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When Hashem created Adam, He made him unique, setting him apart from the animals in every way. But Adam had a task to fulfill: he was to name every living creature, defining each one based on its essence and purpose. As he observed each species, he noticed that every animal had a mate—each with a…
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Why Do We Say Vidui on Erev Yom Kippur? Something about Erev Yom Kippur seems really out of place. Let me explain. Over Yom Kippur, we said vidui, the confession of sins, nine times. But what seems out of place is that one of those times is during Mincha before we eat our final meal…
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Lessons From Kids I absolutely love my kids. Each one of them is unique, with their own special qualities and personality quirks that bring so much joy to my life. Some of the younger ones are particularly eager to help out at times, around the house. They take their “job” very seriously, creating detailed schedules…
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There’s a Midrash that has always intrigued me—the idea that the whole world is blind until Hashem opens our eyes. On the first day of Rosh Hashana, we read how Hashem opened Hagar’s eyes, and she suddenly saw a well of water right in front of her, enabling her to give her child a drink.…
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There’s a story I heard once about a religious man who got into a taxi in Israel. As often happens, the driver struck up a conversation. “I can tell you’re religious,” the cab driver said. “I have a friend who became religious through a crazy story.” He continued: “My friend and I served in the…
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How many times have you overlooked your own brilliance because it’s simply become your “normal”? Most people don’t realize that the very things they do daily, without thought, could be extraordinary in someone else’s eyes. When I used to travel for my work with Ford dealerships, I’d visit Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories of Canada.…
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Along this journey, I’ll be sharing not only the lessons I’ve learned but also the challenges and experiences that shaped me into who I am today. It’s all part of my growth—because it’s through these moments that I’ve found deeper meaning, embraced change, and aligned myself with the path of Torah to live the best…
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Ever notice that the further something gets from its origin, the less we value it? I see this all the time, in the simplest things—from how we spend money to how we experience the world around us. It’s like the value fades the more distant we are from what it really is at its core.…
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As a child, Rosh Hashana felt like an endless marathon of prayers. I’d sit on an uncomfortable folding chair in the overflow section of the social hall, which they’d open up to accommodate the extra crowd for the Yamim Noraim. Fidgeting in my seat, I’d flip through the machzor, counting the pages left, then cutting…
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There’s a powerful line we sing in Shabbos zemer “Ma Yedidut”. When singing about the beauty of Shabbat, we say “Kashoshanim suga,”, Shabbat is “like roses that are fenced in.” Think about that—a rose, fragile and beautiful, needs a fence to protect it. Shabbos is no different. It’s sacred not just because of what it…
