Author: Shlomo Bar-Ayal

  • Individuality & Society

    In the Torah we see that individuals are recognized for their leadership roles but that a same time we are encouraged to build a society from the bottom up.

  • Taking Responsibility

    One of the themes of the Book of Ruth is taking responsibility. Both, if one is a leader or a common person, we are responsible for doing the right thing.

  • True Jewish Heritage

    The Museum of Jewish Heritage, a Living Memorial to the Holocaust is an important venue but it gives the wrong message. The true heritage of the Jewish people is when we behave as Jews and keep the commandments that were given us at Mt. Sinai.

  • We Are On A Mission From God

    God took us out of Egypt with a plan. We are to be a light unto the nations. That they should learn from us what a Godly society should be.

  • Service to the Community

    As we approach the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai, we have to remember that one the central themes of the Torah is that we are required to be of service to the community. That we are a part of the whole.

  • Jerusalem of Gold

    On this day in June of 1967 the city of Jerusalem was reunited. A few weeks before the 6 Day War Naomi Shemer sang her song “Jerusalem of Gold” for the first time, not realizing that within a month the city would be liberated.

  • God’s Hand In History

    When we think about the liberation of the Old City of Jerusalem, we have to remember that it occurred through a miracle. The IDF was able to take the city with ease due to the Jordanians abandoning the all of Judea & Sumaria. With this we see God’s hand in history.

  • Duties & Obligations

    The Torah takes a census of men of military age. This, in case the nation has to go to war. Considering that the main job of the Jews at the time was learning shows that we are obligated to do our duty to the nation.

  • We All Have To Serve

    When taking a census of the Jews in the wilderness the Tribe of Levi is not counted with the rest. The reason is that they are singled out for a special mission. They are to be the spiritual leaders of the people. That is why they were spread out among the people.

  • Life is More Than Survival

    The Tabernacle was a physical structure to remind us of the spiritual nature of our lives. That we need a physical structure because we are both physical and spiritual. We are not here just to survive.