TORAH SHORTS: Parshat Haazinu: Sky, Earth and the Four Winds
A handful of pine-seed will cover mountains with the green majesty of forests. I too will set my face to the wind and throw my handful of seed on high. -Fiona Macleod
Divine Protection
We have nothing to fear from our enemies if we have faith in Hashem; it is specifically the shaky and unstable sukkah that actually symbolizes Hashem’s strength and might.
A Lasting Sukkos Message
Perhaps we might suggest that since this mitzvah symbolizes the Clouds of Glory that came without complaining, Hashem made it a free mitzvah to ensure that no one should complain about a mitzvah that commemorates no complaining.
Ari Fuld on the Passing On of Leadership – Parshat Vayelech
We're going to talk about something that is probably one of the most practical pieces of advice for today. We're talking about handing over leadership.
The School Year Begins…
It's not about if you will do what your parents ask, but how you will do it. It's not about if you will pray and keep Shabbat, but how.
Crossing The Finish Line
In addition to one’s efforts to repent, there is the ‘essence of the day’ that atones. We don’t exactly know what the ‘essence’ is, but we know that it embodies the power of atonement.
Charity – Are We Giving Enough?
Many wealthy people comfort themselves with the fact that they give move charity than the average person.
TORAH SHORTS: Parshat Vayelech: Lonely Leadership
The leader can never close the gap between himself and the group. If he does, he is no longer what he must be. He must walk a tightrope between the consent he must win and the control he must exert. -Vince Lombardi
Redeeming Relevance: Forgiving Made Easy
Almost always, the reason we are not willing to forgive offenses against us has almost nothing to do with the offense, and everything to do with it being done to us. Once we can internalize this, we can move to a God’s-eye perspective and forgive others more easily.
Measure For Measure
She began to weep softly as she recalled all the years that she had been happy and proud to be a giver, whereas this year she had nothing at all to give.
Gateways Of Our Head (Part Three)
It goes without saying that we shouldn’t listen to other people’s secrets, nor should we pollute our ears with vulgar speech, and we shouldn’t allow gentile ballads to defile our souls.
Selichot: When Optimists Meet
Selichot prayers are attended by optimistic people, people who believe that it's possible to change ourselves and the world around us.
Torah Shorts: Parshat Nitzavim: Covenant of Opportunity
Opportunity dances with those who are ready on the dance floor. -H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
Redeeming Relevance: Moshe’s Sober Consolation
And so Moshe’s ultimate message here, according to Netziv, may be that even if the curses are fulfilled, that is no reason to abandon God.
Keeping the Main Thing the MAIN Thing
For the remainder of Elul, as we continue to count down to Rosh Hashana, review your schedule regularly and make a conscious effort to have it reflect your values.
Selichot!
Do you know how to be thankful for what you have and to rejoice in it?
Torah Shorts: Parshat Ki Tavo: Prioritization of Honor
Honor is the reward of virtue. -Marcus Tullius Cicero
Never Give Up – The Power Of Teshuvah
No matter our level in avodas Hashem, even the simplest person can be inspired by the largesse of Hashem’s chesed, wherein He cherishes every single good deed and thought of the person.
Ki Tavo: Showing Gratitude
In today’s world, Israel faces dangers. The turmoil and instability that abounds can be unsettling. Yet, as Jews, we can rejoice as our ancestors throughout history who saw optimism amid the darkness.
Guarding Our Gateways (Part Two)
A huge white malach came into the courtroom, and Hashem turned to the millions of bad angels and proclaimed, ‘Dismissed!’
The Tendency Of Those Who Dwell In Darkness To Follow The Light
In Jewish tradition, noga tends to be ambiguous – it is a great demonstration of superficial beauty with a tendency to obscure what is essential.
Faith and Faithfulness
Both transgressions - cheating with weights and measures and questioning Providence - have the same root, since they both indicate a lack of emunah in Hashem.
Shmittah (the Sabbatical Year) Is Coming!
Exactly like Shabbat that arrives every seven days, the shmittah arrives every seven years and is meant to calm, refresh, and restart the entire economy
Torah Shorts: Parshat Ki Tetze: Beware the Drawn-out Sale
For the merchant, even honesty is a financial speculation. -Charles Baudelaire
My Kindness Towards You Will Not Be Eroded
It’s interesting to note here that in the West, the dove of Noach has come to represent peace, although this was neither the promise to Noach nor the sign of the promise.
Guarding Our Gateways (Part One)
One of the great challenges of our generation is protecting the gateways of our eyes. This is oh, so important, but it's only the beginning of our work with our eyes.
The 40-Day Challenge Begins
We too can access the powerful potential of these days – from the 1st of Elul to the 10th of Tishrei – and resolve to work on a specific area: from marriage, education of our children, learning, prayer, and character refinement to the relationship we have with our cell phone.
TORAH SHORTS: Parshat Shoftim: Inadmissible Character Witness
We falsely attribute to men a determined character -- putting together all their yesterdays -- and averaging them -- we presume we know them. -Henry David Thoreau
This World And The Next One Too
The Ishbitzer teaches that everyone comes into this world with Torah in his heart, cloaked in a disguise. We all have some special lesson to impart, some perspective that is uniquely our own, but is the opposite of what is readily apparent in our nature.
Powerful Principles of Leadership
A leader is anyone who is on a mission, who empowers others, and who always looks for ways to contribute to the greater good. Leaders are great parents, great teachers, great friends. We are all potential leaders, we are all potential revolutionaries. We can all create change in the world.
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