“You shall command the children of Israel that they should take for you clear olive oil, crushed for illumination, to keep the lamp burning continually” (Exodus 27:20). According to the Oral Torah, only the best, first drop of oil that was pressed from each olive could be used for lighting… Read More »EXODUS 27:20 – TAKE CLEAR OLIVE OIL
בס”ד I agree with the heretics. The god they hate so much does not exist: a god who looks through the clouds at a world he once made, and plays with it from the heavens, like a child plays in the sand…Such a god is just another plaything of Man.… Read More »HERESY
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 TERUMAH 5784 – CREATING SPACE FOR G-D
בס”ד Imagine a world where justice and ethics go hand in hand, where non-Jews from all backgrounds resolve conflicts and foster peace based on the Seven Noahide Commandments. In such a world, there is room and an obligation for a unique concept: the idea of governments appointing Noahide judges, also… Read More »WHO IS AUTHORIZED TO ORDAIN NOAHIDE JUDGES?
בס”ד By creating the entire universe, G-d made forces that reveal Him and forces that oppose Him: He made light and darkness. Whoever does good brings more light. Whoever fails, feeds the darkness.But whoever fails and then returns, transcends that scheme. He reaches directly to G-d’s Essence. Beyond darkness and… Read More »RETURNING LIGHT
“You shall command the children of Israel that they should take for you clear olive oil, crushed for illumination, to keep the lamp burning continually” (Exodus 27:20). The Midrash teaches: When someone wants to make a window, he makes it wide from within and narrow from without. Why? So that… Read More »EXODUS 27:20 – CRUSH THE OLIVE
Rabbi Nachman teaches, When a person discusses devotion with a friend, it creates “direct light” and “returning light” . Sometimes the “returning light” comes before the “direct light” , as when the recipient has certain mental limits that prevent him from accepting his friend’s words. Even before the recipient receives… Read More »“DIRECT LIGT” AND ” RETURNING LIGHT”
Trumah (Exodus 25:1-27:19 ) This week’s Torah portion outlines the building of the Tabernacle (Mishkan), a holy Sanctuary where G-d’s presence dwelled. Rashi describes the Tabernacle as a “House of Holiness1.” It is well-known that the Tabernacle and later, the Temple, was the place where people came to offer Sacrifices, yet it… Read More »PARSHAT TRUMAH – PRAYING IN HOLY PLACES
בס”ד Just as some people refuse to see their flaws, there are those who insist on digging too deep, chasing themselves for every mistake and making unreasonable demands on their lives. They eventually collapse in exhaustion or, worse, rebel with resentment.That’s why no one should be alone. Everyone needs a… Read More »THE MENTOR
Rabbi Nachman teaches, People should make it their business to talk to others about the purpose of life. For “He did not create (the world) to be desolate, He formed it to be inhabited” (Isaiah 45:18) . We all have an obligation to try to make this world a civilized… Read More »TALK ABOUT THE PURPOSE OF LIFE
