It is easy to find holiness in the miraculous and extraordinary. The Passover challenge is to find holiness in the ordinary, everyday moments.
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Vayakhel »
Marinating In Divine Thoughts
What is worse than a philandering marriage therapist, an obese dietician, or a lying ethics counselor? A conceited man of G-d. The two are mutually exclusive; you are either a servant of G-d or a servant of your ego. There is a story of an ethics professor caught cheating on his taxes who defended himself by saying, “My colleague teaches algebra; does that mean he has to become a triangle?”
In the secular world, knowledge may be academic, but in the spiritual world, you cannot give what you do not have. To help others, you must first find the truth within yourself. If we try to give what we don’t have, we fail others and ourselves. This was the practice of the second Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Dov Ber of Lubavitch. He refused to counsel others on their faults until he found a refined version of that same flaw within himself. Only after he plotted his own way out would he lead others toward the light. Read the full story »
Purim: G-d Pays His Debts
We often think life is unfair. It helps to look back on our lives and at history. We usually discover that G-d pays His debts. In the end, everything is fair.
Stones that Open A Heart
This week, we study the vestments worn by the High Priest as he performed his service in the Temple. The High Priest represents the epitome of holiness; he is the closest a human can be to G‑d. Selected to represent the entire nation in prayer, supplication, offering, and song to …
Your Body Is a Temple
The Torah whispers a radical idea in our ears: G-d said to Moses: “Make for Me a sanctuary, and I will dwell in them.” Not “in it,” but “in them” — within the people who build it.
G-d dwells within each of us. Every one of us can become a sanctuary. We can turn our bodies into G-d’s temple.
Make G-d Your Partner
What are your morning rituals? What rituals does G-d want for you? How do they make you G-d’s partner?
The Gift of Being “Extra”
When we are jealous, we measure our value by others’ success. We can’t be like others. We were born to be ourselves. When we accept that limitation, we begin to shine.
Nothing To Fear But Fear Itself
When you trust in G-d, you know that circumstances and people can’t harm you. You have nothing to fear but fear itself.
Why Jews Need An Army
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.
Fostering Empathy In Our Children
Moses was chosen for his empathy. He learned empathy from his parents. We mold our children into what we model for them. It is our sacred duty to model empathy.
Parsha Insights »
Lech Lecha: Israel is Home
When my daughter messaged me that she landed in Israel, I replied welcome home. Later, on the phone, she told me that this was the first time she had landed somewhere and did not feel homesick. My message explained why. Israel is home.
It’s not just me. In honor of Israel’s …
Yearly Cycle »
With G-d’s Help
The Torah tells us to appoint judges and guardians at the gates of our cities. The city’s gathering place was usually at the gates, making it the fitting place for the courthouse and police station. However, Jewish scholarship has long maintained that there is a parallel teaching here. We are …
Concepts »
A Year Filled With Miracles
Before we light the Chanukah candles, we chant a blessing to thank G-d for the miracles he performed in those days at this time. The basic meaning is that G-d performed miracles for us many years ago during this time of year. A deeper meaning is that G-d performed miracles …
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 …
