Archive for the 'Torah' Category
Prepare the Next Generation
Wednesday, June 7th, 2023Moses has to teach Joshua an important lesson in this week’s portion. That if you want a future of the Jewish people then you have to prepare the future leaders to take their positions. Otherwise, there will be no next generation. Share on Facebook
Be A Part of the Community
Friday, June 2nd, 2023The Torah stresses that we are a part of the community. The fact that even someone who lives off charity is required to tithe is important. We are all responsible for the upkeep of the community. Share on Facebook
Priestly Blessings
Tuesday, May 30th, 2023The Priestly Blessings mentioned in this week’s portion are the basics on societal norms. We ask for God’s blessing, then for wisdom and finally for peace. The fact is that without peace none of the rest matter but peace at any price is not worth it either. Share on Facebook
Jerusalem of Gold
Friday, May 19th, 2023On this day in June of 1967 the city of Jerusalem was reunited. A few weeks before the 6 Day War Naomi Shemer sang her song “Jerusalem of Gold” for the first time, not realizing that within a month the city would be liberated. Share on Facebook
God’s Hand In History
Thursday, May 18th, 2023When we think about the liberation of the Old City of Jerusalem, we have to remember that it occurred through a miracle. The IDF was able to take the city with ease due to the Jordanians abandoning the all of Judea & Sumaria. With this we see God’s hand in history. Share on Facebook
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
We Are Still Here
Tuesday, May 9th, 2023Lag B’Omer is a festive day throughout the Jewish world. But the truth is we are celebrating that in spite of all their attempts to assimilate the Jews into Roman culture, we are still here as Jews and the Romans do not exist. Share on Facebook
A New Beginning
Thursday, March 23rd, 2023The first commandment that the Jewish people received was to declare the 1st of Nisan to be the beginning of the Jewish year. Rosh Hashanah is the day that the 1st man was created. The 1st of Nisan is when the Jewish people became a people. Share on Facebook
What is the Tabernacle For
Sunday, March 19th, 2023We finish the Book of Exodus with the completion of the building of the Tabernacle. We start the Book of Leviticus with how to use this building. The use of the building is what makes it special, not its beauty. Share on Facebook
The Ritual Keeps Us
Thursday, March 16th, 2023The reason that we have so much detail in the Torah about building the Tabernacle is that people need ritual in order to remember. As has been observed, more than the Jews have kept Shabbat, the Shabbat has kept the Jews. 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