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Essays on the weekly Torah portion, the holidays and Jewish thought.
Parsha Voeschanan – No More Jealousy A human being is both a social creature and a lover of privacy. Our challenge is to know how to balance these two opposite traits of creating wall of separation and doors to get through the barrier Parsha Voeschanan – Moses’ Prayer Answered There are two leadership models we should emulate. The first is focused on the people of his time. The other is focused on the future as well. Parsha Voeschanan – Post Tisha B’av Therapy The worst part of alienation is that we become alienated from the realization that we are alienated. Parsha Voeschanan – Psalm 83 I'd like to share a snippet of a recent news item sent to me by a reader of our weekly essays that has particular relevance to… Parsha Voeschanan – The Echo-Less Sound of Torah 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. Parsha Voeschanan – Shema Meditation Judaism’s most important affirmation sounds deceptively simple. There is one G-d. The Shema is just as much an affirmation of the uniqueness of the Jewish people. In truth, the two affirmations are intertwined. Parsha Voeschanan – The First Commandment The first commandment is G-d’s declaration to all individuals: “I am your very life. And I will ultimately make that reality manifestly clear to the entire world: Parsha Voeschanan – Thirteen from One Judaism is obsessed with G-d’s unity. Yet there are 13 Principles of Faith. In truth, all of these 13 emerge from one principle. Parsha Voeschanan – Three Prayers in One Prayer for a benefit is laudable. Prayer for self-expression is both soothing and exhilarating Prayer to converse with G-d is the most ideal form of prayer and breaks through all barriers! Parsha Yisro – A Stranger in a Foreign Land Torah is the one stop source for all the knowledge we need. While we can learn valuable lessons from “foreign” sources, the ideal is to get them straight from Torah. PARSHAS YISRO PARSHAS YISRO Parsha Yisro – A Direct Line There are two ways to connect to G-d; direct and indirect. The converts approach is direct PARSHAS YISRO PARSHAS YISRO Parsha Yisro – Climb the Mountain! A person must know their limits. Many a mountain climber has lost their balance because they did not now their limits. One must not then think that knowing our limits is a perpetual red light. It is only a pause to be followed by scaling much greater heights. PARSHAS YISRO PARSHAS YISRO Parsha Yisro – Delegate, but Don’t Adulterate Moses was the consummate lover of Israel. Moses wanted to personally give them an unadulterated version of Torah. Yisro recognized that G-d empowers each of us to deliver an authentic message. PARSHAS YISRO PARSHAS YISRO Parsha Yisro – Earth Shattering News What’s worse than the commission of a crime? When the person involves others in its performance. Especially, if the other is G-d. PARSHAS YISRO PARSHAS YISRO Parsha Yisro – High and Low The higher we climb the greater the pressure to go down. Don’t let success deter you from continuing to climb and weather the winds that try to force you down. PARSHAS YISRO PARSHAS YISRO Parsha Yisro – Honor Your Parents: The Bridge Parents are G=d’s way of teaching us respect for higher authority. Two parents teach us that G-d relates to us in two distinct ways. PARSHAS YISRO PARSHAS YISRO Parsha Yisro – Judaism 101 The Ten Commandments are really Ten Statements, which provide us with a basic introduction to Judaism. PARSHAS YISRO PARSHAS YISRO Parsha Yisro – Judicial Reform Contrary to a popular myth, we are always judging others. The way we judge should be determined by objective criteria. Some matters require judgment by our internal spark of Moses. PARSHAS YISRO PARSHAS YISRO Parsha Yisro – Kidnapped Destroying a person’s potential is a form of murder. Diverting one’s G-d given talent away from serving Him is a form of kidnapping. PARSHAS YISRO PARSHAS YISRO Parsha Yisro – Live It! Inspiration is a terrible thing to waste. When it comes, we must harness it to actions without delay, otherwise it will dissipate. PARSHAS YISRO PARSHAS YISRO