Parshat Behar opens with Shemita — six years of working the land, followed by a full year of rest. It echoes Shabbat: six days of work, one day of rest. Both reflect the rhythm of creation: Hashem created in six days and rested on the seventh. But this isn’t just about rest — it’s about…
Don’t Miss the Point These days, antisemitism is on everyone’s mind.And rightfully so. We’re worried. We’re hurting. We’re searching for answers. What should we do?More security. Better PR. Stronger hasbara.We have to fight back.We have to protect ourselves. And yes — we absolutely need to do hishtadlut.We have a responsibility to act, to defend, to…
You’re already in shul.You might as well daven.You’re already learning.You might as well put your phone away.You already have a gym membership.You might as well use it.You’re already at the gym.You might as well work out. A friend of mine used to say this line all the time:“You’re already here. You might as well.” It…
Living the Purpose of Our Redemption In Parshat Emor, we read a powerful command: “You shall not desecrate My holy name, and I shall be sanctified among the Children of Israel.” (Vayikra 22:32)Immediately after, the Torah reminds us: “I am Hashem who took you out of Egypt to be your God.” Rashi explains: The purpose…
Remembering What It Felt Like “You shall love the convert, because you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”— Devarim 10:19 This commandment appears again and again in the Torah. But why? Why is it so important that we’re reminded not just to be kind to the ger, but to love them? Because we know…
Let me ask you a question: If your friend was exhausted, overwhelmed, and on the verge of breaking… what would you say? “Take care of yourself. You need rest. You’re doing so much. Be kind to yourself.” But when it’s you feeling that way? You push harder. You criticize yourself. You say, “I can’t stop…
Choose Life. Choose Joy. Choose Geula. There is a powerful idea toward the end of Parshat Acharei Mot: “Ushmartem et chukotai… asher yaaseh otam ha’adam vachai bahem” – “You shall keep My statutes and My laws, that a person shall do them and live by them” (Vayikra 18:5). What does it mean to “live by…
Parshat Acharei Mot tells us not to live like the nations of the world: “Like the ways of Egypt… and of Canaan… do not do.” (Vayikra 18:3) Why? Because their society was built on a belief that this world is all there is.If life ends at death, then why hold back?Why not mourn with despair?…