Archive for the 'The United States' Category
Preparing To Be A Free Nation
Thursday, May 16th, 2024The Torah refers to Passover as the holiday of Matzot. The reason is to teach us that leaving Egypt was the first step to becoming a nation. We had to learn what it means to be free. Share on Facebook
Natural Redemption
Wednesday, January 10th, 2024All the plagues in Egypt could be explained scientifically. This ties in with the concept of natural redemption. Nothing seems abnormal until you realize that there has been a change in the world. Share on Facebook
Fear God More Than Man
Tuesday, January 2nd, 2024When the midwives in Egypt get the order to murder all male Jewish babies they resist. The Torah states that they fear God more than Pharaoh. Fearing God will get you to do the right thing. Share on Facebook
Limiting the Power of the King
Wednesday, August 16th, 2023While recognizing that a leader was needed, the Torah limits the power of the king. It is interesting to note that this passage was the basis for the constitutional limits on the president of the US. Share on Facebook
The 3 Weeks & the Redemption
Wednesday, July 19th, 2023There were many bad things that happened to the Jewish people during the 3 Weeks. But it is also the time that we will see the beginning of the Redemption. Share on Facebook
Moses’s Last Speech
Tuesday, July 18th, 2023The Book of Deuteronomy is all about how to set up society once the Jews reach the Land of Israel. Moses’s main concern was that the Jews not copy the ways of the Egyptians or their society. Share on Facebook
Don’t Follow the Crowd
Tuesday, June 13th, 2023Joshua & Caleb did not follow the conventional wisdom of the other scouts. They were outliers in their views. Yet they were correct in their analysis while the others were not. This is to teach that it is the outliers who advance ideas, not those who follow the crowd. Share on Facebook
Avoid Swearing In God’s Name
Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023The Torah admonishes us not to take God’s Name in vain. Many will go out of their way so as not to swear in God’s Name. It is a common Jewish tradition to say “without an oath” when we promise to do something. Share on Facebook
We Need to Be Reminded
Monday, May 1st, 2023The repeats the holidays over and over again. The question is why. Isn’t once enough? The answer is that we have to remember why God took us out of Egypt and what our mission is. Share on Facebook
Under God’s Guidance
Friday, March 17th, 2023The Book of Exodus ends with the Pillar of Fire to guide the Jews by night & the pillar of smoke in the day. This is to show the Jews that they are to follow God’s ways throughout their lives. 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