There is a story I have been selling all week. Someone came to his Rabbi with a serious problem. Yom Kippur is coming and the Mets game comes out the same time as Kol Nidrei! The Rabbi put his arm comfortingly on the shoulder of his congregant and said Marvin, what...
How Much Are You Worth?
In the story of the Creation of the world, it is recorded that "G-d blessed the seventh day" (Gen. 2:3). How did He bless the Sabbath? According to Rashi, He blessed it with manna, by providing a double portion on Fridays, while the Israelites were in the desert. This...
Which Side is G-d On?
In Koheles (Ecclesiastes), the book of Solomon's wisdom, there appears the statement: "ve-H' yevakesh es-nirdaf", (Eccl. 3:15), which can be translated as: "And G-d seeks out him who is pursued", or perhaps: "And G-d favors the underdog". The Midrash quotes R. Yossi...
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...
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...
Parshas Vayechi 2001
Yaakov wasn't blind. Yitzchak was. Why Yitzchak couldn't tell Yaakov from Esav, we can at least partially understand - he was blind. But now, Yosef brings his two sons Efraim and Menashe to his ailing father Yaakov. Yaakov looks at them and asks "Mee Eileh?" Who are...
Parshas Vayigash 2001
In order for there to be peace with our enemies, there must first be peace with each other.
Parshas Vayeshev 2001
“Hineini” – I am ready
Parshas Vayishlach 2001
The final battle is the battle of synergy for us, and Tikun Olam for the world at large.
Parshas Vayeitzei 2001
Not only did Yaakov teach us a way to pray, he taught us a way to live.
Parshas Chayei Sara 2001
It was at this supremely spiritual esoteric stage of Avrohom Avinu’s life that he was faced with a very down-to-earth challenge. He had to make a shiduch for his son Yitzchak.
Parshas Vayishlach 2000
The nations of the world call us Yaakov but the truth is that we are Yisroel.
Parshas Vayechi 1999
We have to find our individual calling, our brocha and our individual purpose in this life.
Parshas Vayeishev 1999
On Chanukah the world saw the light that we can shed if we can only work together.
Parshas Toldos 1999
Yaacov saw the big picture. Esav couldn’t get past a bowl of beans. This is both the story and the message of this week’s Parsha.
A Prophecy for All Times
Why Breishis needed to be written and the difference between the Written Law and the Oral Law
Given in Melbourne, Australia Shavous 1991.
Everyone’s Moment of Truth
From the Torah’s perspective, no-one, however wicked, is completely worthless in what he has to say. Everyone has his moment of truth.
Lets Use Our Heads
When the Torah describes the crimes of the generation of the flood it says that they were guilty of idol worship, promiscuity, murder, and 'chamas'. Rashi translates chamas as robbery. It was this crime that ultimately singled this generation beyond all the previous...
Gratitude
Jacob gives an extra portion of his blessings not to his firstborn Reuben (as one should, according to halacha), but to Joseph.
Judging Character
In today's parsha we read how, after the brothers had sold Joseph into slavery, Judah married a Canaanite woman and had three sons, the first two of whom, Er and Onan, died because of their sins, and then shortly thereafter his wife died. The Sforno explains that...
How to get G-d to Listen
We should realize how powerful an influence for good we can have on other people’s lives, and on our own, when we pray with kavana.
How to be a Light Unto the Nations
Parshas Noach 1987