When G-d disciplines us, the pain is real—but it is born of love. When He gives freely, we feel His kindness. When He withholds or corrects, His love is less visible—but in truth, it runs even deeper.
Read the full story »Ekev: The Art of Translation
Where Is G-d?
Reb Mendel of Kotzk is said to have asked his disciples to tell him where G-d can be found. They offered many answers, all of which he rejected, until he explained, G-d is where you let him in.
Tweet
Vaetchanan: Where is G-d
In Close Proximity
Where are you closer to G-d, on a serene mountain top surrounded by the beauty of nature or on a loud, dirty street corner in the middle of an inner city? It is true that you might feel closer to G-d on the mountaintop, but this essay will …
Devarim: Heartfelt Thought
An Amazing Feat
It was on the first day of the month of Shevat, five weeks before his passing, that Moses sat down to teach the Torah. He had been teaching for nearly forty years; ever since descending Mt. Sinai Moses had done little, but teach. Still he began a full …
Matos Masei: Fostering unity
Midyan
Do you know anyone that gets your goat? You know, the kind of person that irritates you no matter what s/he says. You resolve to control your feelings, but your annoyance boils over and, despite your resolve, your dam bursts through. We all have such triggers and we all know …
Balak: The Power of Birth
The Individual
Billam stood on a hilltop overlooking the Jewish camp. He was brought there to curse the Jews, but as his gaze fell upon their camp he beheld a vista of sanctity, nobility and rectitude. He couldn’t bring himself to curse them. And when he was prompted, he spoke the …
Chukas: You Only Live Once
Mired in Grudge
Imagine a sculpture was formed of your likeness of you when you were young and strong. Forty years later you would look back and see yourself in your prime; frozen in time at the peak of your strength. You would gaze wistfully at the strong lines of your …
Korach: Let’s Have The Truth
I Want It Too
Moses was leader; his brother Aaron, High Priest. The people accepted this arrangement, knowing the selection was made by G-d. Well, actually, not all the people were happy. Korach and 250 of his friends were jealous; they coveted the position for themselves and brought their complaint to …
Shlach: Got Challah?
A Unique Form of Giving
There are many forms of giving; charitable donations, priestly offerings and sacrificial consecrations to name a few. The common denominator among these is that a portion of one’s property is donated or consecrated one time; rendering the remainder available for personal use. The one exception is …
Parsha Insights »
Yitro: Time for Torah
We all must make time for Torah, but how much time is a matter of perspective. When G-d gave us the Torah at Sinai, He gave the same Torah to all Jews. We are all bound by the same laws and we all share the same level of access to …
Yearly Cycle »
Sukkot: Repentance Again?
I sit in my study late at night after breaking the fast of Yom Kippur. As I do every year, I feel euphoric. The day was so intense, we invested so much effort, and the Divine dividends that will be paid out over the year will surely be generous. We …
Concepts »
Miketz: Emotional Starvation
The Dream of Panic
Pharaoh dreamed that seven thin, unhealthy cows swallowed seven robust cows, but even after consuming the larger cows whole, the thin cows showed no signs of weight gain. Joseph interpreted the dream as a vision for the future. There would be seven years of plenty, followed by …
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 …
