
Home & Family
After many hours of looking for food, a bird returns to its nest, taking comfort in its warmth and safety. Your home and family are your nest.
Your home & family are the hub around which everything evolves . But what does it take to build a healthy home, and a harmonious family? What are the meaningful elements? What is the role of parents? And what of children? We hire architects and contractors to design and build beautiful physical structures. How do we design and build beautiful spiritual structures? What can I do to truly feel at home, or to enhance the home I have already built?
Vaetchanan: Comfort My People
Many tears indeed can be shed for our children whose lives are prematurely “hijacked” by the demons of abuse and drugs; bright futures suddenly aborted; robbed of their possibilities; injured psyches.
Read MoreToldot: My Child
Every generation is part of an unbroken cycle of ‘fruit.’ It is through children that we create an eternal legacy, one which we are part of ourselves.
Read MoreVayeirah: Nurturing
We begin our lives constantly in need of support. As we grow older our parents let go and we learn to walk on our own. Sometimes even adults need a lift.
Read MoreNoach: Raging Waters
Not only are we never given a challenge we cannot overcome, but from Parshat Noach we learn that every challenge brings us to an even greater height.
Read MoreChukat-Balak: Wealth Question
The value and significance of questions, opinions and feedback; and the time-old question whether parents should bequeath their wealth to their children.
Read MoreFather: I Will Ask You
Rabbi Jacobson tells a story about his own Passover growing up, intertwined with a discussion about the four questions and the experience of life.
Read MoreThe Dust of History
The cosmic struggle to reconcile spirit and matter are captured in the story of Jacob and Esau and the battle between these two opposing forces.
Read MoreVayeitzei: Before the Battle
Jacob’s descent to Charan and subsequent struggles in Laban’s household represent our own difficulties in this world, and indicate the necessity of bringing light to the darkest places.
Read MoreNasoh: Balance
Understanding tiferet (balance) in Parshat Nasoh: balance between spirit & matter; body & soul; and love (chesed) & discipline (gevurah) in relationships.
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