Hi, Here’s why there will be no Torah Minute tomorrow.  The ninth day of Av. The saddest day in the Jewish calendar. It may surprise you. …It’s because we’re not supposed to study Torah! Doesn’t sound very Jewish? It’s very Jewish! Because tomorrow is a day of mourning. We remember the destruction of Jerusalem and […]

Hi, It’s almost time for another wedding. Jacob is about to meet Rachel! But first, a small story with a big lesson. … Jacob comes to a well.  And sees a group of shepherds.  (Genesis, 29:1-8) And says to them, “My brothers, where are you from?” He wanted to know if they knew his mother’s […]

Hi, The minutes add up.  We’re about halfway through the Book of Genesis! And we’re starting a new Torah portion.   (Genesis, 28:10) Jacob leaves the home of his parents Isaac and Rebecca and travels to Rebecca’s family. In search of a wife. … Jacob lies down at night to sleep. And he has a dream.  […]

Hi, I had to share this one with you! We’ve spoken about the need to focus on chessed.  Acts of kindness. Especially between spouses. But be careful! Read this first. … One day, this fellow decides enough is enough. He hasn’t been the kind of husband he should be. But from now on it’s going […]

Hope you had a great holiday. …Sarah. Abraham’s wife. The first matriarch of the Jewish People. She passes away in the city of Hebron. (Genesis, 23) … Sometimes we say about someone, “They will live on…” And special people are remembered for generations. But then there’s someone like Sarah. Who achieves what very few others […]

Hi, Hope you’re having a great day! As we saw yesterday, Abraham was given a promise. He’ll become a great nation that will change the world. G-d even promises the Land of Israel to Abraham’s children. Sounds like a great plan! There’s only one problem. Abraham and Sarah are old. And how many children do […]

Hope you’re having a great day. And that today’s lesson won’t apply to you personally! .. The Talmud warns us to never enter a home unannounced. Even our own. And even the room of a child. Especially a teenager! It’s not derech eretz. Not proper etiquette. A person may be startled, caught off guard. Not […]

Hope you’re having a great day. Here’s something that may get lost in the “Adam and Eve” story. … Clothing. Not something we get very philosophical about. When we get dressed in the morning, it’s much too early for deep thinking! But in Judaism, clothing is very significant.  Has a spiritual purpose. How do we […]

Hope you’re having a great day. As we saw yesterday, G-d created Eve.  And we had our first couple. But G-d didn’t just create Eve. He brought her to Adam! (2:22) And it’s not like they wouldn’t have found each other. There weren’t a whole lot of eligible singles around! It’s a very powerful image. […]

Hope you’re having a great day! Here’s a little quiz. What’s the first thing G-d says to Adam, the first human being? And no peeking! Many people would say, “I know that one!” “Don’t eat the apple.”  (Actually, since Jewish tradition does not identify the forbidden fruit as an apple, we should probably say that […]