Hi, Hope you’re having a great day. … A few thoughts on President Obama’s new initiative. Increasing the speed of internet connection in America. Because we are way behind countries like South Korea, Japan and the Netherlands. And ranked only 10th. (We used to be 28th) … I may be hopeless. Because I grew up […]

Hi, … Here’s what we might have expected Joseph to do when he saw his brothers. “Hi.  I’m Joseph your brother!  Lets put it all behind us.  I forgive you. Go tell Dad that I’m alive and well.  That I’m second in command here. Bring Dad down here.  I’ll take care of all your needs!” […]

Hi, Joseph puts his brothers through the ringer! (Genesis, 42-44) It certainly looks that way. … There’s a famine in the Land of Israel. Jacob sends his sons down to Egypt to buy food. And who’s in charge?  Joseph! He recognizes them.  But they don’t recognize him. Joseph accuses them of being spies. They deny […]

Hi, … The blessing of the children. It’s one of the most beautiful customs at the Shabbat Friday night meal. It sends a very important message to the child. Because we can imagine how a child might feel at a festive meal. With all those adults!  Talking about “adult stuff”! And there may be important […]

Hi, Jacob had left the Land of Israel for two reasons. One, his brother Esau was furious that Jacob received the blessings from Isaac. And was planning to kill him. Second, his mother Rebecca sent him to her family to find a wife. Jacob was now returning to his parent’s home in Israel.  (Genesis 32:4) […]

Hi, Please allow a personal note for the second time. The first was a tribute to my Dad on the anniversary of his passing.  His “yartzeit.” Today is a tribute to my Mom on her yartzeit. … You may remember that my Dad did not come from an observant background. And what happened? He met […]

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, Sorry about Friday.  I finally found a computer that is working! … Leah.  Together with Rachel, the mother of the Jewish People. Her fourth son was Judah. … “I will gratefully thank G-d.” “ And she called his name Judah.”  (Genesis, 29:35) As we have seen, Judah means to thank. And in Jewish tradition, […]

Hi,   Sorry I missed you on Friday.   We were speaking about the importance shared goals in a marriage.   … And shared goals don’t just make a marriage more meaningful.   They make it more romantic!   Because the more meaningful our goals?   The deeper our lives.   And the deeper the […]

Hi, We left off in the middle of Jacob’s prophetic vision. What’s next? G-d promises Jacob’s that his descendants, the Jewish People, will inherit the Land of Israel. “… I am the Lord, G-d of Abraham your father and G-d of Isaac. The ground upon which you are lying, I will give to your descendants.”  […]