Hi, I hope you were able to sleep last night! What’s the second thing the Joseph teaches us? … The power of the Torah! A story like this shocks us. “ Jews don’t do things like this”! And its true. Violent crime is so rare among Jews. And we’re the People that has suffered the […]

Hi, Let’s start “Joseph and His Brothers.”  (Genesis, 37- 47) Joseph is the “apple of Jacob’s eye.” He shows it.  And the brothers see it. They’re very jealous.   And to top it off? Joseph tells his brothers about his dreams. How the brothers bowed down to Joseph. He seems to want to rule over them. […]

Hi, I was asked to clarify the last few lines of yesterday’s “Torah Minute.” I wrote them as “deadline” was approaching! “… We’re not likely to ever meet an angel. But the more acts of kindness we choose to do? The more we choose to elevate our lives? The less it matters!” … I was […]

Hi, Jacob has gone through quiet an ordeal, but now has a family. He’s about to head back to the Land of Israel. … “Jacob went on his way, and angels of G-d encountered him.”  (Genesis, 32:2) Here’s a word about angels. Don’t get your hopes up.  I don’t know that much about them myself! […]

Hi, I’ve been sitting at my computer thinking. We’re about to start the next Torah portion, so I was looking for a small nugget to share. Here’s what came to mind. … One of the great Rabbis of the past generation always looked for lessons in life. In his days, it was the telegraph. He […]

Hi, Hope you’re having a great day! We’ve seen that in Jewish tradition, Abraham personifies acts of kindness. And Isaac? He represents Divine service. Things like prayer.  Introspection.  Spirituality. You might think of Isaac as a very big Tzadik.  An extremely righteous man. A “holy man.” And sometimes we have a picture of such people. […]

Hi, Sorry about the suspense! What’s the end of the Lot and Sodom story? We left off with Lot’s home being surrounded by the “people of Sodom.” … Then G-d intervenes. The people are struck with a form of blindness.  And they leave. (Genesis, 19:11-16) … It turns out, that these guests were really angels, […]

Hope you’re having a great day! … One more thought about circumcision. Many times in Jewish history, our enemies have tried to outlaw circumcision. The Greeks (Chanukah story) made it a capital offense. Circumcision really upset them. Why? Part of it was their obsession with physical beauty and perfection. They admired the “perfect body.” And […]

Hi, Hope you’re having a great day! The Jewish People have been around for a very long time. And when we do things like Shabbat or Jewish holidays? We should feel part of a chain going back to Mount Sinai. Over 3300 years ago. And we should be inspired! … But there’s is a Jewish […]

Hope you’re having a great day! Adam is placed in the Garden of Eden.  Spiritual Paradise. We’re told that G-d planted trees in the garden. “Trees that were pleasant to look at and good to eat.”  (Genesis: 2:9) It’s interesting. Trees that produce fruit?  That makes sense. Even in the Garden of Eden you need […]