Tags

Torah Tidbits audio

Torah Tidbits audio

News and updates about Torah Tidbits audio

To see the Promised Land, without understanding what it is

Like Moshe, we have yet to ascend the mountain and there to gain a broader perspective of our destiny and days to come.

To see the Promised Land, without understanding what it is

The narrow bridge between the High Holy Days

What Yom Kippur should accomplish within each of us.

The narrow bridge between the High Holy Days

T'shuva: We can know a lot, but not everything

We don't know why G-d created the world, nor why He gave us free will, but we can hopefully see and understand the gift of T'shuva.

T'shuva: We can know a lot, but not everything

Why do we need to thank God every single minute?

The all important part of a Torah Life – gratitude and happiness.

Why do we need to thank God every single minute?

Can we understand God, even a little?

We keep all mitzvot and shun all prohibitions because that's what G-d wants. After that we can spend a lifetime trying to understand better.

Can we understand God, even a little?

The right track for every Jew

The ups and downs of different authority systems.

The right track for every Jew

Law and order

The gentle path to walk according to the Jewish laws and tradition.

Law and order

The power of speech: How words can determine destinies

This is the main goal of Parshat Eikev: Hear what your mouth is talking about.

The power of speech: How words can determine destinies

The double concern of an extraordinary leader

Raise eyes heavenward and worship the sun or the moon or the stars - not to replace G-d, but to serve Him by honoring his creations.

The double concern of an extraordinary leader

Asking ourselves: What did we do to bring redemption closer?

How many Jews today, Torah observant Jews, do more than pay lip-service to the building of the Third Beit HaMikdash?

Asking ourselves: What did we do to bring redemption closer?

No excuses: You must immigrate to Israel

We did a great job of creating vibrant Jewish communities all over the world. But now we should be living in Eretz Yisrael.

No excuses: You must immigrate to Israel

Live the Torah - as a way of life

Our package deal from G-d consists of the whole Torah - Written and Oral, Talmudic and Rabbinic Law, and a mix of Minhag and Tradition.

Live the Torah - as a way of life

Sad ironic message for the Jewish people

We need to ask and answer the question - In which direction are we headed?

Sad ironic message for the Jewish people

A distant danger, a near salvation

We need to be especially appreciative to G-d for fighting for us.

A distant danger, a near salvation

It's all about the Jewish law

What's the meaning of the enigmatic mitzvot? How does it affect us?

It's all about the Jewish law

The divisions in the Jewish world: History is repeating itself

The 'story' of the Meraglim and the 'story' of Korach's rebellion are not just once-upon-a-time a long time ago stories.

The divisions in the Jewish world: History is repeating itself

The sin of the spies is alive and well in our own time

How do we correct a sin that affects an entire people?

The sin of the spies is alive and well in our own time

Independence of the people of Israel: A different spirit

We can chose to reject the words of the majority who would rather remain in the Midbar and rally to the side of Yehoshua and Kalev.

Independence of the people of Israel: A different spirit

Divine hints: What is the right way to redemption?

GALUT is evolving into GEULA right before our eyes. We are not there yet, but we are progressing in the right direction.

Divine hints: What is the right way to redemption?

After 40 years in the desert, we returned to Jerusalem

We are at a symbolic crossroad with Bamidbar and Yom Yerushalayim being one right after the other.

After 40 years in the desert, we returned to Jerusalem

When God instructs: Follow me, there is no room for doubt

Our challenge, as has been the challenge of every generation since Nationhood, is to improve as individual Jews and as part of Klal Yisrael.

When God instructs: Follow me, there is no room for doubt

Why didn't we receive the Torah in the Land of Israel?

G-d had a special interest in giving the people of Israel the Torah at Mount Sinai, outside of Israel. What is the reason?

Why didn't we receive the Torah in the Land of Israel?

Israel: The state for all Jews

The State of Israel opened the door to a country to any and all Jews who want to come here.

Israel: The state for all Jews

What is between Holocaust, heroism and independence?

Some thoughts about the days that a part mournful and part celebration of the indestructibility of the Jewish heart and soul.

What is between Holocaust, heroism and independence?

Much more than commemorating the Exodus

Shabbat HaGadol is more than a pointer towards Pesach - it is the major postscript to it.

Much more than commemorating the Exodus

To be Jewish - in the smallest things

Our partnership with G-d in setting up the calendar.

To be Jewish - in the smallest things

Red Heifer: Discovering your way forward

A Jew is supposed to be a good partner to his/her soul, meaning, to live a Torah life.

Red Heifer: Discovering your way forward

Is the Jewish nation scattered and fractionalized?

We need to seriously change our attitudes towards how we argue with each other.

Is the Jewish nation scattered and fractionalized?

The war on Amalek never stops

We should remember what Amalek did to us, and other Amaleks throughout history have done to us

The war on Amalek never stops

The dual personalities of the Jewish people

We are each part of Klal Yisrael. A singular unit, also with Mitzvot. Both identities are who we are. Neither should negate the other.

The dual personalities of the Jewish people

God's repeated command - what does he want to imply to us?

We are repeatedly commanded to build the Tabernacle. Is this a parable that is supposed to throw at our lives here and now?

God's repeated command - what does he want to imply to us?

Sin is human, his correction is divine

The golden calf was a demonstration for our being human beings. Now we can improve.

Sin is human, his correction is divine

The Icon and the person: The High Priest of Israel

Can a superior man also engage in simple, everyday actions?

The Icon and the person: The High Priest of Israel

Between the temporal and the determine: To build a Temple

About Parashat Terumah.

Between the temporal and the determine: To build a Temple

What does God really want from us?

We might not always live up to that level of commitment to G-d, but that is our target.

What does God really want from us?

Secret of faith: Agree to do before you heard what God requires

Understanding Torah and mitzvot is important, but must never be thought of as a condition.

Secret of faith: Agree to do before you heard what God requires

The simple and clear knowledge: This is what G-d asks of you

Our knowledge of what G-d did for us - and continues to do for us - is extremely crucial to our lives as Torah Jews.

The simple and clear knowledge: This is what G-d asks of you

Past, present, future - that's how everything connects

A look at the close connection between our calendar and our partnership with God.

Past, present, future - that's how everything connects

Prophecy is alive and well today

Maybe we don't have new prophecy today, but we certainly have prophecy in our time.

Prophecy is alive and well today

Throughout the generations: women are heroines

“It ain't what they call you, it's what you answer to.”

Throughout the generations: women are heroines

Been there, done that? Not quite

Do we really accept that the ways of Torah are pleasant and that we can improve keeping the Torah for ourselves and for our fellow Jews?

Been there, done that? Not quite

From wow to the no less than miraculous

Mitzvot and brachot are meant to teach us to appreciate being alive and active in the world that G-d gave us.

From wow to the no less than miraculous

Was Mark Twain right about the power of the Jewish people?

Is everything perfect? Not yet. But with G-d's help and our continued efforts, we'll get closer and closer.

Was Mark Twain right about the power of the Jewish people?

The meaning of the past, the lessons for the future

We must be grateful for every positive step on our way.

The meaning of the past, the lessons for the future

Hatred of Jews: That's how it all began

The roots of anti-Semitism already begin with the hatred Eisav had for Jacob.

Hatred of Jews: That's how it all began

Do not be afraid of Jewish haters

We need to protect ourselves and fight hard when necessary. We need to beseech G-d to protect us until we will not have to fear anymore.

Do not be afraid of Jewish haters

Pray to G-d: Service of the heart

The art of blessing to use your day well.

Pray to G-d: Service of the heart

Davening's double duty

Different aspects of prayer, both important.

Davening's double duty

A rare lesson from the father of the nation

Being part of the whole does not negate our individual identity as single solitary Jews.

A rare lesson from the father of the nation

Are you talking to me?

We each should develop a personal relationship with G-d. His covenant is between Him and me. And my children and grandchildren.

Are you talking to me?

The connection between being human and being Jewish

We believe that we are chosen and challenged for a spiritual quest like no others. But we need to remember that we are human beings and Jews

The connection between being human and being Jewish

What is the foundation of our existence?

This conveys to us the responsibility that every single person has towards the global concern for beneficial rain.

What is the foundation of our existence?

The amazing things in Judaism that you didn't know

The amazing thing about Judaism (one of the most amazing things) is that we are a horizontal people as well as vertical.

The amazing things in Judaism that you didn't know

Walking on the narrow bridge between the High Holy Days

What Yom Kippur should accomplish within each of us.

Walking on the narrow bridge between the High Holy Days

Return to me - and I will return to you

We don't know why G-d created the world, nor why He gave us Free Will, but we can hopefully see and understand the gift of T'shuva.

Return to me - and I will return to you

Hey Jew: Don't worry, be happy

There are Jews who do keep the mitzvot, but they do not keep them with joy. They need to be shown the beauties of a Torah way of life.

Hey Jew: Don't worry, be happy

What is the connection between mitzvot and Dr. Seuss?

The Torah forbids pulling a band wagon with an elephant harnessed with two giraffes - as we find in Dr. Seuss's book.

What is the connection between mitzvot and Dr. Seuss?

The right track for every Jew

The ups and downs of different authority systems.

The right track for every Jew

Law and Order: The basis for the Jewish nation

The gentle path to walk according to Jewish laws and the tradition

Law and Order: The basis for the Jewish nation

The power of speech: How words can determine destinies

This is the main goal of Parshat Eikev: Hear what your mouth is talking about.

The power of speech: How words can determine destinies