Cancel culture is a craze in our times. The airways and streets are ablaze with political correctness and groupthink. This isn’t the first time that cancel culture has taken hold. In my own lifetime I watched groupthink take hold several times and history books are replete with such examples. My …
Read the full story »New Years Greeting 5763: Tears for Israel
The
New Year is almost upon us and we prepare to greet it with the usual
pomp. This year however, the celebration will lie as a terrible burden
upon the hearts of many. Our brothers and sisters are mourning across
the planes of our beloved land, Israel.Entire
families are mourning the loss of Bubbies and …
Modesty : Look but don't Touch
An
aphorism ordinarily associated with storefront merchandise has become a
humorous reference to relationships. “You may look at another person’s
wife,’ goes the common adage, ‘but you may not touch.”
The underlying message is that no harm is done when a person admires, and maybe even desires, a member of the opposite sex.
A friend
once …
It’s been Two Thousand Years Can We Still Be In Love?
On Sunday, the Ninth of Av in the Jewish calendar – we commemorate the destruction of our ancient temple in Jerusalem which was destroyed in the year 69 of the common era. Jewish history is largely comprised of two segments namely, pre and post Temple destruction The first era is …
Toldot : Israel and Beyond
Our Pasha extols the virtue of Abraham. (1) “He kept my charge, my commandments my decrees and my laws.” The great Commentator Rashi, (Shlomo Yitzchaki, Scholar and author, eleventh century France) explained that Avraham kept all the commandments that were later given at Sinai, including the minute details, the decrees …
New Year Greeting 5765: The Rising Price of Gas
Oil Tesheuvah and the New Year
We live in an age of internationally rising consumption, which is in turn driving the price of crude oil to unprecedented heights. Our fear of quickly diminishing yet finite oil reserves is only compounded by the threat of instability in the Middle East.
In short, high …
The Nerve and The Miracle
I met a lovely young lady by the name of Chana Libah. She is a remarkable person and an amazing optimist. She had suffered multiple tumors and was in recovery from her latest bout. Chana Libah, undergoing a treatment regiment that would break a lesser person, spoke of her
travails with …
Parsha Insights »
Ki Tavo: Making it Relevant
Returning to Earth
Does a falling tree produce a sound if no one is around to hear it? Jewish philosophers never respond to such questions with a simple yes or no. Instead we reply, in perfect Talmudic cadence, if a tree falls and no one is around to hear it, does …
Yearly Cycle »
Shemot : Heaven And Earth
There was a steep mountain pass just outside Premishlan that was impassable during the winter because of its treacherous icy conditions. The Chassidic master, Rabbi Meir of Premishlan, would navigate this pass on a regular basis. When asked for his secret he answered simply, “One who is bound to the …
Concepts »
Balak: I Am Blessed
Blessed Blessing
It was a happy time for the Jews; they were on their way to Israel. But the nations in the vicinity were most unhappy. One of those nations, Moab, hired Balaam the soothsayer to curse the Jews.
Balaam attempted to curse the Jews, but every time he attempted to curse, …
Rabbi’s Desk »
The Passing of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
The world has lost a great leader with the passing of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. Who will be his successor?
There will be millions beginning with me and you.
This Shabbat, the family of Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, former Chief Rabbi of the Commonwealth, will complete their week of mourning for Rabbi Sacks …
