Archive for the 'Morality & Torah' Category
How To Avoid Sin
Thursday, September 15th, 2022פרשת כי תבוא / י:ט באלול תשפ”ב In Pirkei Avot it states that we should know three things to avoid sin: Know where you came from, a putrid drop; know where you are going, a place of worms; and before whom you will be judged, the Holy One blesssed be He. To teach us that […]
Actions Over Beliefs
Wednesday, September 14th, 2022פרשת כי תבוא / י”ח באלול תשפ”ב There is a debate which is more important: Doing the commandments or being spiritual. The Jerusalem Talmud addressed this debate in the 3rd Century CE and concludes that your actions are more important than your beliefs therefore we should follow the commandments even if we do not believe […]
Are Your Ancestors Proud of You?
Tuesday, September 13th, 2022פרשת כי תבוא / י”ז באלול תשפ”ב Many people go on genealogy sites to see who their ancestors were and are proud of them. The question that the Torah asks is would they be proud of you. Live your life so that they would be. Share on Facebook
Learn to be Grateful
Monday, September 12th, 2022פרשת כי תבוא / ט”ז באלול תשפ”ב This week’s portion starts with the commandment to bring tithes to the Temple. When this is done the person bringing the tithes makes a declaration of how grateful they are. This is one of the most important lessons that we can teach. We should all be grateful for […]
Don’t Be Average
Sunday, September 11th, 2022פרשת כי תבוא / ט”ו באלול תשפ”ב In the curses that we receive if we do not follow the Torah is that we will become an average people. While there is nothing wrong with being average it is not a great accomplishment either. The Torah wants us to be above average in our moral and […]
The Danger of Cheating in Business
Friday, September 9th, 2022פרשת כי תצא / י”ג באלול תשפ”ב The admonition of having accurate weights & measures is a warning against dishonest business practices. It is immediately followed by a warning about Amelek. The two are related. Amelek is looking for weakness in society. This is brought on by being dishonest and causing dissention in society. Share […]
Do Not Shame Your Brother
Thursday, September 8th, 2022פרשת כי תצא / י”ב באלול תשפ”ב We are admonished not to let the body of a person convicted of a capital offense hang overnight. This is so the family will not be shamed. It is assumed that the family is embarrassed by the actions of the criminal. We don’t have to rub in. Share […]
You Are Responsible
Wednesday, September 7th, 2022פרשת כי תצא / י”א באלול תשפ”ב The Torah admonishes us not to blame the father for the son’s sins and not to blame the son for the father’s sins. This underscores a major concept that we are responsible for our own actions. Not to blame others. Share on Facebook
Assume People Will Do Stupid Things
Tuesday, September 6th, 2022פרשת כי תצא / י’ באלול תשפ”ב One of the commandments this week is that we are required to put a fence around the roof of a building. We do this because we assume that a person will go up on the roof and fall off. Our job to prevent, as much as possible people […]
Spirituality & Returning a Lost Object
Monday, September 5th, 2022פרשת כי תצא / ט’ באלול תשפ”ב The commandment to return a lost object to its owner is an important underpinning of a good society. If your find something, it is up to you to return it. We do this not only for society but for our spiritual well-being. Share on Facebook
About the Author: Shlomo Bar-Ayal is an Israeli-American, or an American-Israeli (I could never get that right) who is unabashedly pro-Israel, pro-US and a great guy.
He has an open mind to opinions that he agrees with.
Besides blogging on whatever he feels like blogging about on any given day he enjoys learning Talmud, davening, being the candyman in his synagogue, smoking his tobacco pipe, giving tours at the Grand Lodge of New York, being involved in Freemasonry, and partaking in an adult beverage every now and then