Archive for the 'History' Category
Why The Fast of Esther
Sunday, March 13th, 2022פרשת צו / י’ באדר ב’ תשפ”ב We fast the day before Purim. This is usually understood that Esther requested this due to the danger of going to the king without permission. This can also be understood that the reason for the story to begin with is that the Jews were not behaving properly at […]
Our Answer to Evil
Friday, March 11th, 2022פרשת ויקרא / ח’ באדר ב’ תשפ”ב Our answer to those who wish to destroy us is not just to merely survive. but to continue to live as Torah observant Jews. That is their ultimate defeat. Share on Facebook
Make Yourself Count
Friday, February 25th, 2022פרשת ויקהל / כ”ד באדר א’ תשפ”ב Every Jew had to donate a half shekel for the upkeep of the Temple. This is to teach us that every person has value. The concept of the upkeep of the Temple also included making sure the roads to Jerusalem were in good shape for those who had […]
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 […]
Leading by Example
Monday, February 21st, 2022פרשת ויקהל / כ’ באדר א’ תשפ”ב The leaders of the tribes were punished because they hesitated to donate to the Tabernacle. They felt that they would wait and see what would be needed after the people donated. The people donated so much that their donations were not needed. The Torah points out that a […]
True Humility in Leadership
Friday, February 18th, 2022פרשת כי תישה / י”ז באדר א’ תשפ”ב Moses is considered to be the humblest man who ever lived. While he knew that he was a leader, he did not realize how his leadership influenced others. He was unaware his face glowed. How could someone so important no know this? Share on Facebook
Silence is Complicity
Thursday, February 17th, 2022פרשת כי תישה / ט”ז באדר א’ תשפ”ב The entire nation was punished for the sin of the Golden Calf. This is astounding when we realize that it was only a minority that committed the sin. Why was the whole nation punished? To teach us that silence in the face of evil is complicity in […]
Do Not Fool Yourself
Wednesday, February 16th, 2022פרשת כי תישה / ט”ו באדר א’ תשפ”ב After witnessing the greatest miracles man had ever seen the Israelites chose to worship an idol that they had created rather than God who performed the miracles. This is perhaps the real reason that the Jews were punished, they refused to believe reality. Share on Facebook
The Ultimate Defeat of Evil
Tuesday, February 15th, 2022פרשת כי תישה / י”ד באדר א’ תשפ”ב The ultimate defeat of evil is not just to survive but to survive in a way that shows they failed to destroy your humanity. As long as you follow God’s commandments evil is defeated. As long as a Jew celebrates being Jewish then the Nazis have been […]
Travelling in Lithuania
Friday, July 10th, 2015We are travellin in Lithuania. It seems very fitting that we should be visiting this country during the Three Weeks. The Three Weeks is ythe period between the 17th of Tamuz and the 9th of Av. That is the traditional mourning period for the destruction of the Holy Temple. (The 17th of Tamuz is considered […]
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