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June 11, 2022 – 11:37 pm | 612 views

Off the derech means literally off the path. It is a common adage in observant circles to describe people who were once observant but had since taken a different path. It is so common that it has its own acronym in our acronym crazed days, OTD. It is not intended …

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Articles in Matot

Life Journeys

July 23, 2022 – 11:52 pm | 704 views
journeys

We are all on a journey, the journey of life. Although our journeys are similar in many ways, each journey is unique. Have you ever wondered what makes my journey different from yours? What seminal event occurred in our nascent years that made me embark on a different path from …

Matot Masei: The Torah View of Women

July 12, 2020 – 3:18 pm | 1,242 views
women

People often ask about the Torah’s view of women. A discussion about vows in this week’s Torah portion offers a surprising insight.
The Torah forbids many things such as shellfish, bacon, work during the Sabbath, collecting loans during the Sabbatical, and others. The Toral also permits many things. Yet, the Torah …

Matos Masei: Marijuana and Knives

July 8, 2018 – 9:38 pm | 2,131 views
weed-innerstream.ca

Marijuana and knives, what’s the connection?
Knives
In his book, The Better Angels of Our Nature,[1] Steven Pinker writes that he always had a difficult time with the rule of etiquette that doesn’t permit using a knife to shovel food onto the fork. He writes that after working without success to coax …

Matot: Jewish Custom

July 30, 2016 – 11:48 pm | 2,510 views
custom-innerstream.ca

Importance of Custom
One of the common refrains I hear as a rabbi are the words, “Oh, it’s just a custom. We don’t need to keep every custom.” The supposition is that Jewish law is binding, but customs are arbitrary. One can adopt them or reject them at will.

Matot: Dishonesty

July 15, 2014 – 9:53 pm | One Comment | 5,256 views
dishonesty- innerstream.ca

Social or Ritual?
They tell a story of a dying man, who called his son to his bedside. “Son,” he said, “let me tell you the two ironclad rules by which I ran my life. First, your word is gold. If you give it, you must keep it no matter the …

Matos Masei: Resisting Peer Pressure

June 30, 2013 – 4:03 am | 4,478 views
peer pressure - innerstream

The Dilemma
Resisting peer pressure is a common challenge. It is a mistake to think that this is only a problem for young people; it pervades every segment of society. You might attend a party and experience pressure to drink. You might attend a social evening and encounter pressure to gossip. …

Matot Masei: Israel and the Jews

July 17, 2012 – 6:26 pm | 3,097 views
Israel and the Jews - innerstream

What Is It?
What is it with Israel and the Jews? Take me for example; my family hasn’t lived in Israel for centuries. In fact I don’t how far back I need to trace my family history to find my roots in Israel. I’ve lived in North America all my life, …

Matot: The Joys of Ice-Cream

July 20, 2011 – 6:31 pm | 3,571 views
the joys of ice cream - innerstream

Can You Have Your Cake And Eat It Too?
When we see a religious leader living the good life, fancy cars, extravagant expense accounts and private jets, we are naturally skeptical about their piety. When we think of the devout we conjure up images of the impoverished and downtrodden whose faith, …