Shepherd & Flock
The role of a shepherd is deeply woven into our national heritage and identity. Here on earth, our Avot, leaders, and kings were shepherds, while simultaneously we are the flock of Hashem. Chazal provides us with scattered insights into how Moshe Rabbeinu and David HaMelech were shepherds, but we are far removed from truly understanding…
The Most Valued Emotion
“Hope is the most valued emotion!” were the words uttered by Rabbi Emanuel Ravad one Shabbat years ago in Seattle’s Sephardic Bikur Holim, “Because when all else is gone, you still have hope.” Wow! Just wow! That statement blew me away then, and now over 30 years later those words still ring clear in my…
Looking for Help?
In this week’s parashah, Rivka Emanu senses something unusual about her twin pregnancy and goes to seek the answer from G-d. Asking G-d for help. That is the way we roll — always have and always will. Looking back over time we’ve had plenty of sources to shed light on our problems or give us…
Living Above Nature
In Rabbi Avigdor Miller’s book The Beginning he makes the profound statement that Sarah’s tent was the “first and greatest Beit HaMikdash”. Sarah Emanu merited three miracles; the Shabbat lights lasted the week, the dough in her tent remained fresh and a cloud of holiness hovered above her tent. These three miracles were repeated later…
Be Like Avraham
In the Rambam’s Mishneh Torah, the second halacha in the laws of idol worship recounts how Avraham Avinu lived in a world of spiritual darkness where everyone worshiped idols — including himself. At a very young age, Avraham challenged the status quo and after decades of thinking and wondering about how the world works, at…
The Ark of Emunah
In the Rambam’s Mishneh Torah the first halacha in the laws of idol worship recounts how idolatry spread over the earth from the days of Enosh onward. The rationale was that the stars and spheres were “ministers who minister before Him” and therefore deserved to be praised. Later, false prophets and imposters arose, further driving…
The Purpose of Creation
This blog post was written during Hol Hamoad when it was easier to recognize G-d’s goodness. In reality, it’s still there, but maybe just harder to see. Rav Arush commonly says, “Emunah picks up where logic leaves off” and given the current situation, now is a good time to have emunah. There is a bigger…
Which is Better?
Provided below are four realistic scenarios — which is better A or B? #1 : Home A) The refrigerator needs to be cleaned out before the holiday and the kitchen is a mess with lots of dishes to do. or B) A stack of dishes was broken by the dog and there isn’t enough money…
Men Give & Women Receive
For Men Only There is a spiritual principle that men give and women receive. We see this in relationships, intimacy, and daily living. Our ketubah requires us to give food, clothing, and intimacy. Men are like the sun, and women, are like the moon and radiate our light. Women are like mirrors and reflect our…
The Flood and Two Houses
What were the sins that brought about civilization’s three major destructions? The Torah tells us the flood was brought about because of robbery. The first Beit Hamikdash was destroyed because of bloodshed, immorality, and idol worship. The second Beit Hamikdash was destroyed because of baseless hatred. Nearly all of the sins are between man and…
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Yitzhak Sasson 