Author: Shlomo Bar-Ayal

  • What’s In A Name?

    Greek culture regarded beauty above all, regardless of behavior. The torah emphasized moral and ethical behavior about all else. It is not surprising that the two would eventually clash.

  • Saying Halel on Hanukah

    Halel is a prayer that we recite on days that we acknowledge God’s help. We say it on Hanukah, Israel Independence Day and Jerusalem but on Purim. The reason is that at the end of the story of Purim our status did not change, we simply survived. On the other days our status changed.

  • Make the Routine Special

    We usually overlook the things that are done routinely. The truth is that is what is most important. The routine should be viewed as special. Without the routine we could not live a normal life.

  • Leadership Issues

    We see that Judah becomes the leader of the family, not Joseph. This is why the royal line of David is through Judah. Joseph was the leader of Egypt, but as we know that did not last long.

  • Stand Up For Your Rights

    When Joseph decrees that Benjamin to remain in Egypt as a slave, Judah challenges his decree. This was a major event. But it shows that we have to stand for our rights, no one else will if we don’t.

  • Make The Miracle Known

    The commandment to light the Hanukah candles is very strong. We have to make sure that our Hanukkiah are visible to all. The reason is that we have to acknowledge the miracle. To show gratitude to God for His help.

  • The True Meaning of Hanukah

    On Hanukah we celebrate the victory of the morality of the Torah over Greek philosophical thought.

  • Be Steadfast in Who You Are

    One of the things that we notice is that Joseph remained steadfast in his faith, no matter what the situation that he found himself in. From being a slave to being 2nd to Pharaoh, he remained a Jew.

  • We Are Responsible For Our Actions

    When faced with the accusations that they were spies by the prime minister of Egypt, they began to accuse Judah of selling Joseph. The problem was that they were willing participants. We have to realize that we are still responsible for our actions.

  • God’s Hand In Our Lives

    Pharaoh’s dreams tell Joseph that God is in charge. The language used to describe the 7 beautiful cows, and the 7 lean cows is the same as when the Torah describes Rachel and Leah. That tells Joseph that the dreams are from God.