by Mordechai Dixler | Aug 18, 2022 | Lifeline
The Sages of the Talmud (Brachos 33b) say “Everything is in the hands of Heaven, except fear of Heaven.” That is to say, that although it may appear we have control over our activities, the results and our success are actually beyond our control. However,...
by Mordechai Dixler | Aug 11, 2022 | Lifeline
The verses of the Shema begin with a commandment to “Serve G-d with all your heart. (Deut. 6:5)” The word for heart in the Hebrew text is written in a double manner—ordinarily, “with your whole heart” would be written as “Bchol...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Aug 5, 2022 | Lifeline
In this week’s Parsha, the first in the Book of Devarim, Deuteronomy, Moshe recounts before Israel the episode of the spies, in which one representative of each of the twelve tribes entered into Israel to spy it out, and they returned with an evil report (see...
by Mordechai Dixler | Jul 28, 2022 | Lifeline
The portion this week begins with the laws of vows. The great Chassidic master, Rabbi Tzadok HaCohen ztl, established the following rule of biblical interpretation: the first place a particular word is used in the Torah is the word’s essence, its foundation, and...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Jul 21, 2022 | Lifeline
In this week’s reading, G-d tells Moshe to ascend Mt. Avarim and look upon the Promised Land, which Moshe would not enter. Rather, he would soon pass away, as his brother Aharon had before him. Moshe immediately (and selflessly) calls upon HaShem to appoint a...
by Mordechai Dixler | Jul 15, 2022 | Lifeline
In Jewish tradition, one can pray for others in both formal and informal settings. Simply saying “Be well!” — or, as Mr. Spock put it, “Live long and prosper!” — is a prayer. Even the most common term used for greetings in Hebrew is...
