Monthly Archives: December 2012

It’s oft-mentioned that Chanukah is the least mentioned and least explained of our holidays.  The Talmud only refers to it in passing when discussing Shabbat candles.  Rather than further illuminating this holiday, this fact has contributed to the trivialization of … Continue reading →

The power of the internet and the news media has made the tragic massacres of school children in Connecticut, and, to a lesser degree (no less a tragedy, but less a focus of the world media), in China, the world’s … Continue reading →

While anchored to the wick, the flame strains to rise.  If it reaches its goal, it will detach from the wick and will then no longer be what it was.  No one can see what it is becoming.  The miracle … Continue reading →

From time to time, I help a friend lead a Mussar worksop.  A couple weeks ago we discussed the Middah, personality trait, of the Shevil HaZahav, The Golden Path of Moderation. The following are some thoughts I presented at that meeting. Mussar Midot … Continue reading →

For anything much more complex than, say, driving a nail into a board, direct action, surprisingly, is generally not very effective.  In fact, even for a task this simple, unless you intend to push the nail-head as hard as you can … Continue reading →