Archive for the 'Morality & Torah' Category
When You Go To War
Sunday, September 4th, 2022פרשת כי תצא / ח’ באלול תשפ”ב In this week’s portion we discuss behavior in battle. We might think that a soldier in combat might get a pass for immoral behavior due to the unique nature of being in battle. The Torah says no. He still has to behave within certain bounds. Share on Facebook
Seeking a Just Society
Friday, September 2nd, 2022פרשת שופטים / ו’ באלול תשפ”ב The Torah states “Justice, Justice you will seek.” Note that it does not say “you will do justice only that you will seek it. This means that while we are imperfect humans and will make mistakes, we will do our best to bring justice. Share on Facebook
The Key to Jewish Exceptionalism
Sunday, August 14th, 2022פרשת עקב / י”ז באב תשפ”ב In the second paragraph of the Shma we see that if we want to be like all other nations, we will suffer the fate of those nations. If we want to be exceptional, we have to teach our youth why we should be exceptional. Share on Facebook
A Society of Individuals
Friday, August 12th, 2022פרשת ואתחנן / ט”ו באב תשפ”ב It is interesting that the word used for you in the Ten Commandments is in the singular. The Torah is pointing out that society is made up of individuals and if an individual is bad then it is bad for society, & if the individual is good then it […]
A God-Fearing Society
Thursday, August 11th, 2022פרשת ואתחנן – י”ד באב תשפ”ב Moses stresses that what we consider civil laws are really religiously basted law. That if the basis of law in a society is not God then the laws will break down and the results will be a dictatorship or anarchy, as we see from the difference in the results […]
What is Idolatry?
Wednesday, August 10th, 2022פרשת ואתחנן / י”ג באב תשפ”ב The first three Commandments are tied together. They warn that God is the supreme being and anything else is idolatry. A that even religion can become an idol. Share on Facebook
Covetness is the Root of Evil
Tuesday, August 9th, 2022פרשת ואתחנן / י”ב באב תשפ”ב The 10th Commandment is against covetness. This is important because there are always people who have more than we do. We get jealous of them. Why do they have what they have & we do not. We do not see what they had to do to get where they […]
The Second Version of the Ten Commandments
Monday, August 8th, 2022פרשת ואתנן – י”א באב תשפ”ב The version of the 10 Commandments recited this week is slightly different from the original version. In this week’s version we have the word “keep” rather than “remember”. If we do not keep that Sabbath then there is nothing to remember. If we do not remember then there is […]
Why The Temple was Destroyed
Friday, August 5th, 2022פרשת דברים / ח’ באב תשפ”ב The Talmud states that the Temple was destroyed because the Jews kept the letter of the law. This is understood that they were more worried about the minutia of the law and forgot about the spirit that the law was to imbue. Share on Facebook
The 10 Martyrs & the Sale of Joseph
Thursday, August 4th, 2022פרשת דברים / ז’ באב תשפ”ב On the 9thof Av we recall the story of the 10 rabbis murdered by the Romans. The reason that the Romans give for why they murdered the 10 rabbis is the sale of Joseph by the brothers. What is interesting is that this was a sin of man against […]
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