Articles:
What Can We Accomplish at the Seder
Maybe it was the Seder that shook up the Heavens and gave us the Modern State of Israel. "Rabbi Eliezer, Rabbi Yehoshua, Rabbi Elazar Ben Azariah, Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Tarphon were conducting a Seder in Bnei Brak. They were discussing the Exodus all that night, until...
A Chassidic Seder
Talk given in Baltimore, MD, 3/25/2006 in Congregation Bnei Torah Shaarei Zion While visiting London a few months ago, I heard the following story from a 19 year old Jewish girl. She was vacationing in a beach house in Thailand when the Tsunami hit. Within moments she...
Rise to the Call (2006)
Perhaps our minds are clouded by our idea of what we should become, and G-d's idea just gets in the way. Whatever happened to Betzalel? The Talmud tells a story. Rabbi Tarphon was ill and his very important friends, Rabbi Akiva, Rabban Gamliel and others, came to...
Connecting with Jerusalem (2005)
When in the synagogue we are the nerve endings of Yerushalayim. The book of Shmos tells a forty year story of the Jewish people. In this story, we grew from humble beginnings as slaves in Egypt to a Kingdom of Priests and a holy nation. The story culminates with the...
What Is Your Purpose? (2004)
Perhaps our minds are clouded by our idea of what we should become, and G-d's idea just gets in the way. Whatever happened to Betzalel? The Talmud tells a story. Rabbi Tarphon was ill and his very important friends, Rabbi Akiva, Rabban Gamliel and others, came to...
Jerusalem Needs A Hug (2004)
Every stone in Yerushalayim wants to be hugged. The Eastern gates to the Courtyard of the Beis HaMikdash in Jerusalem were called "Shaarei Nikoner" or the gates of Nikoner. They were beautiful bronzed structures that greeted the guests as they arrived from all over...
Darkness
Sometimes we are so preoccupied with our suffering that we don't realize we are causing pain to others. "What time can I daven in the morning? It seems to get light so late!" There are a number of answers to this question. If you are one of the 38% of those privileged...
The End of Days
I watch with awe how the recent painful evacuation from Gaza gave birth to a vivacious youth movement full of dynamic energy, unity and yiras shamayim that is changing the country. When the religionists of the world talk about the end of days - they refer to doomsday!...
Going It Alone (2005)
Will he flourish in solitude or perish in loneliness? Language has created the word loneliness to express the pain of being alone, and the word solitude to express the glory of being alone. After many years of sidestepping, Yaakov was on his way to a reunion with his...
My Brother Esav
The very act of bowing before Hashem is to invite and make room for G-d in our lives Yaakov was about to encounter his enemy. He was also about to encounter his brother. His enemy had vowed to kill him. His brother was his twin who nursed with him from their holy...
The Straight Way (2003)
If I wasn't afraid, if I wasn't lazy, if I wasn't concerned about kavod what would I do? Yaakov's name means crooked. The word "Akov" means insidious. Esav defined his brother Yaakov's essence according to his name. He is deviant, perverse, corrupt and crooked. "That...
Pesach – Unburdened (2004)
When we search for chometz we should concentrate on its symbolism of arrogance and take the opportunity to check every crack and crevice of our soul. We all remember the famous advertisement of the Boys Club of America. There was a boy with an ear to ear smile...
A Good Heart (2003)
You can rely on a good heart. Avrohom Avinu had gone through so much and had achieved such great heights. At an age of almost one hundred years, his mind was in the Heavens. It was at this supremely spiritual stage of his life that he was faced with a very down...
The Journey Inward
When you journey inward you begin with the outside and you work your way in. Abraham was told to go on a journey to the unknown - "to the Land which I will show you." "Lech Lecho! - Go out from your country, from your birth place and from your father's house." The...
Chesed – Changing the World (2003)
For one hundred and twenty years Noach prophesied the end of the world - yet not even one single Baal Teshuvah! Noach spent 120 years building an ark, deliberately stretching it out so that people would ask questions, hear about the oncoming world crisis and repent....
Saving the World!
It didn't even occur to Noach to pray! Until Abraham no one even thought of the idea. Last week I decided that I wanted to pray at the burial place of Rebbe Yehudah HaNasi. Rebbe Yehudah was the author of the Mishna and one of the greatest and bravest rabbinic leaders...
Why Did Cayin Kill Hevel?
Isn't it amazing that the first and most profound murder in world history was committed because someone wanted to get closer to G-d?! The two brothers were dividing up the world and the question of the Beit HaMikdash came up. Of course each one of the brothers...
Testing the Waters – Our Responsibility to the World
Noach was responsible for the whole world! As the flood subsided Noach faced an awesome responsibility. The entire future of the world was on his ship. If he docks his boat too early the future may be lost. At the end of the fortieth day Noah opened the window to his...