Why God “Protects” the Tree of Life
Why is the status or identity of this seemingly central tree not mentioned before Adam sinned. Was it permitted at that time or forbidden?
Don’t Be Satisfied with Belief
People of my acquaintance often treat belief as a sort of Pascal’s wager. As you may recall, Blaise Pascal, the seventeenth century mathematician, said...
No App Can Compete With Sukkot
The revolutionary sukkah--
Torah Shorts: Afterlife Reunions: Vezot Habracha
Time is not what you think. Dying? Not the end of everything. We think it is. But what happens on earth is only the beginning. -Mitch Albom
Ari Fuld’s Last Shiur
Moshe is about to pass away, Ari says, and leaves the nation one message: "Take responsibility!" Moshe focuses on the nation. This is the message Ari lived and left us with.
Avoiding Zipline Disasters
As it turned out, Mordy and Yissachar were the very last people who wanted to go on the zipline that day. Mordy went first and had a great time until…
Three Types of Idolatry: Parshat Haazinu
Moses is warning us, in what was meant to be a song to be remembered throughout our history, to stay far away from all forms of idolatry--regardless of shape or ideology
It’s Not About You
Wishing that everyone will be remembered for life.
Parshat Nitzavim
This week's parsha presents us with an example that balances the need to guard information with the need to reveal it on some level.
Tips In His Pocket
An inspired and inspiring list of "SHOULDS" for Elul--and the whole year
Redeeming Relevance: Rosh Hashanah: What was Avraham Supposed to do for an Encore?
No matter how hard we work on ourselves, we can never be totally prepared for the challenges ahead. And that is actually a good thing. Not only would life be less interesting, but a great deal of its meaning would otherwise be taken away. As Rebbe Nachman said, “If you are not a better person tomorrow than you are today, what need have you for a tomorrow?”
TORAH SHORTS: Parshat Nitzavim: Are Bad Thoughts worse than Bad Actions?
Our repentance can retroactively cleanse the spiritual ledger. It can wipe the slate clean and allows us to start our spiritual accounting anew, refreshed, rejuvenated.
Parashat Ki Tavo
The more we realize our obligation to Hashem, the greater the joy will be when we fulfill that obligation.
Preparing For The New Year
l the parshiyot we read during Elul serve as reminders for how we can fix and improve our lives before the coming new year. The opening verses of each of these parshiyot point toward the direction we should go
Certainty and Randomness, Each in Its Place
Terumah thanks kohanim for their service and supports them (more so than bikkurim, which were a smaller percentage of the crop). It makes sense to allow each Jew to choose recipients, to thank him or them for all they’ve done.
Sharing the Fruit
We glorify God, not in numbers, but in expansiveness. We too, are bringing our First Fruits when we're not busy battling each other over what is ours or who speaks the truth. Our Bikkurim begin with affording room for people to explore and grow.
Why Do We Love Shabbos?
The Kobriner Rav says (mentioned in the Nesivos Shalom-Elul), if you want to become holy, if you want to begin doing teshuva, you must start with Shabbos.
Parshat Ki Seitzei: “You Name It”
The area in life which is most difficult to a person is why he was sent down to Earth. Man was sent here to overcome the tendency which bothers him the most. It takes a lifetime to overcome these issues, and that's why God gave us a lifetime.
Forcing Israeli Athletes To Choose
Sports or Judaism--two top athletes made the right decision
Redeeming Relevance: Ki Tetzeh: Remember Not to Keep People Waiting
Since not saying lashon hara is easier said than done, here is something to help you: Just remember what happened to Miriam!”
Emotional Bribery
The wise Sages declared that every individual is related to himself! In fact, we are our own closet relative, even more than our own parents and children.
Parshas Shoftim: “How True It Is”
the Talmud explains that a judge must not take a bribe even if it is in order to acquit the innocent and accuse the guilty. Accepting a bribe is wrong even if the verdict issued is ultimately correct!
‘Wings Of Spirit’
Rav Kook's gift for the days of Elul.
Parshat Shoftim: The Truth Isn’t Always Easy to Find
Our powers of self-justification mean money is as much a danger for us as for a judge. Given two options, we, like Rashi’s judges, will become sure, the claim which benefits us is also the truer claim. Like Rashi’s judges, we need to guard ourselves from slipping away from truth without realizing it.
A Sense Of Place
This week's portion, Re'ei, speaks of our need for a sense of place, how difficult it often is to find, and how we must protect others' sense of place. It also guides us in how to manage the experience of no place
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Re’eh: Spilling Blood and Spilling Water
In view of the seeming sanctity that the Torah imparts to blood, why would it tell us to spill animal blood indiscriminately?
Image Worship
The myth of Narcissus is not a myth at all-127 people have died worshiping their own image.
Rain is Better Than River Water
The Nile misleads Egyptians into forgetting they are just as dependent on Hashem as we are, water issues or noIsrael’s “poverty,” its less consistent water, helps its inhabitants remember Hashem.
TORAH SHORTS: Three Powers of Prayer: Parshat Ekev
Rabbeinu Bechaye (on Deuteronomy 11:13 Ekev) explains that to serve God with all of our heart is nothing other than prayer, elaborating that there are 3 particular powers to prayer: the power to change nature. the power to save one from danger, the power to annul negative divine decrees
Parshat V’etchanan
When Mashiach comes we will have a nechama, not just a consolation, but a brand-new vision of history.