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Bal Tashchit & Going Green: A Torah Perspective
A story is told of the young Rav Yosef Yitzchak of Lubavitch, out walking one day alongside his father…
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Does Romantic Love Exist in Judaism?
Romantic love has undergone many iterations over the centuries, and philosophers and thinkers have differed in definitions, all focusing on different perspectives and semantic elements. Judaism, too, does not have one steady definition of what romantic love is. Still, rather than trying to arrive at the perfect written definition, we can extrapolate on the key…
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What Is the Purpose of the Oral Torah?
If one asked how many torot there are you would expect the answer to be one. However, we are taught by Chazal that Moshe Rabbeinu received both the written and the oral law, torah she’bichtav and torah she’be’al peh respectively, at Har Sinai beginning in Parashat Yitro. Often when we say “torah” our immediate thought…
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Self-Control or Strategic Avoidance: Structuring Our Lives for Success
We’ve all struggled with temptation. Whether it’s an impulsive online purchase, eating junk food when we’re on a diet, or getting distracted when we ought to be working, the battle for self-control can feel overwhelming. But what if there was a simpler way? The Gemara reveals a surprising truth: the secret to resisting temptation lies…
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Writing as an Act of Creation
Creation rarely begins with complete clarity…
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The Kiss in Judaism
In Jewish thought and practice, physical gestures often carry deep symbolic and spiritual meaning. Among these gestures, the kiss occupies a unique place, representing not merely affection but also reverence, respect, and sacred connection. Far from being limited to romantic expression, the kiss in Judaism appears in a wide range of contexts—Torah narratives, ritual observance,…
