Archive for the 'Culture' Category
The US is Not Just Another Country
Sunday, July 3rd, 2022פרשת חוקה / ד’ בתמוז תשפ”ב The Hebrew translation of the name of the US does not translate as “the United States” but as The Lands of the Agreement”. Hebrew is the only language that translates the US in this way. It is a recognition the US is not just another country but unique in […]
The Problem of Korach
Tuesday, June 28th, 2022פרשת קרח / כ”ט בסיון תשפ”ב On the face of it Korach seems to have a valid complaint. The truth is that it breaks down when we really look at it. This is the very common among those who seek power for the sake of power. They use democracy to bring their dictatorship. Share on […]
For the Sake of Heaven
Monday, June 27th, 2022פרשת קרח / כ”ח בסיון תשפ”ב The Mishna in Pirkei Avot mentions the difference between a disagreement for the sake of Heaven and for personal ego is the dispute between Shammai & Hillel, for the sake of Heaven, and Korach and his congregation for ego. The difference is that if the dispute is for the […]
On Becoming a Leader
Sunday, June 26th, 2022פרשת קרח / כ”ז בסיון תשפ”ב Korach led a rebellion against Moses based on “equality”. Why should Moses be the leader over all of the Jews? Aren’t we all equal? The answer is that Moses became Moses because he worked on himself. He was not born into leadership. He earned it. Share on Facebook
The Importance of the Sabbath
Friday, June 24th, 2022פרשת שלח / כ”ה בסיון תשפ”ב This week’s portion includes the admonition about idolatry. This is no accident. Idolatry is trying to make God human. Our goal should be to be Godly. It includes the Sabbath desecrater. Violating the Sabbath is denying that God created the universe. Share on Facebook
The Importance of Marriage
Wednesday, June 22nd, 2022פרשת שלח / כ”ג בסיון תשפ”ב When Joshua was chosen to be one of the scouts Moses gave him an extra letter to his name for protection. He did not do this for Caleb. The reason was that Caleb was already protected. He was married while Joshua was not. Marriage is the protection that was […]
The Limits of Freedom
Friday, June 17th, 2022פרשת בהעלותך / י”ח בסיון תשפ”ב The Complainers are back again in this week’s portion. They will continue to plague Moses throughout the Exodus. The question is what they were really complaining about. The limits that the Torah places on us. That we cannot do whatever we want in society. Share on Facebook
Apprenticeship of the Levites
Thursday, June 16th, 2022פרשת בהעלותך / י”ז בסיון תשפ”ב In this week’s portion we learn that the Levites had a 5-year apprenticeship for their work in the Temple. Why did it take so long for them to learn their job? More important than learning the workings of the Temple, they had to learn how to behave in the […]
Becoming Better Not Perfect
Wednesday, June 15th, 2022פרשת בהעלותך / ט”ז בסיון תשפ”ב The Torah wants us to make ourselves better. Perfection is a state that we will never attain and the attempt to attain it will end in failure. But if we work to improve ourselves, we will become better people and thus improve the world. Share on Facebook
Lead by Example
Tuesday, June 14th, 2022פרשת בהעלותך / ט”ו בסיון תשפ”ב This week’s portion leads with the commandment to Aaron, the High Priest, to clean & prepare the Menorah. Why does he have to do this? Can’t he delegate this job to an underling? The answer is that to the Torah leadership means to lead by example. Sometimes you have […]
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