How could the spies,10 tzaddikim, doubt Hashem's promise to bring them safely to Eretz Yisrael?! In contrast, Rachav, a baalat teshuva, had complete emuna in Hashem. How can that be?
One of the most disconcerting problems facing the Jewish world today is lack of unity. Much too often, the different factions focus..
There are two types of givers: those “whose spirit moves them” to give wholeheartedly what they can afford, and an even nobler category of people “whose heart inspires them” to give more than they can afford.
One of the most disturbing incidents in the Torah is the sin of the Golden Calf. The generation that witnessed the Revelation of God’s...
When I entered a baal teshuvah Yeshiva twenty-eight years ago my clarion cry was “Clarity or Death!”
This week’s Torah portion focuses on the Mishkan (the Tabernacle), which is the dwelling place for the Shechinah (Divine Presence).
Any worthwhile endeavor in life requires preparation. When I was a Boy Scout, I learned the Scout’s Motto: “Be prepared.” Before embarking on a camping trip...
God gave us 613 beautiful and uplifting mitzvot. We are permitted, and even encouraged, to discover inspiring and meaningful "reasons" for them...
A startling insight into Judaism is provided by the Torah’s juxtaposition of the civil laws with the Ten Commandments. Most people think of religion as a matter of ritual...
We can turn down the heat by emulating the humblest man who ever walked the earth, who became angry (and with good cause) only three times in forty years!
It seems ludicrous that people who had first-hand evidence of the Flood could convince themselves that they could bypass God’s control..
Parshat Beshalach - In my family, when we sat down to a steak dinner with all the trimmings someone would invariably say, “Well, you know...
It is understandable that such a philosophy would have a great attraction for the Children of Israel. The ‘hippy movement,'...
God commanded Avraham to find himself, “go to yourself.” He had to remake his entire being, and become truly independent...
Having been burnt once before, he was understandably reluctant to rebuke the people. He began his rebuke in a couched language...
Driving past the Jerusalem botanical gardens, you'll notice an impressive sculpture of Yaakov's (Jacob’s) ladder...
Korach began an outright rebellion, which attempted to overthrow Moshe (Moses) and Aharon (Aaron) as leaders of the nation....
…our purpose in this world is to connect to God and the greatest level of connecting to God is not to be with Him, but to be like Him!