The Sacrifices Are For Us
Monday, March 20th, 2023The Torah is very clear that the Temple service is for us and not for God. The purpose of the service is to make us better people. Share on Facebook
A Leader Must Lead
Friday, March 10th, 2023After the incident of the Golden Calf Moses rebukes Aaron for allowing the situation to get out of control. He reminds him that a leader is responsible for the actions of his subordinates. Share on Facebook
Idolatry is for Children
Wednesday, March 8th, 2023When Moses seems to be delayed coming back from Mt. Sinai the Jews build an idol. It seems strange until we remember that they were only recently freed from Egyptian bondage and the only society that they knew was Egyptian. Share on Facebook
The True Plague of Darkness
Tuesday, January 24th, 2023The plague of darkness was much more than three days of darkness. According to the Torah, Egypt was a land of darkness while the Jews, if they follow the Torah are in light. Share on Facebook
The Reason for the Flood
Sunday, October 23rd, 2022פרשת נח / כ”ח בתשרי תשפ”ג All ancient cultures record a flood. Only the Bible attaches morality for the Flood. Share on Facebook
Our Leaders Are Not Gods
Tuesday, September 20th, 2022פרשת ניצבים / כ”ד באלול תשפ”ב The admonition not be like the idol worshipers of Egypt was to stress that our leaders are not like the Pharoah. He was considered to be a god. Our leaders are human and should be treated as such. Share on Facebook
What is Idolatry?
Wednesday, August 10th, 2022פרשת ואתחנן / י”ג באב תשפ”ב The first three Commandments are tied together. They warn that God is the supreme being and anything else is idolatry. A that even religion can become an idol. Share on Facebook
The Importance of the Sabbath
Friday, June 24th, 2022פרשת שלח / כ”ה בסיון תשפ”ב This week’s portion includes the admonition about idolatry. This is no accident. Idolatry is trying to make God human. Our goal should be to be Godly. It includes the Sabbath desecrater. Violating the Sabbath is denying that God created the universe. 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