Of course, there is going to be a price to our relationship with God and this price is spelled out in the Shema. But God is also saying here, “I want you.” And this is also spelled out—in the blessings before the Shema. From...
There are times when we are praying when we don’t really feel that we are speaking as an accumulated voice of all the generations since the sons of Jacob. And then we may feel we are actually talking to ourselves without hearing what we...
The recitation of the Shema is preceded by a two blessings, the first of which is quite long, so much so that people assume it is more than one blessing. The first blessing—which begins “Creator of Light”—speaks of the structure of the universe. The...
A famous Midrash tells us that Jacob, when he was on his deathbed, planned to reveal to his children how history would develop until the end of days. But just before he could give away the secrets, his mind went blank and he realized that his gift of prophecy had abandoned him.
How the relationship works is illustrated by a story of the father and his two daughters. One daughter was very ugly and the other was a shrew, so the father could not marry them off until he found two brothers—one of whom was blind,...
The obligation to return God’s love does not imply that it is up to us to create a relationship with God. The relationship already exists whether we want it or not. However, it is up to us to decide if we will develop that relationship by reciprocating God’s love, or we if will to turn
The Experience of Holiness It is difficult to define “Kedusha” or “Holiness”. There are definitions, however, Holiness needs definition because so much of it is experiential for us. We use the definition to shape our experience and to ensure that we do not confuse...
Bitachon and Success “L’chol ha’botchim b’shimcha b’emet”- “To all that sincerely believe in Your Name.” There is a famous story about a rabbi who gave a sermon about having faith in God. “If you have faith in God, God will take care of...
True Reward “V’tein sachar tov l’chol ha’botchim b’shimcha b’emet”- “And give goodly reward to all that sincerely believe in Your Name”. We have to ask ourselves what “goodly reward” means. Usually, when we are referring to a reward, we think of it...
The Children of Israel were commanded to construct a Tabernacle, a portable House for the Divine Presence. The commandment empowered human beings through their very finite actions to achieve something infinite; their
Rabbi Chanina, the deputy High Priest says, “Pray for the welfare of the government, because if people did not fear it, a person would swallow his fellow alive.”
We just asked God to place Shalom, Tova, Bracha, Chen, Chesed and Rachamim, (Peace, good, blessing, favor, kindness and compassion). Now we say: “Natata Lanu….. u’Tzedakah, U’Bracha, V’Rachamim, V’Chaim V’Shalom” – “You gave us… righteousness, and blessing and compassion, and life and peace…” ...