CHASING SPARKS
Click korah 2018 to download CHASING SPARKS Parashat Korah One of the greatest challenges for the spiritual Jew is that after we get inspired, we try to live according to our inspiration for a day or two, but then nothing changes. When bringing up children, when inspiring our students, we face the same dilemma. We get them…
Read Full PostTHE MITZVAH TO BE YOURSELF
Click shelach 2018 to download THE MITZVAH TO BE YOURSELF Parashat Shelach At least twice a day, we recite the words וְלֹֽא־תָת֜וּרוּ אַחֲרֵ֤י לְבַבְכֶם֙ וְאַחֲרֵ֣י עֵֽינֵיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּ֥ם זֹנִ֖ים אַחֲרֵיהֶֽם. And you shall not wander after your hearts and after your eyes, that you are straying after them. The Netziv brings to our attention a deeper meaning of…
Read Full PostHumble Power
Click Bhaalotcha 2018 to download HUMBLE POWER Parashat Bhaalotcha Here is the sequence of events discussed towards the end of our Parasha: The Jews complain to Moshe about their heaven-sent Mannah. They would rather have the natural produce from Egypt. They want meat. Moshe tells G-d, “Kill me now; just don’t punish Your people!… I can’t carry the…
Read Full PostOUT OF CONTROL
Click naso 2018 to download OUT OF CONTROL Why does the Torah put the Nazirite laws immediately after the laws of the Sotah? For if one sees a Sotah in her disgraceful state, he should become a Nazir from wine, so that he does not follow in her ways of immorality. (Berachot 63a, Nazir 2a) Wine, the…
Read Full PostBOOTLEG TORAH
Click Shavuoth 2018 to download BOOTLEG TORAH Shavuoth Enjoying Torah, making it sweet, is not just Torah with extra credit. Sweet Torah, Torah that is enjoyable, is the only Torah. If it is not sweet, if you do not enjoy it, it is not Torah; it is just a bootleg version of it. A bootleg recording is an audio…
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