Archive for the 'History' Category
God Wants You to Earn You Reward
Tuesday, June 21st, 2022פרשת שלח / כ”ב בסיון תשפ”ב The reason that the Jews were upset with the report of the scouts was that it meant that when they would enter the Land of Israel, they would have to put into practice all the laws that they were learning in the wilderness. Share on Facebook
Know When to Leave
Monday, June 20th, 2022פרשת שלח / כ”א בסיון תשפ”ב In this week’s portion we watch as Moses chooses the wrong people to scout out the Land. The problem with the men chosen was that they had a vested interest in staying in the wilderness. That they did not want to lose their position of leadership. Sometimes a leader […]
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
The Miracles of Jerusalem Day
Sunday, May 29th, 2022פרשת במדבר / כ”ח באייר תשפ”ב – מ”ג בעומר Today is the anniversary of the Liberation of Jerusalem in 1967. For Jews this was an open miracle. There were many miracles during the 6 Day War and Jerusalem’s liberation was the high point. The question is do we recognize it when God performs miracles for […]
The Vilna Gaon Predicted Israel
Friday, May 27th, 2022פרשת בחוקותי / כ”ו באייר תשפ”ב – מ”א בעמר The Vilna Gaon, who died in 1797, predicted that two dates would be important in the future, the 18th Day of the Omer, (that is the 5th of Iyar), and the 28th of Iyar. Today we recognize these days as Israel Independence Day and Jerusalem Day. […]
We are Our Curse
Sunday, May 22nd, 2022פרשת בחוקותי / כ”א באייר ץשפ”ב – ל”ו בעומר This week’s portion has the blessings and the curses. That if we follow the Torah then great things will occur but if we do not then disaster will happen. The interesting thing is that the curses will be caused by a breakdown in society. God does […]
Respect Your Brother
Friday, May 20th, 2022פרשת בהר / י”ט באייר תשפ”ב – ל”ד בעומר The Talmud, Tactate Shabbat 33b, relates that the reason Rebbe Akiva’s students died of a plague was that they did not respect each other. This underlines the idea that even if we disagree we need to show each other respect. To disagree without being disagreeable. Share […]
The Meaning of Log B’Omer
Thursday, May 19th, 2022פרשת בהר / י”ח באייר תשפ”ב – ל”ג בעומר Today is the 33rd day of the Omer, known as Log B’Omer. It is a mini festival when we remember that a plague that was destroying Rebbe Akiva’s students suddenly stopped. What was the reason for the plague and what can we learn from it. Share […]
Liberty & The Torah
Tuesday, May 17th, 2022פרשת בהר / ט”ז באייר תשפ”ב – ל”א בעומר In this week’s Portion the Torah ties liberty with property fights. Basically, when there is no ownership of property, there is no liberty. That is why one the quote on the Liberty Bell is found in this week’s Portion: Proclaim Liberty thro’ all the Land to […]
The Miracle of Israel
Thursday, May 5th, 2022פרשת קדושים – י”ט בעומר / ד’ באייר תשפ”ב Today we celebrate the independence of the State of Israel. Of all the countries that have come into being since WWII Israel is the only one whose achievement of Independence can be considered a miracle. It is up to us to recognized this. 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