24 Tammuz 5778 – Pinchas
Is Jewish Law always BLACK and WHITE? Well, if you read the beginning of this week's Parasha it definitely seems so! Pinchas witnesses a plague engulfing the Jewish people
17 Tammuz 5778 – Balak
THERE CAN BE MEANING AMIDST THE MADNESS We recite his words every morning upon entering a Synagogue: "Mah Tovu ohalecha yaakov.. How goodly are your tents, Jacob; your tents,
10 Tammuz 5778 – Chukat
Do we sometimes strike our kids instead of speaking to them? Are we sometimes harsh with others, where tenderness and soft-spokenness would be more appropriate? While we in Sydney, Australia
3 Tamuz 5778 – Korach
Elie Wiesel saw the most horrific sights the human eye could endure. This very individual who refused to marry and have children feeling that it is unfair to bring Jewish children
12 Sivan 5778 – Nasso
We had an interesting discussion at one of my classes this week surrounding Prayer. Prayer is referred to in the Talmud as "Avodah Shebelev" - "service of the heart". Prayer is supposed to be an emotional experience, coming from the depths of one's heart and being. When we pray, we are talking to ourselves and to G-d as well. It is supposed to be a moving and electrifying experience. Yet how many of us can say that we come out of a prayer session truly moved, motivated and empowered?
5 Sivan 5778 – Bamidbar
To get you ready for Shavuot, here is a summary of what I spoke about last year. I have found a number of fascinating connections between the Festival of Shavuot and running a half marathon. After all, it is a long race and one has plenty of time to think! So here are a few.
27 Iyar 5778 – Behar-Bechukotai
There are some places that become etched into our memories. I am sure we can all remember the place where we were proposed to or exactly where we heard the news that we were expecting our first child. It is therefore startling that we have somehow forgotten the location where the most significant Jewish event took place - the giving of the Torah? Why didn't the Jewish sages preserve the whereabouts of Mount Sinai?
20 Iyar 5778 – Emor
While death normally evokes emotions of grief and sadness, would anyone suggest that it would elicit joy and celebration? According to one Rabbi - yes! As we celebrate Lag BaOmer lets consider why we rejoice and reflect at the same time based on learnings from this significant day.
6 Iyar 5778 -Tazria-Metzorah
The sombre commemoration of Yom Hazikaron (Israel Remembrance Day) always immediately precedes the jubilant celebration of Yom Haatzmaut (Independence Day). Why are these two days straight after each other? How are we expected or able to suddenly shift our feelings from that of sadness and reflection to those of joy and ecstasy?
29 Nissan 5778 – Shemini
This past week we commemorated Yom Hashoa – Holocaust Remembrance Day. I attended two communal memorial events in which my wife, Chana Raizel featured as guest speaker. I was really