How To Be Free (Part One)
How does a person who accepts the yoke of Torah have other responsibilities removed from him?
Guard Your Lips From Speaking Evil
If children grow up saying whatever they want, it will be very hard for them to restrain themselves when they’re older even if they learn how egregious speaking lashon hara is.
The Case Of The Floating Skull
The challenge is when perceived reality doesn’t map onto the system of justice. What do we think when confronted with a situation when someone seems to be suffering for no fault of their own?
Proactive Prayer
To the amazement of all in attendance, the Rebbe connected the answers with the names of those who asked the questions.
For Heaven’s Sake: The World
The idea that our recognition and service to Hashem help us grow is emphasized by Moshe’s description of Yirat Shamayim (fear of heaven).
The Miracles Of Jewish History: Our Return And Revival
Over the past century, the desert has become an oasis, and the desolation a blessing. Israel has developed innovative agricultural expertise and water conservation technologies and has planted over 250 million trees. Eretz Yisrael is the only country that entered the twenty-first century with more trees than the century before.
Parshas Miketz: The Death Of A Dream
Yosef, in interpreting the first set of dreams, performed in a manner that was clearly miraculous to all.
Yosef & The DBT Technique
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.
It’s Time To Unite
We tend to justify and idealize this division with pride attributing these tendencies as demonstrating a higher level of kedushah.
Re-Creation
The world was created soooo long ago that we can feel like it’s “old news.” But by just opening our eyes and seeing the amazing design of the natural world around us, we can feel like we have front-rows seats to creation. Hashem made the world and everything in it -- including us -- with a master plan. By tuning in to the awesome design in everything around us, we can feel connected to that plan and to Him.
Our G-d
Hashem equated His relationship with us to that of a father with his son. Though Hashem created all human beings in His image, He chose us as His children (Avot 3:14). All humans resemble G-d; we, the Jewish people, have a personal relationship with Him.
A Great Defense To Use On Rosh Hashanah
Hashem won’t punish someone if the punishment will indirectly harm innocent people who depend on him.
What’s The Point?
The Seder is not just an educational and intellectual experience; it’s also a unique opportunity to say thank you together with our loved ones to Hashem for the fact that He chose us as His nation and gave us His wonderful mitzvos.
The Megillah: How-To Manual on Defeating Anti-Semites
Israel must demonstrate confidence in ourselves and an iron determination to defy our antagonists. Mordechai teaches that it is not through appeasement that one achieves peace but rather through strength, self-assurance and unequivocally firm resistance to tyranny and injustice.
We Dare Not Fool Ourselves
When giving Moshe Rabbeinu the mitzvah of machzis hashekel, Hashem showed him a coin of fire. Was the Almighty possibly warning us to handle financial matters as cautiously as we would a burning flame?
Shabbos Mevorchim Shevat
This coming Shabbos we bentch Rosh Chodesh Shevat, which falls on Shabbos Kodesh (January 12). The highlight of this month is of course Tu B’Shevat, the New Year of the trees. As the mind conjures up images of spring, I can spot nary a sign of spring from my vantage point here in the northeastern part of the U.S.
Are We Sure We’re Fighting L’shem Shamayim?
Rabbi Natan Tzvi Finkel argues that Moshe’s continual attempts to resolve the conflict teaches us that the prohibition applies even after the other party rejects an attempt at reconciliation.
Chillul Hashem Alert!
Right or wrong, we need to be sensitive when trampling on others’ peace and quiet.
How Do We Avoid Mistakes?
Rashi, quoting the midrash, takes the discussion in another direction by noting that “asher” doubles as an allusion to “ashrei,” meaning happy, praiseworthy, or fortunate.
Avot 1:11 – Traits Of A Teacher
Students take what the sage says seriously. If he is not careful about how he says things, the students can misunderstand.
Yitzchak’s Sense Of Self
There isn’t much we know about his life, and what we do know seems to parallel many of the events in Avraham’s life.
Whose Fault Is Our Suffering?
We all sometimes think in warped and twisted ways. ... As an example, control fallacies can lead us to believe that we have absolutely no control over our lives.
Gratitude
Today, amid the suffering caused by the war, we can sometimes feel callous if we take our minds off those most affected. However, a lesson of Chanukah is that there remains space for gratitude, even in the face of ongoing grief.
Tzitzit And Color Psychology
At its core techelet reminds us of our mission in this world, which is to serve G-d by doing mitzvot and avoiding sinning.
Marijuana Legalization Advocates Gain Victory; Rabbis Weigh In
Administered property by doctors, marijuana could be a samah shel chaim [potion of life]. Freely used by people at large, it could well be a samah shel maves [potion of death].
Don’t Miss The Message
Most of us are reactionary daveners and pray only when we need something. Hearing about sickness should remind us to pray not to become sick.
Learning While Young, Teaching While Old
As we know from educational psychology, it is not just cognitive ability that impacts learning. Emotional and motivational factors are essential as well.
Sefirat Ha’Omer: Process And Outcome
Researchers are trying to determine which approach is more effective in getting a person to his goal.
Where Are You?
Rabbi Wertheimer writes that "ayeh" is used when one has no inkling where something is, while "eifo" is used when one does have a general sense of where it is.
Inaugural Introspection
A phenomenon that allows this process to occur is the credence, admiration, and relevance that our culture affords to celebrities and athletes.