Articles by Lazer Gurkow
Shemot: The Beloved Teacher
My Beloved Teacher
I have had many teachers, but the ones that impacted me most, were the one who showed me kindness. You would think that if a teacher’s role is to teach, the most erudite scholar would have been the most memorable teacher. But that is not the case. The …
Vayechi: Our Mother
At The Grave Of A Mother
I was standing in Bethlehem at the grave of our nation’s mother, the Matriarch Rachel. I was praying for myself, my family and our nation. I poured my heart out on this quiet sunny morning, to a mother I had never met. Swept up in …
Vayigash: The True Meaning of Tolerance
Can We Tolerate Tolerance?
Have you ever been in the ironic position where someone accused of lacking tolerance and in the process turned intolerant toward you? Sadly, such occasions are commonplace nowadays. Just think of the riots that swept America post election, when people rampaged and pillaged in the name of …
Chanukah: Tomorrow Will Be Much Better
Increase or Reduce
There are two ways to light Chanukah candles. One is to start with the smallest amount of light and increase each day, the second is to start with the greatest amount of light and reduce the light each day. In fact, this was an argument between the schools …
Vayishlach: Believe In Your Child
Obey Your Parents
This week’s Torah portion introduces us to Esau’s son Eliphaz although our sages already mentioned him in last week’s portion.
When Jacob left his parents’ home to flee his brother’s rage, he stocked up on provisions. His wealthy parents made certain that he had plenty of gold and silver …
Vayetze: Coincidence
Do You Believe In Coincidence?
Albert Einstein famously said that coincidence is G-d’s way of remaining anonymous. What do you think?
Coincidence can be tricky. If I lose a dollar and someone picks it up, I get a Mitzvah. But is the Mitzvah really mine or did it just happen to fall …
Toldos: The Purpose of Wealth
Dividing the Wealth
When Rebeca was pregnant with twins, she went to ask the prophet why she was feeling so much turmoil and pain. The prophet told her that she was carrying two nations and that they would separate from the womb; each in their own direction.
Our sages recorded a conversation …
Chayei Sarah: In the Moment
The selfish Doctrine
Most of the Western world today is consumed with entitlements. The primary question is how many of my rights am I getting and to how many more am I entitled? When we see others enjoying prosperity, power, fame, happiness, family or good health, all we can think about …
