We might wonder what drew Jewish people throughout history to self-sacrifice. The answer is, they saw that if they would not step up to the plate, nobody would. In our day, this message is a relevant as ever.
“IF I WILL NOT DO THIS, WHO WILL?”
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KREPLACH – THE INSIDE STORY
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Sometimes, being Jewish might seem difficult, and outright crazy. But that is only if you’re looking at it from the outside. Insiders have a different picture.
MAKING A DEAL WITH G-D
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There is always a stark difference between the treatment of the youngest and oldest in a family. How do we approach G-d? As the oldest or youngest child? The answer is that it’s a trade-off.
Be a Jewish Ambassador
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Everyone has been speaking about the Jewish legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Interestingly, her “Yom Kippur” story has been overlooked. A lesson from Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, and Zalman Shazar.
Taking Counsel from Future Generations
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A special peace-deal was signed this week in Washington, which ignored the dictums of “land-for-peace” or the “two-state-solution.” Where did those ideas come from, and what ensured Israel’s establishment?
Canine Messages
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The Baal Shem Tov taught that everything we see and hear can teach us a lesson in serving G-d. COVID has seen a rise in dog-ownership. What lesson can we learn from dogs and their relationships with humans?
Sending G-d a Post card
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Concepts that have become the lingo in the past half a year, like recession, debt and stimulus, all have Jewish parallels. How do Jews deal with a spiritual recession?
YOU CAN’T PASS THE BUCK
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Many people would be happy to delegate Mitzvos, like Tefillin, Shabbos and Yom Kippur. Still, we are told to do them ourselves. Because, just as in your own business, “nobody is going to do the dirty work for you.” How does that apply to Jewish education?
THE BIRTH OF A JEWISH CHILD – A G-DLY REVELATION
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Rosh Hashanah prayers have a unique focus on G-d “remembering” various women in Jewish history. The common thread – He “remembered” them with a child. On the importance of bringing Jewish children into the world – both physically and spiritually.
G-D’S CREDIT CARD
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The Baal Shem Tov taught that G-d grants us a good year on credit. We might assume that we don’t pay very well, but the Rosh Hashanah prayers reflect our relationship with G-d as His only child, and for an only child, there is always more credit available.