What do you do when you get a sense that your world is confined and you're not living up to your full potential. Do you break out of your mold and try a new career or hobby? Would you seek out something new and novel? Something exhilarating and fulfilling? Something truly grand? In fact, what is true grandeur?    more »

On June 6, 1944, allied forces launched a major assault against occupied France along the coast of Normandy. In the initial phases of the landing, American forces suffered heavy casualties on Omaha Beach. Communications with headquarters was scant because many radios were either lost in the Channel or destroyed by enemy fire. (1) One captain managed to raise his general by radio and reported that the situation was quickly deteriorating. Not yet appreciating the scope of the crisis, the general irritably asked, “Are the troops advancing, using the fire and movement tactics they were taught at infantry school?” “Yes,” replied the captain, “they are firing and we are moving.”   more »

When Moses entered Pharaoh’s chamber the powerful aura of Divinity overwhelmed him though no one else in the room, including Pharaoh, was even able to sense it. G-d then took his hand and invited him to re-enter. This invitation empowered Moses to confront Pharaoh and ultimately led to the last three plagues, which acted as the harbinger to the Jewish redemption.   more »

The purpose of the Egyptian exile was to refine the character of the Jewish people so that they would become worthy of G-d’s choice. This process of refinement required an oppressor, a slave driver. That was the Egyptian role. They performed their task admirably, maybe even a little too admirably, but the Jews left Egypt prepared to receive their mandate at Sinai.   more »

The Ninth PlagueThe plague of darkness was such that "no person could see his brother, nor could any person rise from his place for three days. (However) the children of Israel had light in all their homes." (1) The physical plague of darkness had its root in a spiritual darkness, which can be defined as the absence of G-d's revealed presence. In discussing the spiritual origin of this plague the Midrash cites two opinions. R. Nechemia taught that the darkness originated in the regions of Geheinom. (2) R. Yehudah taught that it originated in the celestial spheres. (3) (4)Two Forms of Darkness ...   more »