Rabbi Nachman teaches, With happiness you can give another person life! There are people who suffer terrible pain but cannot express what is in their heart. They would like to speak about their suffering but they have no- one to whom they can explain what is really in their heart.… Read More »WITH HAPPINESS YOU CAN GIVE LIFE!
“Speak to the Children of Israel and let them turn back and encamp before Pi-hachiros” (Exodus 14:2). Take a deep breath and follow along as R’ Avraham Yehoshua of Apt shows us how this verse hints at a vital life lesson: “Let them turn back and encamp” in Hebrew is… Read More »EXODUS 14:2 – SIT AND PAUSE
Yitro (Exodus 18-20 ) Shemot, 18:27: “And Moshe sent his father-in-law [Yisro] and he went to his land.”Rashi, Shemot, 18:27, Dh: And he went: “To convert his family.” In the Torah Portion named after him, Yitro, Moshe’s father-in-law, visits the Jewish people in the desert and, convinced by the miracles of the Exodus, joins the… Read More »PARSHAT YITRO – TEACHING TORAH EVERYWHERE
בס”ד Develop yourself to the best of your ability In the Netherlands, we have a proverb that goes, “The best helmsmen are ashore.” This is often used when people who are outside a situation offer criticism and commentary. For example, spectators at a football match always seem to know better… Read More »NAVIGATING LIFE’S SEAS; INSIGHTS FROM ‘THE BEST HELMSMEN ASHORE’
I was once asked why G-d would allow people to grow up believing untruths about Him. Some people discover later in life that they’ve been on a wrong path and feel tremendous bitterness towards G-d. Here’s my response: I’m never comfortable trying to explain the ways of the Almighty, because… Read More »HOW COULD G-D?
בס”ד PARSHAT Yitro 5784 Lessons from Yitro and the Struggle with Amalek Jethro priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard all that God had done for Moses and for Israel, God’s people, how יהוה had brought Israel out from Egypt. וַיִּשְׁמַ֞ע יִתְר֨וֹ כֹהֵ֤ן מִדְיָן֙ חֹתֵ֣ן מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֵת֩ כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֤ה אֱלֹהִים֙… Read More »PARSHAT YITRO – TRUSTING IN G-D BEYOND HUMAN LOGIC
Each person is due honor and respect just by virtue of being human. Those you love and don’t love, those who wish you well and those who stand opposed to you, each (including yourself) is worthy of honor, embodying a divine soul made in the image and likeness of G-d.… Read More »EACH PERSON IS DUE HONOR AND RESPECT
Torah Reflections: Conversations on the Weekly Parshah בס”ד Integrating Torah into one’s life through reflection and conversation can be an incredibly fun and engaging experience. It’s a journey of discovery, where ancient wisdom and timeless teachings come to life in our daily experiences. Through reflection, we have the opportunity to… Read More »PARSHAT BESHALACH 5784: CONNECTING THROUGH GOOD PEOPLE
After Jacob is reunited with Esau, against all odds they hug, kiss, and weep together as brothers should, so why did Jacob bow down 7 times to Esau, a complete rasha-criminal representing ra-evil? After having defeated Esau’s angel, Jacob knew that he could overpower Esau. What is the number 7… Read More »WHY DID JACOB BOW 7 TIMES TO ESAU
Beshalach (Exodus 13:17-17:16 ) Shemos, 13:18: “The children of Israel were ‘chamushim’ when they went up from Egypt.”Rashi, 13:18, Dh: Chamushim: Chamushim means that one in five left and four parts [out of five] died in the three days of darkness:Targum Yonasan, ibid: “…Each one of the Children of Israel came with five children when they left… Read More »PARSHAT BESHALACH – THE GOOD DEED OF THE JEWS LEAVING MITZRAYIM
