Archive for the 'Morality & Torah' Category
The Reason for the 9th of Av
Wednesday, August 3rd, 2022פרשת דברים / ו’ באב תשפ”ב When we look at the literature of the 9th of Av, we notice that the Romans and Babylonians are barely mentioned. The real reason for the disaster is placed on the bad moral and ethical behavior of the Jews. Share on Facebook
Believe in God & Yourself
Tuesday, August 2nd, 2022פרשת דברים / ה’ באב תשפ”ב The sin of the spies is recounted in this week’s portion. The real sin that they committed was twofold. The lacked faith in God being able to help them in conquering the Land of Israel and they lacked faith in themselves. Share on Facebook
Be Just in Your Judgements
Monday, August 1st, 2022פרשת דברים / ד’ באב תשפ”ב The commandment to appoint judges is one of the most important for a just society. Moses commands the judges that they have to be just in their decisions. They cannot favor one party over the other, neither rich nor poor, neither the powerful nor the powerless, Share on Facebook
Obligations Not Rights
Thursday, July 28th, 2022פרשת מטות-מסעי / כ”ט בתמוז תשפ”ב In this week’s portion the tribes of Reuben and Gad express a desire to settle east of the Jordan. Moses gives them permission provided that they remember their obligation to help in conquering the land. That it is not just about them but the whole of the people. Share […]
The Importance of Good Neighbors
Wednesday, July 27th, 2022פרשת מטות-מסעי / כ”ח בתמוז תשפ”ב In this week’s portion the Jews receive the command to expel the Canaanites from the Land of Israel. The reason is that they are considered to be bad people and their influence on the Jews would lead the Jews to sin. Share on Facebook
To Stand Up to Evil
Tuesday, July 26th, 2022פרשת מטות-מסעי / כ”ז תמוז תשפ”ב After the initial retaliation against Midian Moses reprimands the Jewish officers for allowing the women to live. To understand this, we have to remember that the women were willing participants in the sins committed by the Jewish men that led to the war. That is why they had to […]
Why We Fight
Monday, July 25th, 2022פרשת מטות-מסעי / כ”ו בתמוז תשפ”ב The reason that the Jews were commanded to destroy Midian was because Midian had declared war on God and morality. Personal insults are one thing. Insulting God and morality are another. Share on Facebook
To Get to a City of Refuge
Sunday, July 24th, 2022פרשת מטות-מסעי / כ”ה בתמוז תשפ”ב When going to Jerusalem there were no directional signs. We want people to stop and ask directions. When going to a city of Refuge there were directional signs. We know that the person running to them is in a hurry and cannot wait. Share on Facebook
Leadership Decision Making
Friday, July 22nd, 2022פרשת פנחס / כ”ג בתמוז תשפ”ב When the daughters of Zelaphad approached Moses about their inheritance rights he asked them to wait for an answer. He knew that the decision would be the basis of decisions for the future. In the case of Pinchas he could not wait, he had to take action immediately to […]
What is a Leader?
Wednesday, July 20th, 2022פרשת פנחס / כ”א בתמוז תשפ”ב In this week’s portion we learn the difference between real leadership and a leader that follows the crowd. Pinchas was not yet chosen to be leader but had a moral compass. Zimri had inherited his position as leader of the Tribe of Shimon and had no moral compass. Zimri […]
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