Why Are Video Games More Popular Than Movies?
Lean back but be active
The Head Needs The Feet
The “head” – the great Torah leaders – are dependent upon all lower “limbs” of our people for their spiritual completeness.
A Defining Moment
A person should never despair of his ability to do teshuvah.
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Nitzavim: A Nation of Yentas
Since we are taught that each person is like a universe, to casually dispense with one individual is like dispensing with an entire universe.
Make A Difference
Finally, in a choked voice, the father said, “Yanky has a brother, Mutty, who has been in the hospital with a debilitating illness for many months.”
A Different Kind Of Election
Choosing what really matters
One Date, Two Birthdays
The path of Chabad, on the other hand, while maintaining the close Rebbe-chassid relationship, emphasizes personal labor in serving Hashem.
Want To Learn A New Zemer?
A friend told me about a niggun for what to me is a new zemer and I have recently begun singing it. It has had a profound impact on me and how uplifted I feel on Shabbos...
Ki Tavo: The Lost Value of Tochaha
Sadly, we live in a world where too many of us reject such remonstration out of hand, deny anyone else’s right to give us the awareness we may not find ourselves. In doing so, in building a society of tochaha-objectors, we lose half the arrows in the quiver, and open ourselves to the risk of never hearing what we need.
This Week’s Main Headlines
Remembering priorities...
The Five Themes Of Elul
These three verses point to Elul as a time for reinforcing the “three pillars upon which the world stands: Torah, service [of Hashem through prayer], and kind deeds” (Avos 1:3).
Saints And Sinners
Although the chacham and rasha are completely dissimilar, they still share a bond as brothers.
Collecting Chance Encounters
Once I learned to treat every person I meet as more than chance and as an opportunity, I was able to expand my collection of superheroes.
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Ki Tetzeh: Levinas, Ammon and Moav – On the Neutral Neighbor
Many commentators wonder why not proffering bread and water is considered such a great crime. Because turning away goes from being a sign of neutrality to being an act of hostility.
Emotional Bribery
Leadership is not domination, but the art of persuading people to work toward a common goal.
Be Careful In How You Judge
Even though you think you see the whole picture, chances are that you don’t.
No One Can Compete With A Parent
ven with all the news stories about “the best teacher I had” or “the teacher who changed my life,” there is no doubt that the teachers who influence us the most are our parents.
Elul – Our City Of Refuge
Our Divine soul’s life-force, which enlivens our body, is intended to be utilized solely for fulfilling G-d’s will.
Before Judging
The primary quality of anyone judging another is that the judge first know how to judge himself. If he cannot honestly examine his own behavior, how can he possibly judge someone else's?
A Lifelong Struggle
Before our matriarch Rivkah gave birth to Yaakov and Eisav, a Heavenly message told her they represented two opposing nations, “and one nation will struggle to overcome the other nation” (Bereishis 28:23).
It’s All Good
If a person leads a meritorious life, the good is revealed. If he doesn’t, the good is camouflaged and appears to be bad.
Opting For ‘Dumb’ Phones
Be smart, go 'DUMB'
Redeeming Relevance: Ending Poverty, the Torah Way: Parshat Reeh:
How does contemporary Judaism deal with the great challenge of Torah laws no longer practiced?
Parshat Eikev
Leaders on all levels must pay careful attention to the commander's intent as a misunderstanding can result in terrible consequences.
What Makes A Person Great?
What makes someone great, really great? Many commentators say the answer to this question is hidden in the following verses from this week's parshah
Think About Torah Education – All The Time
As urgent as this call was at the beginning of the 20th century, it is even more urgent in this era when Jewish communities are more exposed than ever to the influences of the secular world.
Leading With Love
The Chofetz Chaim says that if one has the power to correct a situation among Klal Yisrael and fails to do so, he is culpable for any blood spilled among them.
The Big Things Don’t Always Take Care of Themselves
Sins woven into the fabric of a society have a weight individuals’ sins do not. Communities must set standards, make sure people do not forget the nature of right and wrong, however far from it they may stray.
Hearing to See
I wish all of us, parents and teachers, would listen to everything our children ask and say. I dream of our hearing them so well that we can begin to visualize and relate to them as who they can be when they fulfill all their potential.
LeKavod Shabbos Kodesh Nachamu
Why should we rejoice on Shabbos like those who received the Torah?