Passover is the formation and creation of the Jewish people. In effect, we celebrate our birth as a nation. I had a very interesting encounter recently that gave a whole new meaning to my Passover. I was dead asleep on an intercontinental flight and my stewardess woke me up. Why? She wanted to inform me …
I have a love for the drama of ideas; and nothing moves me, transforms me, and defines me like the study of wisdom. Rav Noach said that what pleasure is to the body is what wisdom is to the soul. I read anything and everything, especially, literature that reflects truth, conveys depth, and has the …
Relationships are beautiful connections we establish, internalize, and ultimately become; they are, par excellence, the most expansive and life-enhancing endeavor a human being can ever undertake. I am not trying to be dramatic or romantic, but it is what it is. The human connection is the most majestical, magical, sublime experience. It bonds, creates, forms, …
At the end of the prayers in the synagogue today, we all said a prayer for the welfare of the people in Ukraine. The mood of many people here in Israel is of somberness. I personally work with a guy in Ukraine, and he told me all the gun stores have been completely emptied because …
This past week we read the Torah portion of the giving of the 10 commandments. When you look at some of the commandments, they seem simplistic and elementary. Some of the most primitive civilizations enacted these laws (e.g. do not murder). So the question is, what moral innovation do the 10 commandments teach? Each commandment …
Facebook has this feature called memories which shows me my previous posts, some dating back many years when I was altogether in a different stage of my life. At times it’s a heartwarming trip down memory lane. At other times . . . Oh. My. Goodness. Some of what I wrote was outright outrageous; some …
I raised money for a dear friend of mine who was getting married and had no support. Here is what I wrote to the people who contributed. I wanted to thank everybody for their kindness in helping my friend with his wedding. I feel my belief and love for G-d taken to whole new heights …
Usually, for lunch, I eat 2 yogurts with crackers. I don’t like the time I need to invest in preparing/eating, and not to mention the encumbered feeling of the digestion process, and I wouldn’t mind shedding some pounds. So I keep my lunch simple. But compliments to my wife, she made me today a cuisine …
Shortly before I got married, I remember riding in an Uber and the driver was sharing his wisdom about women and marriage. He said many things to me. One of the things that made an impression on me was about women and apologizing. In a somewhat of an irritated voice, he said that I shouldn’t …
Life is a series of battles and not a war. I think this is one of the most important things to know about life or just serving G-d in general. If life is a war, then if you fall just once you are permanently defeated. Hope is lost and the will to continue dissipates and …