This week’s Torah portion, Toldos, opens with Isaac and Rebecca praying for a child. In time, Rebecca conceives and, after a difficult pregnancy, gives birth to twin boys–Esau and Jacob. While the two boys seem similar as children, they begin to take different paths at age 13. Esau enjoys hunting, while Jacob loves studying Torah. […]
At the beginning of Parshat Vayera, we are told that Abraham, convalescing just three days after his circumcision, is in great pain. He is paid a “visit” by G-d. Shortly thereafter, three people pass by his tent and Abraham invites them in for a meal. Abraham initially tells them that he will give them bread […]
Parshas Lech Lecha opens as G-d tells Abraham to leave Charan, his homeland, and travel to the land of Canaan (the future land of Israel) where he will establish the Jewish people. Abraham, his wife Sarah and his nephew Lot, travel to Israel. Upon arriving there they encounter a terrible famine and find temporary refuge […]
Parshas Noach opens with the story of The Flood. The people who lived during Noah’s generation led immoral and deeply corrupt lives. They engaged in all kinds of illicit behavior. They stole mercilessly from one another. They stooped so low as to engage in theft petty enough not even to be worth taking to court! […]
This week we begin the yearly Torah-reading cycle anew with Bereishis (Genesis), the first of the five books that comprise the Torah. The Torah portion starts with the beginning of time, when G-d created the world in six days. He rested on the seventh day, which we remember by resting on the seventh day of […]
Imagine that your boss offers you an ideal opportunity. To burnish your skills and knowledge in your field, he offers to provide you with an all-expenses paid sabbatical to study under the undisputed leader/innovator in your field. To maximize the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, he’s undertaken to provide you with all your needs so you can apply […]
The concept of reward and punishment is part and parcel of life. From the moment we’re old enough to understand it, we’re faced with choices. If we listen to our parents and teachers and cooperate with our bosses we’ll be rewarded in some appropriate manner; if not, we’ll have to face the music. This motivation […]
The recent tragic events in Boston have left Americans with a myriad of feelings, thoughts and emotions. There was the initial shock of a terrorist attack on American soil, in a city saturated with American history and culture, and at an event that brings out the best in so many people. Then there was anger! […]
When we buy a new home or property, we are excited to own a new piece of land. “It is ours!” we exclaim. Owning real estate offers a certain degree of security; there is always something tangible to rely upon in times of financial difficulty. Or is there? The economic climate and natural disasters of […]
This week’s Torah portion, Acharei Mos-Kedoshim, states one of the most famous commandments in the Torah “Love your friend as much as you would love yourself.” The Talmud (Shabbos 31a) relates a fascinating incident about this commandment: A non-Jew approached Shammai, one of the great Talmudic sages with an unusual request: “I would like to […]