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March 25, 2024 – 8:50 pm | Comments Off on Why We Must Resist The Cease Fire Resolution31 views

Tzav: Fighting Evil
We are surrounded by evil; every so often, it rears its ugly head as it did on Simchat Torah—the October 7 massacre. Pure evil raped Jewish mothers, burned Jewish babies alive, mutilated their fathers, and beheaded their neighbors. Pure evil burned loving couples clinging to each other, to …

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Articles by Lazer Gurkow

Bestow Blessing

June 8, 2022 – 8:15 pm | Comments Off on Bestow Blessing769 views
the priestly blessing innerstream

Every Jew has the power to bestow blessing. If you see a friend in need of a blessing, bestow blessing and don’t hide behind the illusion that you are too ordinary. Don’t be too humble and don’t be too stingy. Bestow blessing and let G-d worry about how to deliver …

Shavuot: A Gift of Self

May 28, 2022 – 11:42 pm | Comments Off on Shavuot: A Gift of Self919 views
the chosen people

A gift of self is a thrilling gift. There are many kinds of gifts, but we almost never give away our very selves. We reserve our self exclusively for us. Weddings are the only exception. They are thrilling occasions because bride and groom give each other the gift of self.
Our …

The Minyan Effect

May 20, 2022 – 8:00 pm | Comments Off on The Minyan Effect976 views
minyan-innerstream.ca

Minyan is a quorum of ten and it is a Jewish tradition to pray with a quorum. In fact, the holiest parts of prayer, the sanctification of G-d’s name and the chanting from the Torah, may only occur in the presence of a minyan. We believe that our prayers have …

Personal Liberation

May 15, 2022 – 5:25 pm | Comments Off on Personal Liberation759 views
liberation-innerstream.ca

Personal liberation from insecurity, worry, fear, doubt, or obsession, have been on my mind lately because I recently turned fifty. I am not usually one to dwell on birthdays, but this benchmark is not easily dismissed. Not because fifty seems old. It stopped seeming old a long time ago. But …

Emor: The Shame Culture

May 7, 2022 – 11:11 pm | Comments Off on Emor: The Shame Culture1,203 views
shame-innerstream.ca

A shame culture is one in which the individual is pressured to conform to the collective. Deviation from cultural norms is punishable by public shaming and ostracism. In a shame culture, people carefully groom their public personas—the image acceptable to the majority. A shame culture operates under the assumption that …

Hateful Speech And Elon Musk

May 1, 2022 – 12:20 am | Comments Off on Hateful Speech And Elon Musk1,181 views
hateful-speech-innerstream

Hateful Speech
Elon Musk has purchased Twitter and pledged to allow free speech within the limits of the law. Many people are upset about this and believe that any speech that makes someone feel uncomfortable should be curbed. They argue that unfettered speech on Twitter, will open the door to hateful …

We Are Needed

April 24, 2022 – 1:54 pm | Comments Off on We Are Needed1,018 views
needed-innerstream.ca

What are we needed for? A Chasid once poured out his heart to Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi about his many needs. The Rebbe replied, you told me everything you need, but you said not a word about what you are needed for.
We often ask for the things we need, …

Passover: A Mashiach Perspective

April 19, 2022 – 1:25 pm | Comments Off on Passover: A Mashiach Perspective931 views
mashiach-innerstream

On the last day of Passover, we celebrate the coming of Mashiach—the ultimate liberation of our people from exile. This tradition was revealed by the Baal Shem Tov, founder of Chasidism, and has since gained momentum in Jewish communities around the world.
The highlight is the festive meal at the end …