Restoring and Spreading the Light
Chanukah is one of only two celebrations added to the Jewish calendar by the Rabbis, the other, of course, being Purim. Rabbi Yosef Karo points out that unlike Purim, which has an obligation for a celebratory meal and rejoicing, Chanukah is about singing praises and...
At the Darkest Moments
When Yosef's brothers see a caravan of Arab merchants coming towards them on its way to Egypt, Yehudah suggests that they sell him -- because as Reuven had asked, they did not kill him, leaving him instead in a dangerous pit. The convoy itself is identified in the...
Kindle the Empathy
One Friday, Daniel Goleman, renowned psychologist and Best Selling author of Emotional Intelligence, was going down to the subway during rush hour. Suddenly, he noticed a shirtless man curled up on the side of the staircase, not moving. Hundreds of people were just...
Recognizing Your Worth
In this week's reading, Yaakov works for his father-in-law, Lavan, for fourteen years, in return for the privilege of marrying Lavan's two daughters. Then he goes to Lavan and says, I have a family to feed as well, so I need to make some money for myself also. And in...
Same Old, Same Old
Isaac and Rebecca prayed intensely for children, after many years of barrenness. Each would stand in a corner of the room pleading to their Father in Heaven for the blessing of children. "G-d accepted his prayer, and Rebecca his wife conceived (Gen. 25:21)" Why was...
The Value of Money
In this week's Torah reading, Avraham sends Eliezer back to his family in Haran, to find a wife for his son Yitzchak. Eliezer prayed, describing the person he was looking for very simply: when I ask her to bring down her pitcher for me to drink, she will respond that...
