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September 19, 2023 – 8:31 pm | 59 views

Get your head in the game is a common refrain among athletes. Distraction is the last thing athletes can afford. It interferes with their rhythm, disturbs their focus, and wreaks havoc on their stamina. Coaches are often overheard telling players to get their heads in the game.
Judaism is no different. …

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Articles in Vayakhel

Vayekhel: With All You Got

February 21, 2022 – 9:06 am | 614 views
all-you-got

Do you live with all you got, or do you hold back out of fear, shame, insecurity, or lack of confidence?
This week we read a special selection from the Torah in honor of the upcoming month, II Adar. It is about the half silver coin. G-d instructs Moses to take …

Vaykahel Pekudei: In Your Heart

March 6, 2021 – 9:48 pm | 2 Comments | 2,132 views
heart-innerstream.ca

Is G-d in your heart, is He at least in your mind, or is He only in your deeds? A tabernacle can be built by deeds, but the most important tabernacle is built in the heart.
When G-d instructed Moshe to build the Tabernacle, the Jewish people contributed more materials than …

Vaykahel Pekudei: Social Distancing

March 17, 2020 – 11:20 pm | 1,225 views
social-distancing-innerstream.ca

Social distancing connotes the two-meter distance that we maintain to prevent the spread of the dreaded Covid-19. Personally, I dislike the term social distancing because it sounds like we are imposing a social distance, when in fact we are only imposing a physical distance. Socially, we must make an even …

Vayakhel: Sleep is Good

February 25, 2019 – 10:32 pm | 2 Comments | 3,180 views
sleep-innersteram.ca

Vayakhel: Sleep is Good
Sleep is good for you, or so they say. But how much sleep is good? Maimonides suggested eight hours—one third of the day. I haven’t met anyone who disagrees with the notion that sleep is good, but I have often wondered why sleep is necessary? Wouldn’t it …

Vayakhel Pekudei: Playing Host to G-d

March 3, 2018 – 9:29 pm | One Comment | 6,152 views
host-innerstream.ca

A Wise Host
The host of the party was worried that there were too many people and not enough refreshments. He was sure that not everyone had been invited, but he had to identify the crashers. So, he called for silence and asked, “Will those from the bride’s side of the …

Vayakhel Pekudei: To Carry Forward

March 19, 2017 – 1:40 am | 2,157 views
carry-forward-innerstream.ca

To Raise a Child
If we look back on our upbringing, we will note that we are an amalgam of a huge family. We carry traits from our mothers, fathers, and grandparents. Some of our values were taught by our mothers, some by our fathers, and some by our grandparents. Some …

Vayakhel: Right Down The Middle

March 3, 2016 – 12:16 pm | 2,444 views
right-down-the-middle - innerstream.ca

One Long Rod
Baseball training begins this week and you know what that means. Everyone is waiting for the fastball right down the middle. Pitchers hope it will blow right by the batter and strike him out. Hitters hope to slap it right out of the ball park. Balls thrown inside …

Vayakhel: Love

February 19, 2014 – 2:15 am | 3,281 views
love-innerstream.ca

Shabbat on Saturday
Several weeks ago I was asked why it is necessary to observe Shabbat on Saturday. Suppose I was feeling particularly restful and holy on Tuesday, is there anything wrong with observing Shabbat on Tuesday? Can’t a vast and loving G-d tolerate a Jew that prefers to rest on …