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March 25, 2024 – 8:50 pm | Comments Off on Why We Must Resist The Cease Fire Resolution39 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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Discover depth and mystique in the annual Jewish festivals

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Lech L’cha: The Power of Blessing

November 2, 2005 – 1:13 am | Comments Off on Lech L’cha: The Power of Blessing
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Two Anomalies
In our Parsha G-d makes a powerful promise to Avraham, one we would all have loved to receive. “And I shall bless those who bless you, and he who curses you shall be cursed.” Upon examination, the reader will notice two anomalies.

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Chayei Sarah: Reasons of Infinity

November 2, 2005 – 12:51 am | Comments Off on Chayei Sarah: Reasons of Infinity
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I am a Servant
In our Parsha we read that Eliezer, servant of Avraham, traveled to Charan to seek Rivkah’s hand in marriage to Yitzchak. When he appeared before her family he prefaced his presentation with the words, “I am a servant of Avraham.” The Talmud teaches that even the casual …

New Year Greeting 5766: Emotional Disengagement

November 2, 2005 – 12:40 am | Comments Off on New Year Greeting 5766: Emotional Disengagement
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As we enter the new year the catchword in the Jewish world is the word “disengagement.” Some are in favor, others opposed but everyone is talking about it. Should Jews voluntarily disengage from portions of the holy-land or are our ties to our country too deep to easily disengage?  It is interesting …

Ha’azinu : The Rainmaker

October 14, 2005 – 5:12 pm | Comments Off on Ha’azinu : The Rainmaker
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Rain and Dew
When on vacation I like to rise early to study, pray and enjoy the crisp ambiance of an early summer morning. Some mornings I awake to the patter of rainfall as a soft drizzle sprinkles the ground and cools the air. Other mornings I awake to glorious and …

YOM KIPPUR: A Day at Shull

October 9, 2005 – 1:23 am | Comments Off on YOM KIPPUR: A Day at Shull

Droves of people, through the aisles, in a seemingly endless stream. They have gathered for a special occasion; it is an evening of repentance, an evening of devotion and perhaps most importantly an evening of commitment. For this is the holiest of Jewish holidays, it is the evening of Yom …

Vayelech : Why We are Here

October 6, 2005 – 5:51 pm | Comments Off on Vayelech : Why We are Here
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A Perfect G-d
The High Holiday liturgy marks Rosh Hashanah as the anniversary of creation, a good time to ponder the meaning of creation and of life. (1) Was there a purpose? Does this purpose endow our life with meaning?

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Niztavim: The Art of Repentance

October 6, 2005 – 3:21 pm | Comments Off on Niztavim: The Art of Repentance
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A Simple MeditationRabbi Levik of Bardichev once interviewed a long list of candidates for the position of Shofar blower. (One who sounds the ram’s horn during the service on Rosh Hashana.) The rabbi passed over many illustrious scholars and profound meditators in favor of a fairly unsophisticated young man.

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Noach: Heaven and Earth

October 2, 2005 – 12:36 am | Comments Off on Noach: Heaven and Earth

Regret and Comfort
G-d created man and then placed him on earth. But when man rebelled against morality G-d had second thoughts and brought about the flood. In describing these second thoughts the Torah uses the word “Vayinachem”, a Hebrew word that has two meanings, (a) he regretted, (b) he was comforted. …