When we want to pray, our minds wander; it is a battle to maintain concentration. When we want to give to charity but feel drawn to use the money for ourselves, we are at war with ourselves. When we struggle with lust, greed, dishonesty, pride, anger, and envy, we are at war.
Read the full story »
Family Life, Vaeirah »
Fostering Empathy In Our Children
He spoke truth to power, orchestrated ten plagues, struck Egypt’s firstborn, freed the slaves, split the sea, and drew bread from heaven. Who am I describing? You know the answer. Moses.
But G-d did not choose Moses because he performed miracles. Moses performed miracles because G-d chose him.
So why was Moses chosen? What quality marked him as leadership material? Read the full story »
Don’t Waste A Crisis
You can be free wherever you are. Even if your body is incarcerated, your mind and soul can be free.
A Diaspora Blessing that Gives us Courage
Every Friday night, we bless our children with the words, “May G-d make you like Ephraim And Manasseh.” Why them of all people in Jewish history?
The Bondi Massacre: Choosing to Live for G-d
Fifteen Jews were murdered in Bondi purely for being Jewish. They died for G-d, the least we can do in their memory is choose to live for G-d.
Stop Dreaming
In the aftermath of the Bondi Attack, we might want to hide our Judaism and blend in. This essay cautions us against living a lie.
The Only Absolute Truth
Do you peddle in relative truths, or are you a stickler for the absolute truth? This essay examines the two types of truth and posits that G-d’s truth is absolute.
We Are Never Alone
Sometimes we feel utterly alone in the world. The Torah reminds us that we are never alone. G-d is always at our side.
Inviting G-d To Dinner
Why did our sages seem to think that having radishes and lettuce at every meal is a good thing?
Chayei Sarah: Preserve the Stem, the Rest Will Grow
The Torah teaches that every mitzvah is vital, yet all of Judaism rests upon a single stem— faith in G-d and in the truth of the Torah. If that stem remains alive, everything else can grow from it.
Parsha Insights »
Beshalach: Love of LIfe
Red Sea
An entire nation had narrowly escaped; the army of murderers, bearing down on them just a moment earlier, now drowning in the ocean. G-d had orchestrated a brilliant rescue. Jews stood huddled on the far shore watching their captors toss helplessly about on the surging waves of a plunging …
Yearly Cycle »
High Holiday Greetings
Some places in the world are blessed with eternal sunshine. Other places are marked by perpetual darkness. Some places are always warm, other places are always cold. Our country has seasons.
There is a season for frigid cold and a season for desultory heat. There is a season for torrential downpours …
Concepts »
Behar Bechukosai: Fool Yourself
Do you ever fool yourself? The answer is likely yes because we all do. Every time you something wrong and find a circuitous argument to justify your behavior, you fool yourself.
The Torah forbids defrauding others in business. When you sell or buy from your fellow, do not wrong him. If …
Rabbi’s Desk »
What Can We Do?
These past two days have been the most difficult for our people in the last fifty years. It was Simchat Torah, a time for rejoicing, yet it was a time of horror. Nearly a thousand members of our family were brutally murdered, more than a hundred were taken hostage, and …
