Posts by Yosef Farhi
THE STICKIEST SUBJECT
THE STICKIEST SUBJECT Parashat Shlach Avoiding gossip is the stickiest commandment to keep. The stickiest subjects of gossip are shidduchim, job and school interviews, and the like. In such cases, it is justified to relay negative information about a third party, to let them know what they are getting into. But not always. You cannot…
Read Full PostTRAVELS OF LIFE
TRAVELS OF LIFE Parashat Behaalotcha All traveling can be broken down to three components. Departure from point A. Arrival at point B. And the way of travel. The how – walking, driving, flying, etc. With whom – friend, stranger, family, etc. And with what – suitcase, comp., credit card, smart phone, teffillin, etc. There…
Read Full PostA JEW ON A UNICYCLE
A JEW ON A UNICYCLE PARASHAT NASO In Temple times, if a woman was accused of adultery by her husband and there were serious grounds for suspicion, she was given a choice: accept a divorce, or stand up to a strange test. The test, if she opted for it, required her to drink “bitter waters”…
Read Full PostTHE PURPOSE OF CREATION
THE PURPOSE OF CREATION Shavuot The atheist believes that the world happened on its own and has no purpose. He believes we are here to survive, to make the best of it. G-d believers, though, have a question to answer. What is the purpose of Creation? What is its meaning? There are a lot of…
Read Full PostCOUNTING ON YOU
COUNTING ON YOU Parashat Bamidbar Parashat Bamidbar begins with the census and the flags. The census was taken of male Jews from age twenty and up, of those eligible for the army. Two concepts are difficult to understand. If the Jews did not have any plans to go to war, what was the purpose of…
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