Archive for the 'Culture' Category
The Cure for Spiritual Sickness
Sunday, March 27th, 2022פרשת תזריע / ע”ד באדר ב’ תשפ”ב The Torah states that there is a disease that requires a priest to determine its nature and that the cure is quarantine. The problem is that the priest is not a medical doctor. The Torah is talking about the disease of malicious gossip. And the cure is to […]
Be An Example
Thursday, March 24th, 2022פרשת שמיני / כ”א באדר ב’ תשפ”ב The fact that a priest working in the Tabernacle was forbidden to drink before starting his service means to tell us that we should not take our ritual lightly. They are an example to the people coming to the Tabernacle and should behave as such. Share on Facebook
Don’t Be A Pig
Wednesday, March 23rd, 2022פרשת שמיני / כ’ באדר ב’ תשפ”ב The pig has cloven hooves but does not chew its cud, thus it is not kosher. It is the only animal that is so. For this reason it is the ultimate symbol of hypocrisy. Do as I say, not as I do. Also, a pig will eat anything […]
It Has To Be Earned
Monday, March 21st, 2022פרשת שמיני / י”ח באדר ב’ תשפ”ב Aaron’s sons assumed that they would inherit their father’s position as priests of the nation. They took certain liberties in their actions. That is said to be one of the reasons that they were consume by a “strange fire”. According to the Torah, you have to earn your […]
Judaism is Not a Spectator Sport
Sunday, March 20th, 2022פרשת שמיני / י”ז באדר ב’ תשפ”ב Why does the Torah spend time teaching us about keeping kosher in the middle of describing the ritual of the service in the Tabernacle? This is to teach us that service to God is not a spectator sport. You have to be in it to win it. Share […]
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
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 […]
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 […]
Dress to Impress
Tuesday, February 22nd, 2022פרשת ויקהל / כ”א באדר א’ תשפ”ב The Torah again stresses how the Cohenim (Priests) should be attired while working in the Tabernacle. Why does it stress the physical? This is to teach us that when we should dress appropriately when we are in a holy place. And that when we visit such a place […]
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