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.
Read the full story »Vaetchanan: The Heart of Religion
The Curve
Have you ever noticed the curve of the Ten Commandments?
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The Nine Days: Suffering Leads to Growth
Why Nine?
Life isn’t a coincidence. Everything has meaning, it’s all “Bashert” [providential]. In 350 BCE and again in 69 CE, during the days leading up to the destruction of the Temple, our ancestors suffered greatly. The Babylonian forces and later the Roman Legions ransacked Jerusalem and brutalized the inhabitants. Every …
Matot Masei: Israel and the Jews
What Is It?
What is it with Israel and the Jews? Take me for example; my family hasn’t lived in Israel for centuries. In fact I don’t how far back I need to trace my family history to find my roots in Israel. I’ve lived in North America all my life, …
Pinchas: Jewish Popup Screens
Pop Ups
Have you ever wondered why pop-up screens always offer gambling or lust opportunities and never Torah or Mitzvah opportunities? When was the last time you visited your favorite news site and got a Jewish pop-up screen offering you a chance to give charity? Did you ever check the weather …
Balak: The Perennial Critic
How to Treat a Critic
There are those who thrive on highlighting other people’s faults. It gives them such pleasure, they can hardly contain themselves. If they can’t find fault they drive themselves incessantly until they find it and failing that, they grow despondent. Mostly these people don’t intend harm, they …
Chukat: What I Learned From A Wellspring
Springing the Well
Wellsprings are G-d’s gift to the world. Arid climates become fertile when wells are discovered. Parched and thirsty souls find life, salvation and hope with the discovery of a well. A well discovery is cause for celebration and certainly a reason to praise G-d. It comes as no …
Chukat: Dancing Flames – Dancing Souls
This article is presented here to mark the anniversary of Rabbi Josef I. Schneerson, the former Lubavitcher Rebbe’s, liberation from prison, which falls this week on the twelfth of Tamuz. His crimes against Soviet Russia consisted of teaching torah and Judaism.
As the Bombs Fell
On September 27’th, 1939, (14”th of Tishrei …
Korach: Wealth as a Status Symbol
Aspirations
What is your aspiration? To live a healthy and honest lifestyle, to raise happy well adjusted children, to contribute something of lasting significance to humanity, to live a life of piety, to master a subject and become a scholar; are all worthwhile causes, but accomplishing any of them requires money.
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Parsha Insights »
Ki Tetze: The Strongest Marriage
A Marriage
“Ah, Marriage,” sighed a middle aged man. “The other day I was admiring myself in a full length mirror and I asked my wife whether she would still like me when I am bald, fat and old. ‘I do,’ she replied.”
Marriages are notorious for one-line zingers, but we tell …
Yearly Cycle »
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 …
Concepts »
Yitro: Original Thought
How Dare We?
Jewish tradition and history assigned names to all Torah portions. The portion that describes the delivery of the Ten Commandments at Sinai is named after Moses’ father in law, Jethro. Based on the belief that everything, including a choice of name, occurs for a reason, we wish to …
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 …
