The book of Kohelet (Ecclesiastes), which the Jewish people read during the festival of Sukkot, is seen by many to be a book of contradictions. In actuality, it’s a book that delves deep into the psychology of human behavior and encourages goodness, wisdom, compassion and good sense. The words of Kohelet are read right after Continue Reading »
Words have the power to be an instrument of peace—or to cut like a knife. There are many incidents in the Bible that illustrate the power of speech to either damage or heal. The serpent in the Garden of Eden causes temptation through speech; Miriam develops leprosy after speaking lashon hara – gossip – about her Continue Reading »
In just a few days, on the Jewish New Year known as Rosh Hashanah, the blast of the shofar will be heard. The High Holidays are a time that we Jews gather in prayer and concentrate on introspection. They are a time in which we give thanks for the ways we have been blessed and Continue Reading »
It’s been a well established fact that human beings are the smartest creatures on earth – so smart, in fact, that they have now created an apparatus that’s just as smart as themselves. Computers that emit artificial intelligence (AI) have been in the works for a few years now, but they have gotten really refined Continue Reading »
There was once a young woman who fell in a pit while visiting the Judea Valley in Israel. Miraculously, she survived the fall, but needed about 100 stitches to repair her wounds. When asked why she didn’t consider reconstructive surgery, she said she preferred to remain scarred, as a lucid self-reminder that she was living Continue Reading »
When Abraham Lincoln ran for Congress in 1848, he first listened to his opponent, Stephen A. Douglas, who, as the keynote speaker, spoke for nearly 90 minutes. Then it was Lincoln’s turn. He spoke for only one minute, saying simply: “Until now I always suspected that my opponent was a fool. Now, he has confirmed Continue Reading »
As over three million people congregated at the foot of Mount Sinai, after forty years of trudging through the desert, the defining moment in Jewish history occurred. Through dust and clouds, The Creator’s voice emanated across the masses and transmitted the ten commandments. With great seriousness, each person who bore witness to this grand mass Continue Reading »
A man sitting on the deck of a boat reaches into his toolbox, pulls out a drill, and proceeds to bore a hole in the hull. Suddenly, the people sitting next to him begin to shout, “Stop! What are you doing?” “I’m drilling a hole,” the man says. “I can do what I want. Why Continue Reading »
In a short time, during the holiday of Passover, we will celebrate the Exodus of the enslaved Israelites from Egypt. We will retell an enduring story about the Jewish people’s quintessential quest for freedom and redemption. It’s a story that has brought solace and a sense of promise to Jewish communities throughout their history, as Continue Reading »
In a few days, Jewish people around the world will parade through streets and synagogues dressed as the brave Queen Esther and the wise Mordechai. Some will even choose contemporary characters, revealing a wilder, more creative side of themselves. Dressing in costume is exciting. When we change our outward appearance, we feel different; through the Continue Reading »
