Archive for the 'Culture' Category
The World Was Created for US
Wednesday, October 19th, 2022פרשת בראשית / כ”ד בתשרי תשפ”ג One of the first commandments given to man was to name the animals. This is to underscore that the world is meant for man to make it holy through his use of it. Share on Facebook
Every Jew Has Value
Wednesday, October 12th, 2022פרשת וזאת הברכה / א’ דחול המואד סוכות / י”ז בתשרי תשפ”ג The lesson of Sukkot is that every person has value, no matter how high or low that person may be. We all equal in God’s eye. Share on Facebook
The Universality of Tishri
Sunday, October 9th, 2022פרשת וזאת הברכה / י”ד בתשרי תשפ”ג It is fitting that Sukkot is in Tishri since it represents the universality of the Jewish people, unlike Pesach which represents our nationhood. Share on Facebook
Economics & Morality
Friday, October 7th, 2022פרשת האזינו / י”ב בתשרי תשפ”ג The Torah admonishes us to oppose foreign ideologies, meaning ideologies that negate morality based on the Torah. Share on Facebook
We’re In A Partnership With God
Thursday, October 6th, 2022פרשת האזינו / י”א בתשרי תשפ”ג This week’s portion deals with the problem of success. Many of us achieve success and forget that God had a hand in it. This is a clear warning not to. Share on Facebook
When Are Really Judged?
Tuesday, October 4th, 2022פרשת האזנו / ט’ בתשרי תשפ”ג We usually think that our judgement is sealed on Yom Kippur. The truth is that the final judgement is on Simhat Torah. The reason is that on Yom Kippur we are on our best behavior but on Simhat Torah we are drinking and eating and carrying on. How do […]
God Wants Actions, Not Words
Monday, October 3rd, 2022פרשת האזינו / ח’ בתשרי תשפ”ג The key to the Yom Kippur service is that we read the Book of Jonah at Minha on that day. Jonah is called upon to announce to the Assyrians that they have to repent. When recounting the story, the Book of Jonah does not talk about their prayers but […]
Your Destiny is Up to You
Sunday, October 2nd, 2022פרשת האזינו / ז’ בתשרי תשפ”ג There is no Hebrew word for tragedy. Thhis is because there is no concept of humans being fated to their destiny. We can change our destiny through our actions. Share on Facebook
What Does God Want of Us
Thursday, September 29th, 2022פרשת וילך / ד’ בתשרי תשפ”ג This is the period of repentance. The main theme is that God wants us to behave well with our fellow man. The questions that we will be asked when we get to the next world will be how we treated our fellow. Not if we believe. Share on Facebook
It’s All Up to You
Friday, September 23rd, 2022פרשת ניצבים / כ”ז באלול תשפ”ב A major message of the Torah is that we have free will. We can set our own agenda. If we want a good life, then we have to do the right thing. 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