Pull Up a Chair

In celebrating little things, we create holiness in the most unexpected places. Because the 'little things' are truly monumental.

Talk to the rock, hit the rock - splitting hairs, no? They got water, didn't they??? Today's show explores expectations that accompany leadership.

Labeling ourselves and others limits the human experience and silences the outlooks of those from whom we can learn. What are we scared of? Spiritual 'growing pains' must be embraced lest we grow stale from 'religious inertia.'

Did the spies have to enter the Promised Land? Who gave them that assignment and did the punishment fit the 'crime'? Also: Is happiness or negativity a produce of nature or nurture? Sensitivity to others is a habit that, for many, requires vigilance and honing.

In a world where issues of ethnicity, politics, economy and faith divide us, how can we increase unity and friendship? Real life and Torah, again, interconnect to reveal miracles in our communal existence.

Did the KGB plot out the destruction of America? Howie reveals their plan in this explosive show!

The Torah tells us that we are to be "a kingdom of priests and a holy nation" with obligations and duties. It behooves us to ask: Do we get the leaders we deserve or deserve the leaders we get?

What makes someone 'Jewish'? Isn't it enough to be a good person, pay one's taxes and practice kindness? Man-made laws and cultures-of-the-month hasten the demise of Jewish survival.

News outlets and social media drown us in trash-talk and gossip. The Torah illustrates that putting a lid on gossip serves as a spiritual antidote, leading to more satisfying, God-centered lives.

Amidst the noise, the vitriol, a righter-than-thou cacophony that has plagued Israel over the past few weeks, a quieter message struggles to be heard

Ridding our homes of breadstuff in anticipation of Passover is only half of the "purge project." Confronting feelings of self-importance, morality fudging, and other ego-centric attitudes will better assist us in preparing for the Seder and embracing the humility that reflects the meaning behind Pesach.

The world was created for you. Say what??? In adding to one small, positive behavior/attitude, an individual can alter the spiritual trajectory of the world! Be the catalyst for change and Take On Something. Today.

Is prayer meant to be a chore, an obligation to check off one's list in order to attain God's favor? Or is it, perchance, a privilege that allows us to express our higher calling and commune with the source of our innate Holiness?

Do the poor and downtrodden have anything to offer the wealthy? And who's money is it anyway? Can the lives of both rich and poor spiritually intersect?

The first of the Ten Commandments appears as a call to faith rather than an instruction manual for holy living. Can belief in God be dictated or is something much, much deeper at play?

What connects us to the Egyptian exodus so many thousands of years after the actual event? Even when we forget the words, the "Song of Songs" continues to thread music and cadence within the Jewish soul.

How much influence do we have on young people? The imparting of our personal histories and celebrating both the foibles and accomplishments of those who came before us imparts feelings of connection, continuity and pride.

Do good times, healthy relationships, bright outlooks and abundant faith just "happen" or are we the authors of our respective life journeys? Also, must one descend from royalty to be an effective leader? These questions and so much more!

Andrea and best buddy Simon Anstey kick back and solve all of the world's problems. Israeli culture, political unrest, aliyah and international relations are just of few of the hot-button topics they touch upon, peppered with gales of laughter, of course!

A tiny flame yields enough power to span the universe. Candle by candle, Canukah allows us to reflect upon the miracles that brought us to today and those lay ahead.

A ladder with two feet on the ground that ascends to Heaven symbolizes the situation of all of us. The challenge of constantly climbing the spiritual ladder relies on motivation to reach greater levels of holiness and oneness with God.

Where do our choices lay when navigating fragile issues of parenting, nationalism, safety and faith? This week we tackle the gritty reality of Israeli life along with the ever-present question of "What does God want?"

Israel's voters - religious, secular, sephardic, ashkenazi, and non-Jews - did not overwhelmingly elect the new government out of naivete or hubris. Perhaps it is time for 'friends' who do not live our reality to question their own motives before chastising those who lay their lives on the line for the continued existence of the Jewish state.

Israel's recent election campaign provided plenty of fodder for name calling, biased assumptions and fear mongering.

The Israeli public has expressed, by majority vote, a call for bringing Jewish values, Jewish identity and Jewish tradition to the fore.

Judaism confers unique obligations regarding "nature." Is a rainbow merely a rainbow or something more profound?

Reward, redemption and forgiveness await all who take the first step. Yom Kippur allows us to replace fear with expectation in return for sincere efforts toward bettering ourselves.

The Redemption depends on awareness, clarity and action. No one among us is exempt!

What do 'First Fruits' teach us about Jewish practice and outlook? And what weighs more: Repentance out of fear or repentance born of love?

The Torah commands us to "create justice". Is this even possible when each man possesses different biases, strengths, deficits and status? Tzedek, tzedek! Justice is not an 'end game' but a perpetual work in progress. No one - individual or society - is exempt!