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?
Father and Son: Abraham and Isaac
Despite the fact that Abraham and Isaac embodied different approaches to life, the father and son had a respectful and symbiotic relationship. Learn a quick lesson on parents and children from this Torah story.
Read MoreAbraham Departed From Self to Self
In his journey of discovery, Abraham departed the “land, birthplace and father’s house” of his native Mesopotamia; but this is not the departure of which we are speaking… Abraham received this call many years after he had renounced the pagan ways of his family and birthplace, recognized G-d, and had a profound impact on his society. Still he is told: Go! Depart from your nature, depart from your habits, depart from your rational self. After rejecting your negative, idolatrous origins, you must now also transcend your positive and gainful past. Reach beyond yourself, albeit a perfected self.
Read MoreBe Fruitful and Multiply
How did it come about that one’s own child may be perceived as a potential threat to our personal well-being? Let’s look back to the first parents.The story of Adam & Eve illustrates how this idea began, but also offers solutions.
Read MoreThe Importance of Home and Family
When a family shares principles and values, they grow together. The home and family become a foundation for the family’s shared sense of purpose. The ultimate beauty in a home is its emotional and spiritual warmth. There are many ways to beautify your home spiritually.
Read MoreSibling Relationships
Sibling relationships can be complicated. Sibling rivalry, power struggles, and other unique issues play into the sibling relationship dynamic.An open discussion on healing your relationships with your siblings.
Read MoreThanksgiving: When Home Doesn’t Feel Like Home
Millions of people experience dread, anguish, worry, and ambivalence about having to go home for Thanksgiving. Read open advice from Rabbi Jacobson and an assortment of people on how to deal with it.
Read MoreAbusive Relationships
Can we really get over abusive relationships? Is it a situation that creates a victim forever? Can we free ourselves from abusive situations?
Read MoreCan Children Survive Parents who Claim to Know the Absolute Truth?
A discussion with Stephen Dubner, author of Turbulent Souls, about growing up in a fundamentalist religious household.
Read MoreHonoring Parents Who Don’t Seem to Deserve Honor
The fifth commandment is to honor your parents. What if they don’t seem to deserve honor? How to deal with the obligation to honor abusive parents.
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