A Spark of the Divine
While the Jewish nation began with such illustrious figures as the Patriarchs and the Matriarchs, the Jews in Egypt began a spiritual descent after the passing of Jacob's children. In the beginning of this week's Torah Portion, G-d instructs Moses to approach the Jews...
Our Scarcest Resource
When I login each morning, I get a pop-up with news (or purported news) stories. So when I sat down to do my work, I was offered the opportunity to read "10 reasons why I don't want an iPad" for the holidays. I am very involved with high tech, of course, and don't own...
Chai Anniversary II
In this week's reading, our Patriarch Yaakov blesses his children. He is also the first to adopt a child, as it were: "Ephraim and Menashe, like Reuven and Shimon will be mine" [48:5] -- Yoseph's two eldest children were then counted as Tribes of Israel. Extending the...
“Chai” Anniversary of Emailed Torah
When Joseph reunites with his father after their long separation, the Torah describes their encounter by saying, "He appeared before him, fell on his neck, and he wept on his neck excessively." The expression "he appeared before him" (V'Yaira Ailav) is curious, for we...
Single Light That Brightens the World
In the news this week, Japanese researchers have invented a tiny kinetic generator, about the size of a pencil tip, that generates 20 times more power than anything else that size. Powered by vibrations, it could lead to cellphones and similar pocket-sized devices...
Give Evil a Reason to Celebrate!
Our world is one of many challenges -- of that, there is no doubt. Interpersonal conflict, the temptation to be dishonest or to act improperly, physical threats to one's well being -- the challenges abound! To well-meaning people who seek to help others and live...
