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…

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TRAVELS 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…

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COUNTING 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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80/ 20

80/ 20 Parashat Bamidbar  The book  of Bamidbar is referred to as the Book of Numbers, because that is how it begins: taking the census of the Jewish people in the desert from the age 20 and up, the age from which males were eligible for the army. Each tribe was counted separately –  from…

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TIGHTROPING BETWEEN HUMBLENESS AND HAUGHTINESS

TIGHTROPING BETWEEN HUMBLENESS AND HAUGHTINESS Parashat Behukotay   In Pirkei Avot, we are taught to be very, very humble (4, 4). Generally speaking, the golden rule that our Sages suggest is in the middle of two extremes. Not too flamboyant and not too sparing. Not too courageous and not too cowardly. (Rambam Deot 1; 4)…

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