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April 16, 2026 – 8:50 pm | Comments Off on Healing the Great Divide42 views

This week’s Torah portion speaks of the mysterious lesions that appeared on the skin of those who trafficked in gossip. Their punishment was at once severe and precise: they were cast into isolation for up to three weeks, until their affliction healed.
The Torah enumerates many forms of ritual impurity. Some …

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Mishpatim: Dont Be Crass

February 12, 2012 – 4:32 am | Comments Off on Mishpatim: Dont Be Crass3,459 views
Burglar

Two Laws
If you catch a burglar in your home in the middle of the night and kill him, you are not guilty of murder by Jewish law even if the burglar didn’t draw a weapon. This is because it is logical to suppose that thieves in the night intend to …

Yitro: The Freedom App

January 30, 2012 – 8:34 pm | Comments Off on Yitro: The Freedom App3,875 views
computer frustration

The Freedom App
Writing an essay has never been more difficult. In the past you could seclud yourself in a corner with pen and paper and let your mind flow. Now we sit at computers connected to the internet. The strain of concentration wears the brain and we are tempted constantly …

Beshalach: Prayer – The Interface Of Love

January 29, 2012 – 4:08 am | Comments Off on Beshalach: Prayer – The Interface Of Love3,438 views
Prayer The Interface Of Love

An Age Old Question
Prayer is the oddest phenomenon. Human beings plead with G-d, who already knows what they want, who already considered and rejected their request before they ever made it and who made this decision for the very best reasons. And yet we ask an unchanging G-d to reconsider …

Vayigash: Relax – He’s Your Brother

December 25, 2011 – 2:29 am | Comments Off on Vayigash: Relax – He’s Your Brother2,944 views
civil war soldiers

Disclaimer: It is commonly held that two subjects to be avoided in polite company are politics and religion…lest we offend.
This essay shamelessly addresses both.
Family Feuds
Brothers often bicker, we know that, but that doesn’t mean they should become enemies. When brothers turn against each other the entire fabric of society is …

Chanukah: Naturally in Love with G-d

December 18, 2011 – 2:04 am | Comments Off on Chanukah: Naturally in Love with G-d4,053 views
naturally in love - innerstream

The Split
I once asked an audience to tell me which historical factor contributed most to our continuity and one fellow insisted that the correct answer was anti-Semitism. When the nations reject us we have no choice, but to turn inward. When the nations befriend and accept us we tend to blend into the global culture …

Vayeshev: Selling A Brother

December 12, 2011 – 4:12 pm | Comments Off on Vayeshev: Selling A Brother3,611 views
selling a brother - innerstream

The Five Rung Pole
There is a hierarchy to the things we love. At the bottom of the totem pole are the vane pursuits of life, such as power, money, success and prestige as well as the toys of life such as cars, houses, furniture and wardrobes. These things make a …

Vaysihlach: Rewrite Your Script

December 4, 2011 – 12:52 am | Comments Off on Vaysihlach: Rewrite Your Script4,918 views
rewrite your script

Where Do You Fish?
Are you plagued by internal scripts that are injurious to your well-being? Many of us suffer from scripts that hurt us, but from which we powerless to depart. It can be a parent or sibling whom we really love or a colleague or employer whose company we …

Vayetze: Talking the Talk and Walking the Walk

November 27, 2011 – 4:40 am | Comments Off on Vayetze: Talking the Talk and Walking the Walk4,082 views
walking the walk - innerstream

Is Talking Enough?
We live in a world of action. If you want something to be real, you can’t just talk about it, you have to do something about it. Talking about love is not enough. Even if you truly love your words aren’t real until you do something to show …