Rabbi Lazer Gurkow

"Between the gates"

Being born between the gates empowered Yocheved to feel free. To not allow Egypt to invade her mind, her psyche, her sense of self. And you?

Balak: Stolen waters taste sweet

When you have a choice between doing something self-serving and a good deed, it is human nature to salivate over the self-serving deed.

The Red Heifer: An available tool

Jews were seldom obligated to purify. It was only for those who made pilgrimage and who had become impure since their last pilgrimage.

The behavior mirror

An event in the Torah has a deeper layer that holds a moral lesson for all time, found in the teachings of hassidic philosophy.

Bamidbar: Israel is on fire

Our enemies use our sacred ground to launch attacks against us and the world does not understand how sacred this mountain is to us.

Fooling yourself

Rabbi Simcha Bunim observed that the Torah tells us not to fool others, but if you are a hassid, you don’t fool yourself either.

Groupthink and cancel culture vs. Love others as you do yourself

Every human was created in G-d’s image. If G-d can’t be canceled, neither can His image.

Tazria Metzora: The pivotal moment

The two ways of reading a word in the parsha - "vehuva" or as our Sages said "vehu va" have a world of meaning.

Passover and the Seuda of Mashiach

The Baal Shem Tov: The first days of Pesach celebrate the Exodus but during the last days of Pesach we anticipate the coming of Mashiach.

Matzah and the Forbidden Fruit

Only matza has a blessing designating eating it as a mitzva - the exact opposite of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden.

Is G-d in your heart?

A tabernacle can be built by deeds, but the most important tabernacle is built in the heart.

Thoughts on Purim: How should we respond to Antisemitism today?

We can’t change who we are, so even if we change what we do, it won’t stop antisemitism. So how do we respond to racism?

Torah study is different from other mitzvot

Good intentions are wonderful, but they are not everything.

The Robinhood culture

Can you imagine such self-effacement that not even losing your life’s work can dissuade you from seeking truth? Robinhood vs. Torah.

The trust test

We can only be sanguine about the future with a healthy dose of trust. Otherwise, we panic, and panic becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy

Bo: The Army

An essay based on a discourse that the Lubavitcher Rebbe delivered on Shabbat Parashat Bo in 1961.

G-d is in control

It was at this time of year that Pharaoh declared that G-d is in control. And with COVID, we are coming to terms with something similar.

Diaspora Judaism

The greatest miracle of history is the survival of diaspora Judaism. The greatest question is where it is headed today.

The enduring soul

Rosh Hashanah: Without a crutch

Re'eh: The cellphone problem

Matot Masei: Your daughter

Pinchas: A new generation

The selfie

Shlach: A Talit Meditation

Retroactive sin

The bland taste of Passover matza

Pekudei: The case of the missing silver

The afterlife

Terumah: Vertical logs

Vayishlach: O Brother

Expand your envelope!

Toldot: In defense of Jews

Lech Lecha: Unhealthy dependencies

A palm frond

Shabbat Shuva: On credit

Onward to Israel

Shoftim: City of Refuge

The missing holiday

Do you own a boat?

Rabbi Akiva laughed and the Sages cried

Weed is legal in Canada

Chukat: Live or die

Can you accept instruction?

Beha’alotcha: The Travel Codes

Naso: To be lifted

Bamidbar: Count for something

Behar Bechukosai: True Freedom

Chai to life

Tazria Mezora: Judging from past behavior

No salt rule

Coming to shul

Vayakhel Pekudei: Playing host to G-d

Purim: The nature of miracles

Tetzaveh: Good to the last drop

Marriage tips

Mishpatim: Sift and sort

Why from a distance?

Doing our best- always

Wear your Judaism with pride