Archive for the 'Morality & Torah' Category
Our Answer to Evil
Friday, March 11th, 2022פרשת ויקרא / ח’ באדר ב’ תשפ”ב Our answer to those who wish to destroy us is not just to merely survive. but to continue to live as Torah observant Jews. That is their ultimate defeat. Share on Facebook
Destroy Evil
Thursday, March 10th, 2022פרשת ויקרא / ז’ באדר ב’תשפ”ב This Shabbat is Shabbat Zachor, in which we remember the commandment to destroy Amalek. Why does the Torah take such a strong stand against Amalek? To teach that there are some things that are so evil they must be destroyed. Share on Facebook
Unblemished Offerings
Wednesday, March 9th, 2022פרשת ויקרא / ו’ באדר ב’ תשפ”ב The Torah dictates that the offerings brought in the Tabernacle were to be unblemished physically and spiritually. This means that the animal offerings have to be healthy and that our intentions have to be pure. Also, that the offering cannot be acquired illegally. Share on Facebook
Humility in Leadership
Tuesday, March 8th, 2022פרשת ויקרא / ה’ באדר ב’ תשפ”ב The small aleph in the word vayikra (ויקרא) is to teach us how humble Moses really was. He was always willing to learn and never thought that he was the be all and end all. Share on Facebook
Our Offerings Were for Us
Monday, March 7th, 2022פרשת ויקרא / ד’ באדר ב’ תשפ”ב The English translation of the offerings is wrong. These were not sacrifices given to God. God does not need our offerings. We need the offerings for our sakes. Share on Facebook
Clothes Make the Man
Tuesday, March 1st, 2022פרשת פקודי / כ”ח באדר א’ תשפ”ב The Torah emphasizes the clothing that the High Priest wears while working in the Tabernacle. The reason is not that God needs us to be dressed this way but that the High Priest is a leader. He is God’s representative to the world. Share on Facebook
Be Accountable
Monday, February 28th, 2022פרשת פקוקי / כ”ז באדר א’ תשפ”ב The Torah records that Moses made a full accounting of all the monies received and spent in building the Tabernacle. This is amazing! Shouldn’t Moses be above suspicion with regard to public monies? This is to teach our leaders that it is a good policy to prove that […]
Make Yourself Count
Friday, February 25th, 2022פרשת ויקהל / כ”ד באדר א’ תשפ”ב Every Jew had to donate a half shekel for the upkeep of the Temple. This is to teach us that every person has value. The concept of the upkeep of the Temple also included making sure the roads to Jerusalem were in good shape for those who had […]
The True Importance of the Tabernacle
Thursday, February 24th, 2022פרשת ויקהל / כ”ג באדר א’ תשפ”ב The true importance of the Temple was not the structure in of itself. It was that it was built for a moral & ethical God who demanded of his worshipers that they be moral and ethical. Share on Facebook
Knowledge Without Wisdom Leads to Disaster
Wednesday, February 23rd, 2022פרשת ויקהל / כ”ב באדר א’ תשפ”ב When choosing Bezalel as the craftsman for the articles in the Tabernacle the Torah extols his Wisdom, Heavenly Spirit and Knowledge. In that order. This is to teach us that knowledge in of itself is not enough. We need wisdom to know how to use the knowledge. Share […]
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