1310 essays
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Essays on the weekly Torah portion, the holidays and Jewish thought.
Parsha Behalosecha – Sing a New Song When we grow in appreciation for and closeness to G-d, what seemed to be ideal in the past is severely wanting now. LIGHT FROM THE FUTURE ESSAYS ON PARSHAS BEHA’ALOSECHA Parsha Behalosecha – Stairs and Ramps The Menorah was not intended for the sinners. It was intended to illuminate the souls of the Jewish people. Their souls, which were already on fire, would now be inspired to climb higher and higher. The goal of the Menorah was to awaken deeper and deeper spiritual powers. LIGHT FROM THE FUTURE ESSAY Parsha Behalosecha – The Uncompromised Leader Compromise, complacency and comfort are signs of immobility and stagnation. They derive from a distorted picture of one’s purpose and capabilities, as well as a jaundiced and jaded image of the world’s potential. To reverse that situation, one’s eyes must be opened to see the unblemished truth of ex Parsha Behalosecha – Transcending Emotions When doing a Mitzvah, we must ask ourselves, “what effect did the Mitzvah have on me?” LIGHT FROM THE FUTURE ESSAYS ON PARSHAS BEHA’ALOSECHA Parsha Behalosecha – The “Make-Up” Holiday When a community of Jews is involved in a Mitzvah it introduces an element of holiness that is truly infinite. No matter how many excuses we may have for separating ourselves from the communal effort, it will not make up for the lost spiritual gain. LIGHT FROM THE FUTURE ESSAYS ON PARSHAS BEHA’ALOSE Parsha Behalosecha – True Humility Moses was overwhelmed, awe stricken and humbled when he was shown the Jews of the last generation of exile, who could remain steadfastly committed to the Torah, despite the suffering, hardships and temptation. LIGHT FROM THE FUTURE ESSAYS ON PARSHAS BEHA’ALOSECHA Holidays Shavuos – Blintzes with Discipline Why do we eat dairy foods such as Blintzes on Shavuot? There are many answers to this question, but the following one provides us… Holidays Shavuos – Desert Storm Location, Location, Location History is replete with events of great significance. Of these, “Mattan Torah-The Giving of the… Holidays Shavuos – Echo-Less Shavuos is the anniversary of the most momentous occasion ever. On this day, over 3300 years ago, G-d revealed Himself to the… Holidays Shavuos – Honor Your Father and Mother Honor your father and mother, the fifth of the Ten Commandments (or, more precisely, the “Ten Statements”) appears in this week’s… Holidays Shavuos – Envy, Lust and Glory Torah is the greatest gift given to humankind. It was a hidden treasure that was finally revealed to the Jewish people at Mount… Holidays Shavuos – Immediately, If Not Sooner! The Holiday of Shavuos is first and foremost the anniversary of the day in which the Torah was given at Mount Sinai. Every Shavuos… Holidays Shavuos – Mazal Tov Bar Mitzvah MAZAL TOV BAR MITZVAH Shavuot is unfortunately a much ignored holiday, these days, partly because there are fewer rituals… Holidays Shavuos – Reverberation Shavuos is the anniversary of the most momentous occasion ever. On this day, over 3300 years ago, G-d revealed Himself to the… Holidays Shavuos – The Aleph of Judaism Shavuos is the anniversary of the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. At that time G-d uttered the Ten Commandments that represent… Holidays Shavuos – The Echo-Less Sound of Torah Ii Torah is unique because it is G-d’s only direct communication with every Jew. Nature, although G-d’s creation, can only pick up an echo of His original voice. Holidays Shavuos – The Embrace of Sinai Shavuos, the upcoming Jewish Holiday, the anniversary of the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, is arguably the most important… Holidays Shavuos – The Ultimate Audio Visual Experience EXPERIENCE For centuries, Judaism combined audio and visual instruments in its teaching of Judaism. From the time we received the… Holidays Shavuos – The Relentless Sinai Experience The upcoming holiday of Shavuos (of the year 5777-2017) marks the 3,329th anniversary of Mattan Torah-the Giving of the Torah at… Holidays Shavuos – Trees and Fruits and Moses Meets Moshiach MOSHIACH In many Jewish communities there is a custom to decorate the synagogues with branches and leaves of trees. One of the…