Thinkingaboutme.org

9 years of Parasha articles. 

DON'T BE A WHY'S GUY

By Yosef Farhi | Jan 13, 2015

DON’T BE A WHY’S GUY Parashat Vaera I recall   one of my father’s great lessons to my family as we grew up.   ! למה? ככה   Why? Because! In coaching we were taught the power of a question. The greater the questions one asks, the greater the person. The less intelligent the questions one asks, the less…

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PSYCHO-ARCHEOLOGY

By Yosef Farhi | Jan 8, 2015

PSYCHO-ARCHAEOLOGY Parashat Shemot There is a quote from Menachem Medel from Kotsk: “I do not want followers who are righteous; rather, I want followers who are so busy doing good that they don’t have time to do bad.” Some problems in life don’t have solutions. Some tendencies can’t be uprooted. Call it Habit. Call it…

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THE JEWISH GHETTOS

By Yosef Farhi | Dec 30, 2014

THE JEWISH GHETTOS Parashat Vayechi It takes 10 hours by plane to get to Eretz Yisrael from America. But once you are here in Eretz Yisrael, it takes 10 years to get America out of you. To get into the zone of “spirituality over luxury”. Yehudah took Yosef out of the pit and sold him…

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PAIN IN THE NECK

By Yosef Farhi | Dec 24, 2014

    PAIN IN THE NECK Parashat Vayigash When  the goblet of Yosef was found in Binyamin’s bag, all the brothers of the Tribe started to hit Binyamin on his neck saying, “Thief! Son of a thief! Just as your mother stole the idols from her father Lavan’s house, you, too, followed in her footsteps and stole…

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THE BELIEF OF A DEAD MAN

By Yosef Farhi | Dec 17, 2014

   THE  BELIEF OF A DEAD MAN Parashat Miketz Beliefs are powerful. A fellow walked into the office of the psychiatrist, looking healthy, successful, but concerned. After an hour of therapy, the psychologist could not figure out what was bothering the person. “What is it that you are concerned about?” “Dr., it is strange, but I…

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THANKS IN THE DARK

By Yosef Farhi | Dec 10, 2014

  THANKS IN THE DARK Parashat Vayeshev – Hanukkah   The main theme on Hanukah is not the lighting of the candles. That is the Mitzvah, but not the theme. The theme is להודות ולהלל , to thank and praise G-d. We recite the full Hallel during Hanukah. But, why is Hanukah a time to be…

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LOSING CHESS

By Yosef Farhi | Dec 3, 2014

  LOSING CHESS Parashat Vayishlach In Sipurim Mehachaim (and Anashim Mesaprim Al Atzmam 6) Chaim Walder tells an amazing story. By shortening it, I am doing it a great injustice. Forgive me. Miriam was an 8 year old girl, an only child, who lived in Poland. Her father owned a factory, and she lived in a…

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ABSOLUTE PARENTING

By Yosef Farhi | Nov 20, 2014

ABSOLUTE PARENTING Parashat Toldot Yitzhak was criticized by the sages for not rebuking Eisav enough. The Midrash tells about some other “parenting mistakes”. Avraham did not rebuke Yishmael enough, and King David did not admonish Avshalom, or Adoniah, and that is why they became who they became. On the other hand, Avraham reproved Yitzhak, and…

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SARAH'S RECIPES FOR SUCCESS

By Yosef Farhi | Nov 13, 2014

SARAH’S RECIPES FOR SUCCESS Parashat Chaye Sarah State  of mind is probably the most crucial element for peak performance in all life areas. In business, playing sports, and wherever else performance makes a difference, state of mind can be “the make it or break it” factor. Especially in serving G-d, state of mind is a…

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HOW TO PUT ON YOUR THINKING CAPS

By Yosef Farhi | Nov 6, 2014

HOW TO PUT ON YOUR THINKING CAPS Parashat Vayera What  did you do when your teacher or Rabbi asked you, in grade school, to “put on your thinking caps?” What does a thinking cap look like, anyway? After reading this, you will know the dimensions of the thinking cap and will be familiar with its…

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KING OF THE CLASS

By Yosef Farhi | Oct 30, 2014

KING OF THE CLASS Parashat Lech Lecha According to Chassidut, the weeks of these Parashiot are weeks when we can ask ourselves the age old question, When will my actions reach the actions of my Forefathers. There is a special Hashpa’a during these weeks, when we can connect ourselves to Avraham Avinu, to his Emunah,…

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THE SECRET INGREDIENT TO TRULY FORGIVE

By Yosef Farhi | Oct 2, 2014

THE SECRET INGREDIENT TO TRULY FORGIVE Yom Kippur On  our way back from Tashlich, a yeshiva student approached me with a touchy subject. I asked him if he believes in this Tashlich thing, that you can get rid of sin, do Teshuvah and become a new person. He said he did not believe that G-d…

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ROSH HASHANA SURVIVAL KIT

By Yosef Farhi | Sep 18, 2014

ROSH HASHANA SURVIVAL KIT My 8 year old daughter came back from school and brought home a beautiful concept.  Her Morah, her teacher, was displaying the Shofar to the class, showing them its shape, its colors. One end is thin, while the other end is wide. My daughter raised her hand from the back of…

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THE ELUL THAT VIBRATED IN MY POCKET

By Yosef Farhi | Sep 11, 2014

THE ELUL THAT VIBRATED IN MY POCKET Parashat Ki Tavo   Last week my phone vibrated, and that phone call shook me up to the core. ” Hi. Rabbi Farhi, I need your help. This year’s Elul is all over the place. I am just too busy, lately, helping out at home, and it is…

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TZEDDAKAH! TZEDAKKAH!

By Yosef Farhi | Sep 4, 2014

 TZEDDAKAH! TZEDAKKAH! Parashat Ki Tetzeh  Tzedaka is difficult to give, only if you believe that the money you earned was earned by your hard work alone, and not given to you by G-d. Tzeddaka is one of the greatest tests on your core beliefs, measuring how much you believe that G-d is in your life…

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YOSSELE THE THIEF

By Yosef Farhi | Aug 28, 2014

YOSSELE THE THIEF Parashat Shoftim There is an amazing story I told my young daughters at bedtime last week. The Baal Shem Tov, the Father of Chassidut, was a man of miracles. He saw into the future, and through walls. A very holy man. He had a student, Yossele. Yossele, would learn and pray with…

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ELUL – TIME FOR A CHANGE

By Yosef Farhi | Aug 28, 2014

ELUL – TIME FOR A CHANGE Parashat Reeh I apologize, but I can’t make my point without first troubling you.  Fold your arms. Now, open them. Now, fold them again. Now, notice which arm you “naturally” put on top of the other. Is it right on top of left or left on top of right? Now,…

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RICH FRIEND/ POOR FRIEND

By Yosef Farhi | Aug 14, 2014

RICH FRIEND/ POOR FRIEND PARASHAT EKEV I coach two friends. A rich friend, and a poor friend. In the process of coaching the two, I stumbled on a great book, Rich Dad / Poor Dad, that teaches the difference between the beliefs and behaviors of the rich and poor. In the book, the terms Rich…

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THE SANDWICH BAG THIEF

By Yosef Farhi | Aug 14, 2014

THE SANDWICH BAG THIEF Parashat Ekev The businessman’s faith in G-d is constantly being tested. How much do you believe that G-d is in charge of your success, no less than you are? Your faith-o-meter, so to speak, goes up and down, according to a couple of factors. Time. How much of a workaholic are…

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MY D-O-G LOVES ME

By Yosef Farhi | Jul 26, 2014

MY D-O-G LOVES ME While writing this article, I went out for a stroll to get some fresh air. There is nothing like the summer  night air of Jerusalem. Approaching me was a man with his dog. He wore a tee shirt that said, “No one understands me better than my dog.” How sad. It…

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JUST ONE MORE PRAYER

By Yosef Farhi | Jul 26, 2014

JUST ONE MORE PRAYER  A central theme  of our daily prayers is the Final Redemption. Eight Berachot, three times a day, revolve around this subject. Reeh Nah, Teka B’shofar, Hashiva Shoftenu, Laminim Valamalshinim, Al Hatzadikim, Tishkon Betoch, Et Tzemach and Retzeh. We implore G-d for mercy on Jerusalem each time we have a sandwich or…

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ELIJA -PROPHET OF THE BRIT

By Yosef Farhi | Jul 9, 2014

ELIJA -PROPHET OF THE BRIT   Parashat Pinhas  It is common for a Rabbi to find himself tight-roping a fine line. Standing up for what’s important, without stepping on people’s toes. Values and principles are no less important than people’s feelings, causing somewhat of a paradox. Sometimes, the job of the Rabbi is to put…

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POWER OF THE OPTIMISTIC EYE

By Yosef Farhi | Jul 2, 2014

   POWER OF THE OPTIMISTIC EYE Parashat Balak Why is thinking positive so important? Because negative thinking can destroy. Bilaam, the wicked sorcerer, was hired by the nations of the world to put an end to the Jews. His power was nothing more than the power to curse. Bilaam, the most negative person on earth,…

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WHEN G-D KNOCKS

By Yosef Farhi | Jun 25, 2014

WHEN G-D KNOCKS Parashat Hukat Opportunities knock gently on our doors. If we are not listening closely, we don’t take advantage of the opportunity, and it slips away. Temptations in life don’t knock. They lean on the doorbell and are hard to ignore. People who succeed in life are good at noticing the gentle knocking…

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G-D’S CALCULATOR

By Yosef Farhi | Jun 19, 2014

 G-D’S CALCULATOR Parashat Korah   Korah and his followers filed a complaint against Moshe and Aharon. “The whole nation is holy, and why should you be raised, self-importantly, from amongst G-d’s community?” Korah wanted to be just as holy as Moshe and Aharon. Despite Korah’s high position, Korah wanted the highest level of holiness; being…

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THE GOOD WIFE

By Yosef Farhi | Jun 19, 2014

THE GOOD WIFE Parashat Korah The beginning   of this week’s parasha lists the people that Korach convinced to join his battle against Moshe.  Datan, Aviram and On Ben Pelet. Our rabbis point out that On B.P. was not mentioned in the pesukim amongst those who were punished along with Korach. The Talmud in Sanhedrin tells…

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THE CHILD I PRAYED FOR

By Yosef Farhi | Jun 11, 2014

THE CHILD I PRAYED FOR Parashat Shlach  Josh,  a yeshiva student I was coaching, whose parents gotten divorced, feared getting married and staying married. The high rate of divorce of children whose parents got divorced frightened him. Throughout the coaching process, he made a graph of percentages, to depict the chance he had for entering…

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THE STICKIEST SUBJECT

By Yosef Farhi | Jun 11, 2014

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

By Yosef Farhi | Jun 6, 2014

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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A JEW ON A UNICYCLE

By Yosef Farhi | May 27, 2014

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”…

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THE PURPOSE OF CREATION

By Yosef Farhi | May 27, 2014

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…

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COUNTING ON YOU

By Yosef Farhi | May 20, 2014

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

By Yosef Farhi | May 20, 2014

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

By Yosef Farhi | May 13, 2014

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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AN AWESOME THOUGHT

By Yosef Farhi | May 7, 2014

AN AWESOME THOUGHT Parashat Behar  R’ Akiva   would say, Beloved is Man, for he is created in the Image of G-d.(Avot Ch. 3) What does this mean? G-d is infinite. Immortal. Immeasurable. The First and the Last. Was, Is and Will Be. He is in the Past, Present and Future, simultaneously. He is not limited…

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