Category Archives: Uncategorized

Entering the “Three Weeks” between the fasts of the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of Av, a time of pain and sadness culminating in the yearly re-living of the Destruction of our Holy Temple, it might be an appropriate … Continue reading →

As best expressed, perhaps, by the Ramchal (Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzatto, 18th Century Talmudic prodigy, Master Kabbalist and more), humanity is created to be the beneficiary of God’s Divine Love and Goodness.  The greatest reward we can experience is to … Continue reading →

Living between the cracks, as it were, having orthodox smicha and living an halachic lifestyle but working and teaching mainly outside the orthodox world, people often ask me to whom I feel allegiance.  Is my loyalty supposed to be to … Continue reading →

The Malchut Shlomo has a deep insight into the pasuk in last week’s parsha, BeChukotei, והלכתם עמי בקרי והלכתי עמכם בחמות קרי, V’Halachtem Imi B’Keri V’Halachti Imchem B’Chamat Keri, If you treat me with contempt (keri), then I will treat … Continue reading →

I can’t prove it with pasukim, but I have a different way of looking at our seemingly endless exile.  The common explanation  is that we didn’t live up to the standards required for the persistence of the Holy Temple.  Eventually … Continue reading →

Perhaps no other mitzvah is quoted as frequently as ואהבת לרעך כמוך, V’Ahavata L’Reyecha K’Mocha, Love your fellow as yourself.  We proudly point at this commandment as the basis of our entire value system and a variant of it, to … Continue reading →

I often say that Judaism is the “art of unreasonable optimism”.  By that I mean that Tshuva,  radical transformation and growth, rather than merely minimal course corrections, is always within our grasp.

As a rabbi, I often find that the best way I can help someone in their spiritual explorations is to try very hard to not place any obstacles in their way.  The most common mistake, I find, is pushing someone … Continue reading →

We often speak of Tshuvah, returning, as if it’s no big deal, easy to do.  Exclude another “weekday” activity on Shabbat, restrict our diets a little more.  Donate more money to your synagogue or Jewish school.  We’re happy, God’s happy … Continue reading →

Within the first several weeks between Pesach and Shavuot, during Sefira, the counting of the Omer, we encounter four, recently-established special days, Holocaust Remembrance Day, Fallen Soldiers Remembrance Day and Israel’s Independence Day and Jerusalem Liberation Day.  These come in … Continue reading →