A Sukkot Wake-Up Call This past Sukkot, we had a lot to celebrate. One night, I was walking home from shul when I heard music and saw people dancing out of sheer joy in the street. So, of course, I joined in, soaking up the celebration. Later, my wife showed me a video of the…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
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.…