Torah

One of the most important factors in delivering and receiving feedback is the relationship between the giver and the recipient.

How could Moshe rush to convert him so quickly? Because it was a matter of life and death.

Measure for measure, the Jews didn’t lift a finger against the millions of Egyptians who pursued them to the sea. Instead, the Egyptians drowned themselves by walking into the watery abyss.

He could have stressed the evilness of slavery or underscored the responsibilities of freedom... Instead, though, Moshe spoke about children and education. At that moment, in Rabbi Jonathan Sacks’s words, “the Israelites were told that they had to become a nation of educators.”

Clearly, the plagues weren’t the result of chance; they pointed to the hand of Hashem.

When looking back into our history we often find examples of people being in the right time and place, and making history that gave meaning and purpose to their entire existence.

As a young man, raised with royal treatment in Pharaoh’s palace, Moshe Rabbeinu didn’t allow himself to relax in splendor. Rather, he went out to his suffering brethren and shared in their fate.

Pharaoh’s refusal to believe in the miraculous power of G-d is evident even before the plagues begin.

What can be greater than the crown of Torah? After all, we’re taught, “Talmud Torah kneged kulam – The study of Torah is equal to all else.”

Shabbos should be so full of warmth and inspiration that our children should feel they can’t do without it.

While each relationship has its own dynamic that adds to the drama, the fact that the younger sibling takes the spotlight away from the older sibling is a theme that cuts through all of them.

We must realize how much we are lacking in our lives as a result of not having the Bais HaMikdash.

When we hear of school bus tragedies, we should pray for the safety of our children. When we hear of someone suffering from Covid-19 or another dreaded disease, we should pray for health. When we see flashing lights on the highway, we should pray for safe travels.

Another answer for why Yosef is considered so great is that while it's true that the vision of his father came from Heaven, it only came after he exhausted every effort at his disposal. When those weren’t enough, Hashem stepped in and gave him Divine assistance.

While there are several permutations of the exercise, the crux of the concept is to immerse your head in cold water while holding your breath. By doing so, your heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature will decrease, “freezing” the emotion so that you can better handle the challenge.

How, might you ask, in the middle of Italian neighborhoods would Rav Mintz be able to ferret out Jewish families?

During the formative years, when the parents have the opportunity, and the obligation, to teach the child and help him develop, the child cannot be labeled a “rebellious child.” Only when it is already too late, when the child is nearly reaching bar mitzvah, can he be labeled rebellious.

Mesiras nefesh doesn’t only mean putting one’s life on the line for one’s spiritual beliefs. Rather, anytime a person pushes himself beyond his natural physical tendencies to fulfill the will of Hashem, he is following in the footsteps of the great Macabees, the heroes of Chanukah.

Time drags on when we are afraid and really does fly when we’re having fun.

The very first lesson is that we must be very careful not to hurt someone’s feelings. Sometimes, hurting someone deeply can have a long-lasting effect and impede us from success in our own lives.

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?”

To their amazement and astonishment, they began to realize the bounty of blessings that they had and the appreciation that they should show Almighty G-d for these gifts.

Since we can’t see it, Covid-19 fatigue has caused us to want to believe that it’s not a problem anymore, notwithstanding the fact that all of us know people are still being hospitalized and even dying.

Avraham is a paradigm of alacrity and productivity. We are awed at how this pillar of kindness swiftly tends to the needs of his guests.

Over the years, I’ve convinced many people to try out Daf Yomi with my advertising. That’s why I carry such a heavy Gemara and that’s why I don’t go by way of the back roads.

As with any program, if you can involve the parents as active participants, then the chances of success increase exponentially.

In some children, embellished praise can lead to narcissistic tendencies. Praise is essential, but it is essential for praise to be tempered, not extravagant.

In Yiddish, there’s a word “eidelkeit.” There’s no similar word in English. “Eidelkeit” is a synthesis of gentleness, refinement, and nobility of spirit. It’s a crowning virtue for man.

The snake’s incitement and the aesthetic enticement of the fruit led to Chava’s and then to Adam’s self-control failure.

Life is a series of tests. Yet, every day we ask Hashem in the morning, “Al tivi’einu lo lidei nisayon – Do not lead us to a test.” What kind of a request is this? Isn’t that avoiding the purpose of life?