not about if you will do what your parents ask, but how you will do it. It's not about if you will pray and keep Shabbat, but how.
Crossing The Finish Line
In addition to one’s efforts to repent, there is the ‘essence of the day’ that atones. We don’t exactly know what the ‘essence’ is, but we know that it embodies the power of atonement.
Charity – Are We Giving Enough?
Many wealthy people comfort themselves with the fact that they give move charity than the average person.
TORAH SHORTS: Parshat Vayelech: Lonely Leadership
The leader can never close the gap between himself and the group. If he does, he is no longer what he must be. He must walk a tightrope between the consent he must win and the control he must exert. -Vince Lombardi
Redeeming Relevance: Forgiving Made Easy
Almost always, the reason we are not willing to forgive offenses against us has almost nothing to do with the offense, and everything to do with it being done to us. Once we can internalize this, we can move to a God’s-eye perspective and forgive others more easily.
Measure For Measure
She began to weep softly as she recalled all the years that she had been happy and proud to be a giver, whereas this year she had nothing at all to give.
Gateways Of Our Head (Part Three)
It goes without saying that we shouldn’t listen to other people’s secrets, nor should we pollute our ears with vulgar speech, and we shouldn’t allow gentile ballads to defile our souls.
Selichot: When Optimists Meet
Selichot prayers are attended by optimistic people, people who believe that it's possible to change ourselves and the world around us.
Torah Shorts: Parshat Nitzavim: Covenant of Opportunity
Opportunity dances with those who are ready on the dance floor. -H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
Redeeming Relevance: Moshe’s Sober Consolation
And so Moshe’s ultimate message here, according to Netziv, may be that even if the curses are fulfilled, that is no reason to abandon God.
Keeping the Main Thing the MAIN Thing
For the remainder of Elul, as we continue to count down to Rosh Hashana, review your schedule regularly and make a conscious effort to have it reflect your values.
Selichot!
Do you know how to be thankful for what you have and to rejoice in it?
Torah Shorts: Parshat Ki Tavo: Prioritization of Honor
Honor is the reward of virtue. -Marcus Tullius Cicero
Never Give Up – The Power Of Teshuvah
No matter our level in avodas Hashem, even the simplest person can be inspired by the largesse of Hashem’s chesed, wherein He cherishes every single good deed and thought of the person.