Author: Shlomo Bar-Ayal

  • To Win The Lottery, First Buy a Ticket

    God wants us to do our job. He wants to see the effort we do in keeping the commandments. Just like when we crossed the Sea of Reeds (Red Sea). Before He split the waters someone had to jump in.

  • Getting Our House In Order

    Yom Kipper we stand before God promising to be better. The real test comes a few days later when we have the holiday of Sukkot, in which we are commanded to be happy. Can we keep our promise to be better when we are having a good time.

  • Taking Ownership Of Our Actions

    God has given us free will. But that means that we have to take ownership of our actions. We are responsible for what we do. This is also the message of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

  • We Have To Reach Out

    In last week’s portion it says that Moses went to the people. This shows that it is our responsibility to reach out to others to help them become better people.

  • To Secure The Future, Learn From The Past

    Moses is leaving the Jewish people. Joshua is appointed his successor. Moses wants to remind the Jews that they were freed from Egypt for the purpose of creating a moral and just society in the image of God.

  • Murder Never Ends Well

    We learn that the Jewish people suffered because of the assassination of Jewish governor of Judah after the destruction of the Temple. The assassination led to tremendous suffering of the Jews. Murder is murder. It never ends the way the murderer wants.

  • Making Ourselves Better

    This evening is the “Jewish” New Year. In reality it is the anniversary of the creation of man. We have to remember that the reason for the creation was for man to improve the world through his actions, both spiritually and physically.

  • The True Humility of Moses

    True humility is not being totally passive and accepting of whatever comes. True humility is standing up for what is right but realizing that you are part of something larger. That was why Moses was the humblest of men even though he led the people for 40 years.

    https://youtu.be/QmksLGgarwA


  • Our Status Is In Our Hands

    Unlike idolators we are not fated to remain as we are. God has given us the power to improve our status in life, both spiritually and otherwise. It is all in our hands.

  • Make It Right With Your Neighbor

    With the High Holidays approaching, we have to take into consideration that we will be asking God for forgiveness. But before we can ask God for forgiveness, we have to make it right with our neighbor.