Actions Have Consequenes
Sunday, June 4th, 2023Miriam meant well when she commented to her brother Aaron her concern that Moses seemed to be neglecting his wife. Though she meant well she was punished for the sin of malicious gossip. Meaning well is not enough. Your actions matter. Share on Facebook
Where is God?
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2023This was a question asked by the Kotzker Rebbe in the 19th Century. The answer is wherever you let Him in. God wants to enter the world, but we have to let Him in by our actions. Share on Facebook
Own Up to Your Actions
Friday, October 21st, 2022פרשת בראשית / כ”ו בתשרי תשפ”ג The reason for the punishment of Adam & Eve was not that they had violated God’s one commandment. It was that they denied culpability. Share on Facebook
God Wants Actions, Not Words
Monday, October 3rd, 2022פרשת האזינו / ח’ בתשרי תשפ”ג The key to the Yom Kippur service is that we read the Book of Jonah at Minha on that day. Jonah is called upon to announce to the Assyrians that they have to repent. When recounting the story, the Book of Jonah does not talk about their prayers but […]
Make the World Better by Being Better
Friday, September 16th, 2022פרשת כי תבוא / כ’ באלול תשפ”ב We are commanded to be better people. The Torah does not care about our feelings but about our behavior. We make the world a better place by our actions, not our intent. Share on Facebook
Actions Over Beliefs
Wednesday, September 14th, 2022פרשת כי תבוא / י”ח באלול תשפ”ב There is a debate which is more important: Doing the commandments or being spiritual. The Jerusalem Talmud addressed this debate in the 3rd Century CE and concludes that your actions are more important than your beliefs therefore we should follow the commandments even if we do not believe […]
Actions Over Beliefs
Wednesday, September 15th, 2021ט’ בתשרי תשפ”ב / September 15, 2021 In the Jerusalem Talmud there is a debate whether it better to keep the mitzvot (commandments) and not believe in God or to believe in God and not keep the mitzvot. Share on Facebook
Actions Before Beliefs
Wednesday, September 1st, 2021כ”ד באלול תשפ”א / September 1, 2021 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