Blog Archive
Are Your Ancestors Proud of You?
Tuesday, September 13th, 2022פרשת כי תבוא / י”ז באלול תשפ”ב Many people go on genealogy sites to see who their ancestors were and are proud of them. The question that the Torah asks is would they be proud of you. Live your life so that they would be. Share on Facebook
Don’t Be Average
Sunday, September 11th, 2022פרשת כי תבוא / ט”ו באלול תשפ”ב In the curses that we receive if we do not follow the Torah is that we will become an average people. While there is nothing wrong with being average it is not a great accomplishment either. The Torah wants us to be above average in our moral and […]
The Reason for the 9th of Av
Wednesday, August 3rd, 2022פרשת דברים / ו’ באב תשפ”ב When we look at the literature of the 9th of Av, we notice that the Romans and Babylonians are barely mentioned. The real reason for the disaster is placed on the bad moral and ethical behavior of the Jews. Share on Facebook
The Importance of Good Neighbors
Wednesday, July 27th, 2022פרשת מטות-מסעי / כ”ח בתמוז תשפ”ב In this week’s portion the Jews receive the command to expel the Canaanites from the Land of Israel. The reason is that they are considered to be bad people and their influence on the Jews would lead the Jews to sin. Share on Facebook
To Stand Up to Evil
Tuesday, July 26th, 2022פרשת מטות-מסעי / כ”ז תמוז תשפ”ב After the initial retaliation against Midian Moses reprimands the Jewish officers for allowing the women to live. To understand this, we have to remember that the women were willing participants in the sins committed by the Jewish men that led to the war. That is why they had to […]
Why We Fight
Monday, July 25th, 2022פרשת מטות-מסעי / כ”ו בתמוז תשפ”ב The reason that the Jews were commanded to destroy Midian was because Midian had declared war on God and morality. Personal insults are one thing. Insulting God and morality are another. Share on Facebook
To Get to a City of Refuge
Sunday, July 24th, 2022פרשת מטות-מסעי / כ”ה בתמוז תשפ”ב When going to Jerusalem there were no directional signs. We want people to stop and ask directions. When going to a city of Refuge there were directional signs. We know that the person running to them is in a hurry and cannot wait. Share on Facebook
Choosing a Leader
Tuesday, July 19th, 2022פרשת פנחס / כ’בתמוז תשפ”ב Moses has to find the next leader of the Jewish people in this week’s Portion. He chooses Joshua. The thinking is that Joshua knows how to speak to the people and how to make hard decisions, which is one of the qualifications of a leader. You can’t always be popular. […]
A People That Dwells Alone
Thursday, July 14th, 2022פרשת בלק / ט”ו בתמוז תשפ”ב When Bilaam states that the Jews are a people that dwell alone he means that due to their morality and ethical behavior that will not find many others who would join them. When everyone else is immoral then the moral person finds himself alone. Share on Facebook
Respect Your Neighbor’s Privacy
Tuesday, July 12th, 2022פרשת בלק / י”ג בתמוז תשפ”ב One of the observations of Balaam was how the tents of the Jews in the wilderness were set up so that one could not see into another. The entrances were adjusted for this purpose. The Torah is teaching us that we must respect each other’s privacy. 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