Hi, Hope you’re having a great day! And – at least for those of you in Chicago – that you are enjoying the weather! … We had a great Purim at CTN and I wanted to share something with you. We had a special reading of the Megillah (Scroll of Esther) for young Jewish professionals. […]

Hi, Let’s face it. Being young and athletic is revered in our culture. Our kids worship great basketball players. The Olympic athletes will return as heroes. … And when we get a bit older. Start slowing down? Can’t move around on the tennis court like we used to? We deny it! “I am not getting […]

Hi, Hope you’re having a great day. Moshe can’t get out of it. As much as he tries, G-d insists.  “You’re the man”! So Moshe is about to leave Midian and go to back to Egypt. For the most important mission in world history. To free the Jews and bring them to Mount Sinai. They […]

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 […]

More about Rebecca. We have seen that Abraham sent his trusted servant Eliezer to find a wife for Isaac. The test was chessed.  Acts of kindness. Rebbeca passed the test. With flying colors! … It’s easy to miss a small detail in the story. With a very big lesson. Eliezer set up a test. He’ll […]

Hi, Here’s a follow up to yesterday’s Torah Minute. And it takes place in Vienna in 1927. Sigmund Freud writes the following. “Civilization has little to fear from educated people… In them replacement of religious motives for civilized behavior, by other, secular motives, would proceed unobtrusively.” Not quiet what the Rabbi said in Berlin! Picture […]

As we saw, Abraham interrupted G-d’s visit to take care of three strangers. He taught us the greatness of helping those in need. When the guests were taken care of? Abraham goes back to G-d. And G-d tells him the good news. “By this time next year, Sarah will have a child!” (Genesis, 18:10) … […]

Hope you’re having a great day. … The story of Cain and Abel.  One of the most famous “Bible Stories.” Adam and Eve have two sons.  Cain and Abel. They each bring an offering to G-d. Abel’s offering is accepted.  And Cain’s is rejected. Evidently there was something lacking in Cain’s offering. And in the […]

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 […]