Torah

Diversity in Judaism is common in our history and liturgy. One can visit many synagogues and observe that the order of davening and the text of siddur vary from shul to shul. When I'm in Israel I often attend the services in a Sephardi shul where the prayers and the sequence of taking the Torah from the ark and replacing it are vastly different from what I'm accustomed to.

Korach and Haman were also both brought down by their wealth. Both were fabulously wealthy, and the Midrash informs us that very wealthy people become impudent.

It will be like the manna, which our Sages tell us was able to provide adequate nutrition and satiation despite its small size.

One would think that in this great country of the United States, where we have our freedom, there would be no need to worry about anti-Semitism.

Even when we pray on behalf of individuals, we pray for them as part of the broader community.

“Sav” is related to the Hebrew word “seivah,” and both these words form the basis of “saba,” which means “old man” or “grandfather.”

After Esther hesitates due to the danger involved, Mordechai responds with sharp rebuke. He emphasizes the personal responsibility she has to use her position on behalf of her people and explains that it is, in actuality, Esther, not the Jews, whose fate hangs in the balance.

Rav Kook says, “Anyone who thinks in a pure, G-dly way cannot hate or denigrate any creation or potential found in our world.”

When we donate our money, time or effort to Hashem, we naturally assume that we are giving Him something that is our own. In truth, we are merely giving Him what is (already) His.

Ultimately, no one else will take responsibility for us in our place.

Besides for the ethical and prosocial benefits of helping, it also provides new scenarios to observe, interact, and learn.

The first person to die in Tanach is Hevel, who is killed by his brother Kayin. Kayin’s name comes from the concept of acquisition.

Later commentators present many questions and interpretations to try to understand the depth of this midrash. In fact, the Ohr HaChaim presents 42 different explanations of these few words.

I believe that the plague of the firstborn was meant to occur at the very beginning. It was only Bnei Yisrael’s lack of faith that required nine plagues to precede it.

The navi prophesied that the land will be filled with knowledge of G-d. What’s the significance of the word “land”?

Surely there is always a reason to hate someone, but unless it is a reason warranted by the Torah, it is deemed baseless, and further worsens our chance of redemption.

Reb Yosef went over to him and gave him the 200 golden coins. The man looked at him incredulously and said, “I don’t even know you. Why are you doing this kindness?”

The Christian thinker Blaise Pascal was awed by the eternity of our people: “These people are not eminent solely by their antiquity, but are also singular by their duration, which has continued from their origin till now.

Many first violate smaller sins, and that serves as a gateway to more significant violations. To avoid the dangers of such minor infractions, contemplate deeply on what is above you.

The remedy for external dangers is to reject the foreign cultures. Is the antidote to arrogance to discourage material wealth?

The bottom line from these two instances and a host of different statements by our Sages throughout the Talmud is that shalom bayit is essential, and apparently one can lie or even erase the name of G-d to achieve this.

Did you ever notice that the Ten Commandments only address one character trait? “Thou shall not be envious.” Isn’t that amazing?! The Ten Commandments...

When life improved art--priceless.

When you’re davening in shul and fervently say, “Shema koleinu, Hashem Elokeinu – Listen to our voices, Hashem, our G-d,” think to yourself that everyone in shul is asking for something different.

The Torah completely blows us away with the statement that the enemy will come “ka’asher yideh hanesher – like the eagle sweeps,” a perfect description of the sudden attack of the two huge airliners.

The travail of Yosef was undoubtedly the greatest trauma of Yaakov’s life, which certainly knew its share of hardships.

The Torah then proceeds to only mention Aharon’s children. Rashi explains that since Moshe taught his nephews Torah, they are considered his sons.

I started keeping such a diary recently and found doing so truly fascinating.

The two not only emphasize the need for more action than wisdom; they also highlight the problem with having less action than wisdom.

In Egypt, we were forced to do all the 39 labors that we abstain from doing on Shabbos. And that’s why Shabbos commemorates the Exodus, as stated in the Ten Commandments.