A Hack for the Heart
While reading an article with information for her research report, Ellen noticed the Facebook "Like" button alongside the webpage. It was now 9:15am and she hadn't checked Facebook since she woke up three hours earlier, so she wondered if anything was going on in her...
Eichah – How Did This Happen?
This Shabbos is Tisha B'Av, the Ninth of Av, the day of mourning for the destruction of both Holy Temples and tragedies throughout Jewish history. Because it is the Sabbath, the day of mourning begins Saturday night and is observed throughout Sunday. A woman of...
Whose Fight Is This?
When Moshe doesn't seem to be following G-d's instructions, you know something is going on beneath the surface. We find such a case in this week's reading, and a deeper look helps us understand the root cause of anti-Semitism itself. In Parshas Mattos, HaShem tells...
A Benchmark Jewish Leader
As Moshe approached his last days on earth, he asked G-d to designate his successor, to lead the Jewish people into the promised land of Israel, fight the wars of conquest, and settle the people in the land. G-d chose Moshe's loyal student, Yehoshua (Joshua). Yehoshua...
How Exciting!
Sammy was enjoying his drive through the Catskill mountains when his car began to overheat. He pulled off to the side of the road, next to a pasture with several grazing cows. He popped the hood, and smoke billowed from the engine as Sammy tried to figure out where...
Holy Heirarchy
At the beginning of our Torah portion this week, we learn that Korach took issue with the appointment of Moshe as the leader of the Jewish people, his brother Aharon as the High Priest, and Aharon's children as his successors. He said, "The entire congregation are...
Fishing in the Desert
The land of Israel was just over the horizon, the Promised Land of their forefathers. As they were about to enter the land, the Jewish People approached Moshe (Moses) and asked to first scout out the land to see if it was safe and viable, so that they could be...
Humble Lights
Velvel, a simple townsman, had the opportunity to visit the King a number of times for various communal affairs. Despite their obvious social and financial differences, Velvel and the King discovered they had much in common and became close friends. One day Velvel...
The Flavor That’s Forever
Mayer Amschel Rothschild of Frankfurt, Germany was the Eighteenth Century founder of the famed Rothschild dynasty. A guest in his home once inquired, with much chutzpah, “How much are you worth?†In reply, Rothschild took out a ledger with the word ‘Charity’...
If You Had Everything, Where Would You Put It?
With but one exception, each Jewish holiday has its own specific Mitzvos. Passover has many: eating Matzah, the Seder, and discarding all leavened bread products. Succos has sitting in the Sukkah, Lulav and Esrog. Rosh Hashanah has the blowing of the Shofar, and Yom...
What Difference Does it Make?
Children intuitively feel their parents' love... even when their parents are upset. Children may not like the experience of being reprimanded, losing a privilege or being sent to their rooms, but they still know whether they are loved. This week we read the section of...
Live a Life of Liberty
Inscribed on the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia is a verse from this week’s Torah Portion, Lev. 25:10. "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all inhabitants thereof." This verse is about the Jubilee year, the 50th year on the Jewish calendar when indentured...
