Archive for the 'Morality & Torah' Category
The Importance of Shabbat
Tuesday, March 14th, 2023The Torah stresses that keeping Shabbat is more important that building the Tabernacle. That if we do not keep Shabbat then what is the Tabernacle for? Share on Facebook
A Leader Must Lead
Friday, March 10th, 2023After the incident of the Golden Calf Moses rebukes Aaron for allowing the situation to get out of control. He reminds him that a leader is responsible for the actions of his subordinates. Share on Facebook
Idolatry is for Children
Wednesday, March 8th, 2023When Moses seems to be delayed coming back from Mt. Sinai the Jews build an idol. It seems strange until we remember that they were only recently freed from Egyptian bondage and the only society that they knew was Egyptian. Share on Facebook
A Lesson in Bad Governance
Friday, March 3rd, 2023The story of Purim tells us that the real danger to the Jewish people is not people who are evil. We can find them easily enough, but of leaders who are venal and corruptible. Without them the evil doers do not have a chance to do evil. Share on Facebook
Take a Stand
Thursday, March 2nd, 2023In the story of the Book of Esther all the action revolves around the fact that Mordechai refuses to bow down to Haman. What frustrated Haman was the opposition of Mordechai. That Mordechai stood against evil. Share on Facebook
Why an Inherited Priesthood
Wednesday, March 1st, 2023The institution of the Priesthood was an inherited position. Why? The idea was to take politics out of the service in the Tabernacle. When politics mix with religion it is usually bad for both. By making the priesthood inherited the Torah was accomplishing this goal. Share on Facebook
Shabbat is Holier than the Tabernacle
Friday, February 24th, 2023The pasha ends with an admonishment to the Jews that the observance of Shabbat overrides the building of the Tabernacle. This is to teach us that as important as the Tabernacle was, without observance of Shabbat it is meaningless. Share on Facebook
Where is God?
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2023This was a question asked by the Kotzker Rebbe in the 19th Century. The answer is wherever you let Him in. God wants to enter the world, but we have to let Him in by our actions. Share on Facebook
We Need the Tabernacle
Sunday, February 19th, 2023The purpose of the Tabernacle was not for God but for us. God does not need us to build Him a home. Just as our prayers are more for us than for God. Share on Facebook
Justice Needs to be Blind
Friday, February 17th, 2023The Torah admonishes judges not to take social status in consideration when rendering a judgement. Neither the person’s wealth nor poverty. All are equal before the Torah. 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