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Essays on the weekly Torah portion, the holidays and Jewish thought.
Parsha Acharei-Kedoshim – Paradoxes of Judaism Judaism is replete with Paradoxes. Seven of its paradoxes are represented by the seven double Torah portions. ACHAREI-KEDOSHIM ACHAREI-KEDOSHIM Parsha Acharei-Kedoshim – Reach for the Stars with Your Feet on the Ground Motivated by our selfish spiritual interests, spirituality and materiality are irreconcilable opposites. Motivated by G-d’s interests they are not only compatible; they complement each other. ACHAREI-KEDOSHIM ACHAREI-KEDOSHIM Parsha Acharei-Kedoshim – Respect Your Parents and Be Holy Respecting parents is the equivalent of respecting G-d, their partner in our creation. Respecting the Shabbos is the equivalent of respecting G-d even as we indulge in the physical pleasures of life. ACHAREI-KEDOSHIM ACHAREI-KEDOSHIM Parsha Acharei-Kedoshim – Responsible, Sweet and Intermingled We are commanded to rebuke our fellow. Yet we must not cause sue division amongst ourselves. Successful rebuking requires love and empathy. ACHAREI-KEDOSHIM ACHAREI-KEDOSHIM Parsha Acharei-Kedoshim – Revenge Is Not Very Sweet The key to healing our divisions is to defuse conflicts. ACHAREI-KEDOSHIM ACHAREI-KEDOSHIM Parsha Acharei-Kedoshim – Stand Up for Us Honest introspection demands that we don’t overlook our flaws. Honest introspection also demands that we don’t overlook our qualities and virtues. If this is true for every individual it is certainly true for our people as a whole. ACHAREI-KEDOSHIM ACHAREI-KEDOSHIM Parsha Acharei-Kedoshim – Temporary Denial Asceticism has its place in Jewish thought and life. However, denial of the physical is at best a preparation for the time when we will “have our cake and eat it too” in the most holy fashion. ACHAREI-KEDOSHIM ACHAREI-KEDOSHIM Parsha Acharei-Kedoshim – The End of Deception Exile is a deception and it robs us of our soul’s nutrition. Anyone with a shred of integrity cannot tolerate staying in exile and with heartfelt passion pleads and indeed demands the Redemption. ACHAREI-KEDOSHIM ACHAREI-KEDOSHIM Parsha Acharei-Kedoshim – The Great Principle Love and Unity are the catalysts that bring us to the Final Redemption ACHAREI-KEDOSHIM ACHAREI-KEDOSHIM Parsha Acharei-Kedoshim – The “I Love My Fellow” Virus The most difficult negative trait is envy. The antidote to envy is loving our fellow as ourselves, the “Great Principle of Torah. ACHAREI-KEDOSHIM ACHAREI-KEDOSHIM Parsha Acharei-Kedoshim – The Yom Kippur Lottery While nothing in life is arbitrary there are things that defy logic. Yom Kippur introduces us to that higher dynamic, which enables us to change. ACHAREI-KEDOSHIM ACHAREI-KEDOSHIM Parsha Acharei-Kedoshim – Theft in the Singular and in the Plural Moral decisions have to involve the realization of what our actions cause collectively and individually. ACHAREI-KEDOSHIM ACHAREI-KEDOSHIM Parsha Acharei-Kedoshim – Unity and Separation The ultimate goal is not unity but unity within diversity. ACHAREI-KEDOSHIM ACHAREI-KEDOSHIM Parsha ACHAREI-KEDOSHIM – VIVE LA DIFFÉRENCE All of the different classes of non-Jew, Jew, Kohain, Levi, Yisroel will remain in the Messianic Age even as we will experience the greatest feeling of unity ACHAREI-KEDOSHIM ACHAREI-KEDOSHIM Parsha Acharei-Kedoshim – Which Way Shall We Go? Why is there so much juvenile crime and violence now? The answer lies in the exposing of powerful youthful energy before Moshiach. Parents and teachers have the responsibility to steer this energy in the right direction. They should not ignore it or suppress it. ACHAREI-KEDOSHIM ACHAREI-KEDOSHIM Chassidus Ma’amar Arba’ah Rosh Hashanim Heim 5731 There are four [days of] Rosh Hashanah: The first of Nissan is the Rosh Hashanah for kings and festivals; the first of Elul is the Rosh Hashanah…; the first of Tishrei is the Rosh Hashanah for years… for saplings and greens; the first of Shevat is the Rosh Hashanah for trees in… Chassidus Ma’amar Az Yashir 5730 With praise to the A-lmighty, I am presenting a translation of one of the Rebbe’s Chassidic discourses, as I enter my 70th year on the 13th of Shevat, and in honor of the birthdays of several of my children and grandchildren occurring at this time of the year. Parsha Tazria-Metzora – A Tale of Two Birds There has always been tension between the forces of unity and the forces of separation. Unity with some separation is anarchy. Separation without unity is war. Judaism asserts the need for both. These complementary forces will be fused together through Moshiach. METZORA METZORA Parsha Tazria-Metzora – Animals Before Humans? One of Judaism’s paradoxes is to be happy with every bit of progress yet never be satisfied with even colossal achievements. METZORA METZORA Parsha Tazria-Metzora – Are You Truly Poor? Before claiming poverty we should reflect on the true nature of wealth and how we are so blessed. METZORA METZORA