Archive for the 'Holiness' Category
We Are Moses’s Progenity
Sunday, May 14th, 2023When the Torah states that these are the progenity of Moses & Aaron, it mentions Aaron’s descendants but is silent on Mases’s. The reason is that Moses’s descendants were not leaders. Aaron’s descendants were. 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
An Observant Jew is an Observed Jew
Sunday, April 30th, 2023The Torah states that a priest in the Temple has to be unblemished both physically and spiritually. This is because he represents the Jewish people to God and God to the Jewish people. Share on Facebook
Make Time Holy
Thursday, April 27th, 2023When we look at this week’s Portion, we see that the goal is to make the mundane holy. We do this by controlling our time. We should be cognizant of the limited time that we have and make the best use of it. Share on Facebook
How To Become Holy
Monday, April 24th, 2023The Book of Leviticus tells us about the Temple service. Yet it suddenly takes a detour to discuss societal issues. What we are being told is that the Temple is just a building unless we behave correctly toward our fellow man. Share on Facebook
We Celebrate With Friends
Monday, April 3rd, 2023Any thanksgiving offering that we bring is too much for one person to consume. Yet it has to be consumed by the end of the day. This forces us to bring our friends to celebrate. This shows that the Pascal Sacrifice is also a Thanksgiving offering. Share on Facebook
The Source of Evil
Thursday, March 30th, 2023In the Seder we are admonished to set the teeth of the wicked son on edge. The reason is that the source of his being wicked are the words that he abuses. Share on Facebook
Experience the Seder
Wednesday, March 29th, 2023The real message of the Passover Seder is that it is not an intellectual account of the story but an experiential one. We are meant to experience leaving Egypt. Share on Facebook
Be The Right Man For the Job
Monday, March 27th, 2023The Torah first tells us what to do and then announces who will be the High Priest. This is to teach us that more important than who is doing the service, that the service should be done correctly. 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