A Glimpse Into Mordechai’s Greatness
It was Mordechai's pivotal decision not to bow or budge before Haman that catapulted the Jews into a situation of possible annihilation, and it was he who commanded Esther, his own wife, to risk her life to save her people.
Hashem Consoles The Ruins Of Tzion
When Israel is redeemed from exile, Ramchal explains, the Divine Presence (Shechina) that was exiled with us rises up to be reunited with her counterpart above the physical universe.
Never Stop
The Baal Shem Tov told his disciples that all the dozens of journeys detailed in this parshah exist also in each person's life – from the day of his birth to the day he leaves this world. In every journey, one has to move upwards and learn something new.
Vayechi: Who Is Joseph’s Real Father?
When Joseph agrees to bury Jacob in Canaan, Jacob bows to him in relief - why?
The True Measure of a Man
God doesn't need a slave to order and say: Build an ark! He could have made it in a second. God desires a partner. It is up to us to rise to that role. Noah's greatness was that he figured it out.
Betwixt & Between
We approach Yom Ha'atzmaut, celebrating a generation that experienced absolute evil yet was still able to join together without distinctions and build a vibrant country, thriving because it welcomes others who live betwixt and between, politically, spiritually and religiously
The Knots Of Tefillin
Tosafos there takes issue with Rashi’s view that the letters that are formed in the knots of the tefillin are considered part of the name of Hashem.
Searching Our Souls, Finding The Goodness Within
The biggest failure is to ignore failure. My approach is that failure guides me.
Elul Strategies
If you don’t rinse out your mouth in the morning before davening, grab the opportunity to do so. You can fix in your mind that you are doing it so that the many names of Hashem that you will articulate during davening will come from a clean and pleasant source.
the Dark Clouds
Moses acted properly in his role of prophet but he failed in his role as a husband; he did not see Tziporah's suffering, her black cloud.
Whom Did The Barad Kill?
The Brisker Rav suggests that the barad, in fact, only fell on people, animals, and vegetation.
On The Rebbe’s 92nd Wedding Anniversary
At the time of the wedding, many already realized this son-in-law would one day be the Rebbe Rayatz's successor.
Carrying the Light Forward
Some 200 years ago, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov wrote a statement that I find amazing: The time will come when being an upright and simple person will be as revolutionary as being the Baal Shem Tov.
The Question of Charity – Giving During Davening
I believe that Hashem is sending these unfortunate people to us as a gift to enhance and strengthen our prayers.
Babel’s Larger Theme
Between the Flood and the call to Abraham, between the universal covenant with Noah and the particular covenant with one people comes the strange, suggestive story of Babel:
Revitalizing Our Prayers (Part III)
I believe the explanation for the front-seat positioning of Techias HaMeisim, the resurrection, is that it is the single greatest asset that a person has. Everything else is only temporal-for 120 years.
But What About The Current Situation?
After the presentation, I heard the latest news from Israel. But it seemed that in Italy tonight, we had somehow covered the current situation.
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Shemini: The Price of Holiness
The Meshech Chochmah states that had Israel not sinned with the golden calf, God would not have punished Aharon’s sons so severely.
The Middos Are The Man
Eliezer, the faithful servant of Avraham, was charged with finding a wife for Yitzchak. Knowing full well the gravity of his mission, he also recognized its difficulty. The woman he would choose was to be the mother of the Je
Creating A World With Words
It is therefore always a good idea to put a time limit on our negative emotions. Instead of just saying, 'It's very hard for me,' say 'It's very hard for me right now.'
The Return of Prophecy – Parshat B’haalotcha
Through Israel's returns home and national rebirth, we have already seen sparks of prophecy return.
Beware, Fatted Cow
In the end, justice will be served and all the nations who oppressed Israel will be punished, but Israel will at last be redeemed.
TORAH SHORTS: Parshat Trumah: Divine Charity Cycle
The human contribution is the essential ingredient. It is only in the giving of oneself to others that we truly live. -Ethel Percy Andrus
Vayakhel: The End of Innocence, the Beginning of Life
The Mishkan we eventually had could have become the place where the Jews connected with Hashem more fully or strongly even than at Sinai, perhaps. After the sin of the Golden Calf, it could never be the place of innocent joy it was meant to be.
The Jewish Soul
How could Hashem imply that the essence of every Jew is good (made of pure gold like the menorah) if there were sinners among them?
The Value of Effective Communication – Parshat Ḥukat
Communicating the Jewish people's deepest aspirations can often serve to raise morale & strengthen Israel’s position on the battlefield.
Redeeming Relevance: All You Need is One Good Man
a different leader of the next generation steps up and takes action. That leader was Pinchas...True leaders like Pinchas don’t come out of leadership schools. When the time is ripe, they simply emerge.
Redeeming Relvance: Parshat Mikets: The Man who Could no Longer Tell a Lie
How Yehudah Turned Bnai Ya’akov into Bnai Yisrael
Torah Shorts: Parshat Vayechi: A Blessing on Your Head
Kind words are a creative force, a power that concurs in the building up of all that is good, and energy that showers blessings upon the world. -Lawrence G. Lovasik
Adding And Subtracting From The Torah
Rabbinic law is pivotal but it's important to understand which laws are rabbinic and which biblical.