Hi, So the Super Bowl is history! I don’t know if you’re happy, thrilled or indifferent. (Or if you’re just happy to have your spouse back!) … I wanted to share a message that I gave to a Bar Mitzvah boy Saturday night. I think it has something to say to all of us. Especially […]

Hi, I don’t usually talk about baseball in the Torah Minute! Jewish tradition doesn’t usually have a compelling position on it! But today? I wanted to share what I think Jewish tradition has to say about the steroids controversy. And George Mitchell’s Steroid Report. We hear things like, “This isn’t only about baseball. About the […]

Hi, Hope all is well. It was a classroom in an “exclusive” private school in … The teacher was trying to make her students more conscious of the less fortunate. She asked them to write an essay about a poor family. Here’s what one little girl wrote. “Once upon a time there was a poor […]

Hi, Hope all is well. Is there a Jewish response to the dog fighting scandal? I think so. The first is obvious. We should be shocked by the brutality of it. And so should every decent human being. … But here are some less obvious thoughts. I think we should know that all “decent people” […]

We have failed our children if their role models are athletes! Sure. Kids need heroes. They need role models. But they should be great people. Not great athletes! … What did Moshe look like? Was he tall and handsome? Muscular? We have no idea! Because in Jewish tradition those things aren’t really relevant. And they […]

Hi, …Yesterday, the Supreme Court ruled to protect defendants in capital cases. It ruled that they can’t be brought into court with shackles. Because seeing the defendant in shackles makes an impression on the jury. “It almost always… affects the jury’s perception of the character of the defendant”. The court was split. And some argued […]

Hi, Yesterday we spoke about Miriam. And it made me think about something else. … I make a point of not discussing politics in the Torah Minute. You don’t need a Rabbi for that! And I surely don’t talk about baseball! Jewish tradition doesn’t usually have a compelling position on that! But today? I wanted […]

Hi, Now the Exodus is really going to start! Until now? It sort of backfired. Moshe and Aaron went to Pharaoh and told him to free the Jewish People And Pharaoh responded by clamping down.  By making them work even harder.  (Exodus, 5) … Now we’re about to start the “ten plagues.” But first there’s […]

Hi, Hope you’re having a great day! As we saw yesterday, Pharaoh wanted Moshe dead. Moshe escapes to Midian, where he sees a group of women being harassed.  He saves them and waters their sheep. … It’s pretty amazing. Moshe is in a strange place.  The most powerful person on earth is out to kill […]

Hi, I hope you had a wonderful Rosh Hashanah. And may you and your loved ones have a Shanah Tova. Filled with good health, joy and peace! … Sorry for being a bit spotty lately. Besides the holidays, we’ve started working on our annual fundraiser. It’s a very busy time! … It reminded me of […]