Author: Shlomo Bar-Ayal

  • If There Is No Man, Be A Man

    The Torah relates that when Moses came upon the Egyptian beating a Jew he looked up and down and did not see a man. That means he saw other people but no one willing to take a stand against the injustice before their eyes.

  • Pharoah’s Lesson to the Jews

    We have to remember that no matter how nice the government is to us in the beginning in the end they will act in their own self-interest.

  • Actions Mean More Than Intentions

    Esau’s head ended up on Isaac chest. Esau had good intentions, but he always did the wrong thing.

  • A Leader Needs to be Humble

    When Jacob gives Judah the blessing of leadership, it was because of his natural ability to lead was tied to his innate sense of humility. This is what made Judah a great leader.

  • The Ends Do Not Justify the Means

    When Jacob blesses his sons, Simon & Levi, he comments that their anger should be controlled. He understood why they attacked Schem, but that they went about it in the wrong way.

  • Senseless Hate Destroys

    In Jewish thought the Temples were destroyed due to senseless hate among the Jews, not because the Babylonians nor the Romans were more powerful. If God had not willed the Temple to be destroyed it would not have been.

  • Small Acts Can Change the World

    We might think that we do not influence much but we do not see the bigger picture. Sometimes what we consider a small act can have a tremendous impact.

  • True Repentance

    When Judah confronts Joseph concerning Banjamin Joseph realizes that Judah has repented for his earlier actions. It is not enough to say “sorry”, you have to show through your actions that you have repented.

  • Joseph’s Message to Jacob

    When Jacob was told that Joseph was alive, he did not believe it until he saw the wagons. Why did they make a difference?

  • Remember Why We Fight

    The fast of the 10th of comes a week after we finish celebrating Hanukah. This is to teach us that the Hasmoneans lost sight of the reason for the war against the Hellenists. Over the generations they became Hellenists. When we lose sight of the goal we lose all.