Too Big For One’s Boots
Because one imagines oneself superior to others, one feels entitled to misappropriate their belongings or relationships, to withdraw any assistance from them, to lie under oath when it gives one a leg up, or if all else fails, to push people out of one’s way.
Memory: Our Secret Weapon
The concept of mourning is predicated on the idea that man inevitably forgets over time, diminishing the acute pain associated with the loss, allowing the mourner to move on.
Inherit The Torah
It is of interest, say the Sages, that Moshe’s request for a new leader immediately follows the inheritance of the daughters of Tzlofchad.
The Heart Of The Matter
When one performs gemilus chesed he is really doing chesed for himself. The merit of helping another protects the individual himself as well as his entire family.
Parshas Shoftim: “How True It Is”
the Talmud explains that a judge must not take a bribe even if it is in order to acquit the innocent and accuse the guilty. Accepting a bribe is wrong even if the verdict issued is ultimately correct!
The Great Treasure Of Pirkei Avos
It is a shame that many do not open up a Pirkei Avos with a sense of thirst and exhilaration. Perhaps, if we would keep it in a glass case, and charge ten dollars per minute for a peek inside, people would better appreciate its value.
More Is Less
At each stop the Jews learned another lesson about how to rid themselves of their Egyptian ways.
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Beshalach: The Sin of Nostalgia
The role that God played towards the Jews in the desert was not far removed from that of a parent. While they were on the desert, He provided them with the challenges that would allow them to mature
Setting Boundaries
The Ran expounds that one who builds a personal altar could mistakenly believe that he is actually doing a mitzvah by being extraordinarily scrupulous in offering sacrifices to Hashem. He doesn’t realize, though, that he is in fact committing a grave sin.
Secrets of the Mother Bird – Ki Tetzei
Israel’s Torah is not some man-made 'religion' but actually the Divine Ideal implanted into our world for the purpose of uplifting all Creation through sanctifying every area of human existence.
What Can The Ari Teach The Average Jew?
The Ari HaKadosh – Rabbi Yitzchak ben Shlomo Luria (1534-1572) – passed away 446 years ago this week. Here is a simple teaching from him.
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Terumah: How Many Israelites Does it Take to Build an Aron?
If we truly want to be involved in Torah study, than we, ipso facto, are involved in Torah study.
Children And The Sins Of Their Parents
With Ruth, The Torah seems to be stating that children shouldn't be punished for the sins of parents
Parshat Bereishit
The message is clear - there really is no such thing as a quiet day.
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Vayeira: No Questions Asked
Isn't it surprising that Avraham who prayed for Sodom's salvation did not protest God commanding him to kill his own son? For the Netziv, this was actually exactly what God wanted from Avraham. Why?
The Power Of The Spoken Word
Of even greater significance, once the miraglim made their mistake and concluded that Hashem wasn’t powerful enough to bring the people into the land, what they then spoke wasn’t lashon hara at all
All Glory To Hashem
There is another important parallel between the parsha and the haftara – the miraculous victory over an apparently superior enemy with the aid of Hashem.
Writing Hashem’s Name
The Dovev Meisharim (chelek 1, 18:3) quotes the Divrei Chaim who says that writing all four letters of the name simultaneously is considered writing the name out of order.
Remember Who’s Helping You
The Maharsham adds that only when we acknowledge that we are unable to triumph over the enemy will we be able to be unafraid and will Hashem bring about our salvation.
Israel And The Jew: Perfect Together
He had always thought of Rothschild as a French citizen first and foremost.
Watchers
On my watch
Look Up
Chag Sameach
Sefirat Ha’Omer: The Transition From Animal To Human
Through the counting of the Omer, Rav Kook explains, we don’t so much transition from the animal barley to the human bread; rather, we unite these elements in ourselves. We connect Pesach with Shavuot – liberation from bondage followed by receiving the Torah.
May Beis Din Punish On Shabbos?
The Rambam, in Hilchos Shabbos 24:7, rules that Beis Din may not carry out the punishment of either death or lashes on Shabbos. He cites the same pasuk of “lo seva’aru” as the source for this halacha. In his Sefer Hamitzvos the Rambam lists as a separate negative commandment (number 322) that Beis Din may not judge or carry out a punishment on Shabbos.
You Can Change Your Nature
The Rebbe refused to accept his mishloach manos until he promised to control his temper.
Faith Over Reason
Faith is an oasis in the heart which will never be reached by the caravan of thinking. -Kahlil Gibran
Aleph Beta: Acharei Mot-Kedoshim: Social Justice…and Sacrifices?
Rabbi Fohrman asks what's the connection between animal sacrifices and leaving crops for the poor?
Va’eira: The Names Of Israel
“And Amram took Yocheved.... And she bore to him Aharon and Moshe” (6:20).
The names that were given in Egypt were not repetitions of previous names but were original expressions of genuine devotion to Hashem.
Redeeming Relevance: All You Need is One Good Man
a different leader of the next generation steps up and takes action. That leader was Pinchas...True leaders like Pinchas don’t come out of leadership schools. When the time is ripe, they simply emerge.
Shabbos Mevorchim Shevat
The month of Shevat shares its element of air with the months of Sivan and Tishrei. During Sivan, the light of the Torah was revealed to us on Har Sinai.
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