1310 essays
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Essays on the weekly Torah portion, the holidays and Jewish thought.
Parsha Ki Sisa – Ink on Moses’ Face When our words are only skin deep, they are black ink. When our words contain many layers of meaning, these words are sources of light. Parsha Ki Sisa – Intoxicated with Love Everyone is intoxicated about something. The challenge is to know what, where, when and how to imbibe. Parsha Ki Sisa – Moses the Lawyer We are all teachers and transmitters of knowledge. We must take responsibility for their failures as well as for their successes. Parsha Ki Sisa – New and Improved Breaking something for the purpose of restoration is preferable to building something that stands to be destroyed. Parsha Ki Sisa – Our Defense Strategy It is easier to get out of Galus/exile than to get the Galus out of us. Our request for Moshiach is to achieve even that. Parsha Ki Sisa – Pleasure from Teshuvah When it comes to doing a Mitzvah take a hint. When it comes to bringing the Geulah- Redemption we should err on the side of action. Parsha Ki Sisa – Repairing the Shattered Tablets Moses shattered the Tablets at the nadir of Jewish history. That is precisely the time and place with which G-d identifies. We can find G-d and joy even in our moments of shattered Tablets. It is that feeling of joy that will make them whole again. Parsha Ki Sisa – The Cure for Insanity Einstein said insanity is when you repeat the same action and expect different results. Torah says that insanity is when you expect results that differ from your inner Divine reality. Parsha Ki Sisa – The Golden Calf To be sure, humility is a virtue. Following G-d’s command, even if not done egoless, is the ultimate virtue. Parsha Ki Sisa – The Not So New and Improved Covenant G-d has given us three keys to unlock His love for us and our love for Him. They are Torah-Mitzvos, Teshuvah and Prayer Parsha Ki Sisa – This Is Not Only a Test It is axiomatic that G-d’s knows everything about us. Why then does he test us? He already knows the results. The test is help us actualize our latent qualities. Parsha Ki Sisa – Twin Compassion G-d’s compassion extends to allowing us to get credit for the good we do with His help. While it is G-d who will bring Moshiach, He gives us all the credit for every Mitzvah we do. Parsha Ki Sisa – Where Are the Shattered Tablets? The Rebbe of Kotzk said: “There is nothing more whole than a broken heart.” Our Rebbe taught that the goal is for broken hearts becoming whole again with the “true and complete Redemption.” Chassidus Ma’amar Basi L’Gani 5732 The Alter Rebbe once said that one must live with the times. Contrary to the way it sounds, the Alter Rebbe was not advocating following modern trends and changing with the times by adjusting our Judaism to the changing values and mores of society. In fact, the opposite is true.… Chassidus Ma’amar Basi L’Gani 5733 The Alter Rebbe once said that one must live with the times. Contrary to the way it sounds, the Alter Rebbe was not advocating following modern trends and changing with the times by adjusting our Judaism to the changing values and mores of society. In fact, the opposite is true.… Chassidus Ma’amar Basi L’Gani 5734 The Alter Rebbe once said that one must live with the times. Contrary to the way it sounds, the Alter Rebbe was not advocating following modern trends and changing with the times by adjusting our Judaism to the changing values and mores of society. In fact, the opposite is true.… Chassidus Ma’amar Basi L’Gani 5735 The Alter Rebbe once said that one must live with the times. Contrary to the way it sounds, the Alter Rebbe was not advocating following modern trends and changing with the times by adjusting our Judaism to the changing values and mores of society. In fact, the opposite is true.… Holidays Purim – Beauty Is in the Eyes of the Beholder Queen Esther, we all think, was a most beautiful woman and that that was the reason she was chosen by the Persian King… Holidays Purim – Fighting the Modern Hamans The Shabbos before Purim is known as Parshas Zachor, the Sabbath of Remembrance because during this Shabbos we read the selection… Holidays Purim – Building Bridges Whenever we find ourselves in an in-between period I cannot help but to reflect on our own “in between” place in history – in…