Blog Archive
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
Do Not Shame Your Brother
Thursday, September 8th, 2022פרשת כי תצא / י”ב באלול תשפ”ב We are admonished not to let the body of a person convicted of a capital offense hang overnight. This is so the family will not be shamed. It is assumed that the family is embarrassed by the actions of the criminal. We don’t have to rub in. Share […]
Spirituality & Returning a Lost Object
Monday, September 5th, 2022פרשת כי תצא / ט’ באלול תשפ”ב The commandment to return a lost object to its owner is an important underpinning of a good society. If your find something, it is up to you to return it. We do this not only for society but for our spiritual well-being. Share on Facebook
A Society of Individuals
Friday, August 12th, 2022פרשת ואתחנן / ט”ו באב תשפ”ב It is interesting that the word used for you in the Ten Commandments is in the singular. The Torah is pointing out that society is made up of individuals and if an individual is bad then it is bad for society, & if the individual is good then it […]
There is Only One Truth
Tuesday, May 24th, 2022פרשת בחוקותי / כ”ג באייר תשפ”ב – ל”ח בעומר The curses of this week’s portion have to do with a breakdown of society. One of the problems is that people say, “that is your truth”. Interesting the Hebrew word for truth, אמת, has no plural. This infers that there is only one truth, not multiple […]
What Will You Be Judged On?
Monday, May 23rd, 2022פרשת בחוקותי / כ”ב באייר תשפ”ב – ל”ז בעומר When we read the portion we see that God will judge us not so much on how well we pray or perform our rituals, such as the sacrificial service, but on how we treat each other. As the Mishna says the first question that you will […]
Private Property & God
Wednesday, May 18th, 2022פרשת בהר / י”ז באייר תשפ”ב – ל”ב בעומר While the Torah has a respect for private property and wants us to earn our way in the world, Shmita reminds us that, in the final analysis, God is in control of the world. We are commanded to make the most of our situation but if […]
Crime & Punishment in the Torah
Monday, May 16th, 2022פרשת בהר / ט”ו באייר תשפ”ב – ל’ בעומר A Jew becomes a slave due to being convicted of theft. The thief is required to repay the victim for the property stolen and pay damages for the pain and suffering that he caused. This is different from most other forms of law that do not […]
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
Morality From the Bottom Up
Monday, September 13th, 2021ז’ בתשרי תשפ”ב / September 13, 2021 The Torah warns that if our society is immoral then the leaders will be immoral. An immoral leader is symptom of a bad society. 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