The Great Importance Of Counting
The census focused on the individual, proving each is created as irreplaceable, unique images of God
Decision To Arrest The Schneerson Rabbanim
It is said of our ancestor Avraham that he didn’t seek to serve Hashem with mesiras nefesh, yet, when it was required of him, he was ready to give up everything for Hashem’s sake.
Pick A Side
Baal and his prophets are not worth the time or the energy of the last remaining prophet to Hashem. His mission is to the people of Israel who have abandoned the service of Hashem.
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Vayakhel: A Surprise Leader
From the beginning of the building project, the financial and physical contribution of all Jews was sought. There was a need to show that the Torah’s tabernacle was where all Jews stand equal before God
A True Essential Of Life
Since the objective of marital unity brings the coveted blessing of the Shechina, the yeitzer hara tries mightily to block one’s marital harmony. We therefore must strive vigorously to maintain the magic of our oneness at all times.
Redeeming Relevance: The Limits of Torah Legacies
There is no more meaningful relationship than the relationship of someone who teaches Torah with their students. And yet, no student is the same as their teacher.
Traveling – Parshat Vayigash
Slow down!
Mishpatim: Female Servitude… Wait, What?
Worse, a female child, being sold by her parents!
Just Do It
“The Torah, though, is not just telling us about Pharaoh; it’s also telling us about ourselves. In every one of us, a little Pharaoh is hiding who knows exactly what needs to be done but doesn’t do it.
The Purpose of Mashiach – Parshat Vayeishev
When Tamar's life was threatened, she did not save herself by throwing Yehuda "under the bus".
The Berachah On Kiddushin
In this week’s parshah we learn of the episode whereby Avraham sent his servant Eliezer to find a wife for his son Yitzchak. Eliezer met Rivka and decided that she was right for Yitzchak. After discussing matters with her parents and her brother, Lavan, Eliezer was ready to return with Rivka to Avraham and Yitzchak. Prior to their departure Rivka’s family blessed her, saying that she should become “thousands of myriad…” and may her offspring inherit the gate of its foes.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe: 30 Years Since His Passing
In America, where he arrived from Europe in 1941, mitzvah observance had become moribund, increasingly disconnected from the modern world. The Rebbe reversed this trend by demanding more Torah, more Jewish brotherhood, more Jewish education.
TORAH SHORTS: Tazria: Two Dates of Redemption
Time is Too slow for those who wait, Too swift for those who fear, Too long for those who grieve, Too short for those who rejoice. But for those who love, time is not. -Henry Van Dyke
Just Say It!
A proper emor would also mean that we do not say something, even as a joke or a tease, that may cause someone to be weakened in the doing of a mitzvah or minhag.
Sincere And Everlasting
If one wins the lottery and is instantly transformed from pauper to millionaire, although at first he can hardly give enough charity, he soon acclimates to his new lifestyle.
Hashem Has Other Plans
Their assumption was predicated on the theory that Hashem operates based on middas hadin.
What Did Omri Casspi Tell Me?
At some point, I stopped and said to myself: 'Wait a minute, what is going on with me?' I felt a sense of obligation and began thinking: I represent something, but I know nothing about what I represent.
Was The Teivah Made Of Stolen Materials?
In this week’s parshah Hashem tells Noach to build a teivah, for as the pasuk says, “assei lecha teivas… – you shall make for yourself a teivah” (Bereishis 6:14).
Hakhel – Parshat Nitzavim-Vayelech
Hakhel was not performed on the Shemittah year, but rather in the year that followed.
Saved By A Mitzvah
‘There is one small problem,’ Moshe told him. ‘You will not be able to use this currency here.'
The Heavenly Complaint Department – Parshat B’ha’alotcha
God wants us to complain about the spiritual things being denied to us, not about additional creature comforts.
Jerusalem Consoles
I saw in the eyes of the mourners how Jerusalem consoles. One of the grieving fathers left the Kotel tunnels in tears and said: I connected with all of our past and all of our future and to the historic task of our family within all of this.
Finding Our Way
Although the nation was excited about entering the Promised Land, first and foremost they were glad to be out of the clutches of their nefarious oppressors.
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Behar: The Plea of a Forsaken Mitzvah
Since the commandments are all meant to engender some positive effect; when a commandment is not practiced, that effect will not be attained either.
A New Month And A New Me
When we see the new moon at the start of each month, it is a sign from Hashem that we can renew ourselves spiritually.
Parshas Bechukosai: True Rest During the Sabbatical Year And Lag B’Omer Connections
The question begs: how in the world can we accept that Bnei Yisrael en masse did not ever keep the mitzvah of shemittah?
Changing Ties
We can admire and learn from people who are able to find the extraordinary strength to see the oneg while understanding and empathizing with those who are having a hard time seeing past the negah
Chametz After Pesach
According to the Rambam, the k’nas applies to any chametz on Pesach with which one could, in theory, transgress the aveirah – even if no transgression actually occurred.
Columbus Discovered America; Hashem Invented It
When a couple makes the conscious decision to have a baby, they use a system Hashem put into place to bring forth a child. They don’t claim to be knowledgeable enough in anatomy to synthesize the proteins needed for growth.
What Will We Take With Us From Purim?
Esther wore royalty. When she acted with self-confidence, with true conviction and devotion to her people and to G-d – everything began to fall into place and to turn around for the good.