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Does Hashem Expect Us to Be Flawless?
Rav Amnon Bazak writes of his Yeshiva high school experience: “The rabbis in my yeshiva high school …all believed that one who truly wishes to serve God must totally cut himself off from this world and devote himself entirely to God. A true Torah scholar is someone who overpowers all his passions, rises above all…
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Forgiveness Lessons from the Story of Yosef
Forgiveness and teshuva (repentance) are the focal points of the months of Elul and Tishrei. Tishrei is marked by the Yamim Noraim, and Elul before it constitutes the last opportunities to make things right for the previous year. That said, forgiveness is not always straightforward. The model story in the Chumash for repentance and forgiveness…
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Ki Teitzei: The Non-Jewish Woman Captive
This week’s parsha begins with the perplexing scenario of eishet yefat toar. Literally translated as “woman of beautiful appearance,” the pesukim outline that under circumstances of war, a Jewish soldier who sees a non-Jewish female captive may take her as his wife, following certain conditions. Here, we will discuss and explore some of the depth…
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What Shabbat Teaches us About Jewish Vacation
The Jewish view of time is that it is our most precious commodity. We are enjoined to maximize every moment to its fullest; hayom katzar, ve’hamlacha merubah. The day is short, the work is plenty. What is the Jewish attitude towards vacation? What are the landing pads of rest that Hashem gifted us with, and…
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Is Self-Care Aligned with Torah Values?
Self-care. It’s a buzzword. It brings to mind a variety of images…
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Yael: A Woman of Courage and Bravery
There is much that can be learned from the heroic actions of Yael…
