Torah Shorts: Parshat Vaetchanan: Written in Stone
Constitutions should consist only of general provisions; the reason is that they must necessarily be permanent, and that they cannot calculate for the possible change of things. -Alexander Hamilton
Double The Punishment, Double The Reward
The Esh Kodesh teaches that each of us has an aspect of the Divine in us when we make moral choices to act or refrain from acting in certain ways.
Jealousy’s A Hungry Heart
It is a matter of perspective - do you look at G-d or at yourself? To look primarily at oneself is to always want more, to covet.
Our Love of Hashem – In the Shema
The word meodecha in reality does not mean money. Rather, the word meod means ‘very much,’ as in the phrase tov me’od, it is very good. Thus, when we say that we are loving Hashem b’chol meodecha, we mean with all that is the very most dear to us.
Happy 110th Birthday
Apparently, she is the oldest woman in Israel. So we came to celebrate with her, with the aunt who always fascinated us with stories about the pioneers, the different waves of immigration, and the beginning of modern settlement in our land.
The Three Haftarot Of Rebuke – Part III: As I Sit In Darkness,...
It is sometimes difficult to understand, but when Hashem is “angry” at us or punishing us, He is acting out of love for us because He knows that we have to improve.
The Lion And The Fox
The second Temple was destroyed because of baseless hatred, represented by the fox, which the sages saw emerging from the ruins. With the cunning and guile of a fox, the evil inclination instigates and stimulates baseless hatred, dissent, and strife.
Why Does Yirmiyahu Refer To Tisha B’Av As A Festival?
The Vilna Gaon told his disciples that Moshiach will come after the majority of the Jews in the Diaspora come to Israel. Thus, every Jew who makes aliyah hastens Moshiach’s coming, thereby transforming the fast of Tisha B’Av into a feast.
How Should We Listen?…
As if Our Life Depended on it
Kneeling For The Mother Of 12
When grandmother grew up and had children of her own, another chapter of self-sacrifice began.
TORAH SHORTS: Two-Time Sorcerous Loser: Parshat Matot-Masai
An error is the more dangerous in proportion to the degree of truth which it contains.-Henri Frederic Amiel
A Diary Of Life
Included in this list are the incidents that took place at some of these encampments where the people saw the Hand of Hashem take care of their every need and desire.
Watch Your Words
One can be held accountable for any words his lips utter, even when he makes a statement and says bli neder (that he has no intention of making a vow).
The Crown Of A Good Name
I think we would suggest that a person who lives righteously deserves to be honored. But Ben Zoma knows human psychology and he knows that just because we see a person behaving properly doesn’t mean that we will honor the person.
The Three Haftarot Of Rebuke (II) – The Message Of Yirmiyahu, The Vision Of...
It is a consolation to Yirmiyahu, although perhaps a small one, that he is also given many of the most explicit and moving visions of the ultimate redemption.
The Link Between Pinchas And Eliyahu Hanavi
Life works the way that education works, which is about moving up from level to level as one matures and becomes more intelligent.
RABBI Wagensberg: PARSHAS PINCHAS: “Life Begins at 50”
Have a Happy and HEALTHY Shabbos!
Taking Responsibility
Only someone out of his mind would disparage and spurn someone for no reason at all.
What I Learned At A ‘Defeat Party’
The road to any success is no less important than the success itself.
The Three Haftarot Of Rebuke (I)
For Everything There Is A Time And A Moment
Redeeming Relevance: How to – and how not to – Challenge the Status Quo
There is an important teaching here for those who seek to have legitimate grievances addressed.
A Letter From America
Four million people died worldwide, and despite everything, somewhere in New York City, a secretary at Yeshiva Darchei Torah was looking for the address of a family in Israel to return the small sum they paid for lunches.
A Legacy Of Protection
Not only were they saved from an immediate death sentence, but they were able to survive the war with additional sustenance,
The Things Hashem Does For Us
How can I curse, says Bil’am, that which G-d did not curse? What rage can I bring against those whom Hashem will not rage against?
Through the Eyes of a Donkey
Just like Bilaam, we grow angry and blame others for our failings, for our inability to realize our goals, we blame circumstance and fate for our shortcomings when it is really our inability to see that has caused our failures.
A Lesson From Mrs. Gafner
Even at the height of personal anguish it's still possible to demonstrate such sensitivity.
Don’t Make Such A Big Deal Of Yourself
The Ammonites are not interested in learning the truth - they only want to destroy Israel.
Better Late Than Never
Because of the War of Independence and establishment of the state, the event was postponed and never took place. My grandmother would always say that she somehow felt that her life was missing something.
The Incomprehensible Power Of Teshuva
Why must the heifer be red? Scripture likens sin to red because, when a person sins, he forfeits his blood.
With An Eye Towards Heaven
R' Chanina was accustomed to experiencing miracles, and therefore he did not fear the bite of the snake.