Religion

The universal message of Rosh Hashanah is that we all need to hear the sounds of our own souls. Read this conversation with Rabbi Simon Jacobson.

Tetzaveh: Open Your Eyes

Weekly Op-Ed •February 13th, 2003• 0 Comments

A personal story about a blind woman who rediscovered her Judaism and the great miracle that occurred afterwards.

Two Faces of Esau

Weekly Op-Ed •March 6th, 2003• 1 Comment

The story of Esau’s wedding leads to a two-faced world where some people struggle with G-d and justice while others demonstrate great pride in their faith.

Purim: Connect the Dots

Weekly Op-Ed •March 13th, 2003• 0 Comments

Parallels are drawn between the Purim of 2360 years ago and the Purims of the modern Persian Gulf Wars, and the ultimate significance of the Persian region is examined.

Purim 2: Shushan War

Weekly Op-Ed •March 20th, 2003• 2 Comments

Part two of the previous week’s article, “Purim: Connect the Dots,” continues to explore the significance of current conflict in light of historical events.

Shemini: By the Rivers of Babylon

Weekly Op-Ed •March 27th, 2003• 0 Comments

The current state of the world, as examined through the lens of Babylon, can trace its roots to a fundamental religious and ideological conflict of ancient days.

Tazriah: The River Euphrates

Weekly Op-Ed •April 3rd, 2003• 0 Comments

The Euphrates River has seen the rise and fall of man many times over, and plays a significant role in the ultimate redemption.

Metzorah: In Search of Eden

Weekly Op-Ed •April 10th, 2003• 0 Comments

The continued presence of both the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and particularly the Euphrates, indicates the ongoing presence of the Garden of Eden in this world.

Kedoshim: West of Eden

Weekly Op-Ed •May 1st, 2003• 0 Comments

The present issues in the world are sourced in longstanding religious and metaphysical conflicts which revolve around the physical and figurative Babylon.

Emor: How Do I Find a True Rabbi? Part 1

Questions & Answers •Weekly Op-Ed •May 8th, 2003• 0 Comments

Rabbi Simon Jacobson answers a critical question: how does one find an authentic, truthful educator when it comes to Torah learning?

Behar: How Do I Find a True Rabbi? Part 2

Questions & Answers •Weekly Op-Ed •May 14th, 2003• 1 Comment

In part two of the answer to how one finds an authentic educator, Rabbi Simon Jacobson tells a personal story and discusses the shortcomings of modern education.

Nasso: Jerusalem Under Siege

Weekly Op-Ed •June 12th, 2003• 0 Comments

What if we’re to find out the Middle East is indeed in the midst of religious war; one that is threatening the entire world? That this really is about G-d?

Lech Lecha: Are You a Conformist?

Weekly Op-Ed •November 6th, 2003• 0 Comments

Only when one leaves their comfort zone are they able to discover who they truly are.

Vayera: Religious Selfishness

Weekly Op-Ed •November 13th, 2003• 3 Comments

Abraham gave us the power to challenge G-d, asking Him to shift destiny. This we must when it comes to standing next to fellow Jews in defiance against G-d.

Terumah: The Passion

Weekly Op-Ed •February 26th, 2004• 0 Comments

Once again the Jews are up on trial against the other religions of the world. Yet the nation must continue to stand strong as a “light unto the nations.”

Atheists

Atheism is examined in contrast with faith, reason, and the principles of the founding fathers of the United States.

Tzav: Believers

Stories •Weekly Op-Ed •April 1st, 2004• 1 Comment

Using personal anecdotes as well as Chassidic stories, Rabbi Jacobson examines the different types of believers in light of his previous article on atheists.

Passover: The Slavery of Freedom

Weekly Op-Ed •April 8th, 2004• 0 Comments

While hardship and lack of material prosperity are challenging, the opposites – freedom, ease, and wealth – beget soul-numbing complacency.

Shemini: Religious Selfishness

Weekly Op-Ed •Stories •April 15th, 2004• 0 Comments

Using personal anecdotes, Rabbi Jacobson explores of the side effects of practicing religion by rote, and the beauty of a true “religious” experience.

Behar Bechukotai: Global Dimming

Weekly Op-Ed •May 13th, 2004• 1 Comment

Present day conflict has a direct source in biblical schisms of our forefathers, and in the ongoing war between the spiritual and the material.

Bamidbar: After 3316 Years How Far Are We From Sinai?

Weekly Op-Ed •May 20th, 2004• 4 Comments

Parshat Bamidbar: Sinai created an interface bridging heaven & earth, giving us the power to fuse matter & spirit entirely without compromising either or.

Behaalotecha: Mitchum

Weekly Op-Ed •June 3rd, 2004• 11 Comments

Parshat Behaalotcho discusses kindling the menorah that the flames rise on their own: recognizing G-d in our own lives by saying “im yirtzeh Hashem”.

Matot-Masei: Tzugekumene

Weekly Op-Ed •July 15th, 2004• 0 Comments

Response to a provocative letter: ‘The feeling of “us” and “them” was an undercurrent in the interactions between FFB’s and BT’s or non-observant Jews’.

Chayei Sarah: America Speaks

Weekly Op-Ed •November 5th, 2004• 46 Comments

A commentary on the 2004 election of President George W Bush from a spiritual Jewish perspective.

Vayishlach: Hypocrisy

When it comes to behavior on a day-to-day level, we all fall short of our own standards.

Individuality in Judaism

Questions & Answers •Weekly Op-Ed • 2 Comments

Freedom of expression and individuality are often quashed under religious pretenses in favor of a single-minded disciplinarian conformity.

Tazria: Divine Wrath

Weekly Op-Ed •Questions & Answers •April 7th, 2005• 25 Comments

Understanding the apparent abundance of violence and anger in the Torah requires one to gain deeper insight into its literal and symbolic dimensions.

Metzora: Beyond Paradox

Weekly Op-Ed •April 14th, 2005• 9 Comments

In order to fully grasp the truth of this world, one must embrace both the orderliness of life and its paradoxes.

Acharei: How Is This Night Different

Questions & Answers •Weekly Op-Ed •April 21st, 2005• 0 Comments

In order to spiritually prepare for the Seder, one should ask himself a series of questions related to the four questions recited from the Haggada.

The Kabbala of Curses

Questions & Answers •Weekly Op-Ed • 11 Comments

The 49 curses listed in the Torah portion of Bechukosei evokes an interesting question: what possible benefit can be found in these curses?

Shelach: The Journey Part I

Weekly Op-Ed •June 23rd, 2005• 0 Comments

Each chapter in the book of Bamidbar (as captured in each chapter name) conveys a vital message to us, in accumulating order, how we must travel our journey

Korach: The Journey Part II

Weekly Op-Ed •June 30th, 2005• 0 Comments

The Torah is the roadmap in the journey of life, especially the Book of Bamidbar, Numbers.

Chukat: The Face

Weekly Op-Ed •July 7th, 2005• 6 Comments

In Parshat Chukat Moses’ face turned pale: knowing what it means to be created in the “Divine Image” & learning the cycle of life & death through faces.

Pinchas: Religious Violence Part I

Weekly Op-Ed •July 21st, 2005• 1 Comment

Pinchas, in Parsaht Pinchas, is a peaceful, selflessness zealot & exemplary in the face of current politico-religious tensions, radicalism and liberalism.

Matos: Religious Violence Part II

Weekly Op-Ed •July 30th, 2005• 2 Comments

The context behind waging war in Biblical historical events and the Torah’s perspective thereon, as seen in Parshat Matot in the Book of Numbers (Bamidbar).

Massei: My Enemies Make Me Wise

Weekly Op-Ed •August 6th, 2005• 0 Comments

From our enemies we learn our weaknesses and what needs protection. From Al Qaeda’s new print-Internet magazine we learn about our own passion for Israel.

Noach: The Power of a Mitzvah

Weekly Op-Ed •November 5th, 2005• 0 Comments

Doing a Mitzvah can be the difference between a life of enslavement in a finite bottle, or freeing your finite being by becoming a piece of finite infinity.

Back To The Roots

Today our challenge is to rise above our finite mortality, our flaws and subjectivity, and embrace G-d on G-d’s terms.

Chaya Sarah: Tattoos

Stories •Weekly Op-Ed •November 26th, 2005• 13 Comments

Man can transcend seemingly permanent scars or wounds – both physical and psychological – and access the inner recesses of his soul.

Toldot: The Power of Human Exertion

Weekly Op-Ed •December 3rd, 2005• 0 Comments

Who fully grasps a concept, one who immediately comprehends it, or one who must struggle to understand it? Part five of Samech Vov discusses this question, and examines the value of human exertion.

The 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.

Vayikra: The Tzaddik

Weekly Op-Ed •April 1st, 2006• 1 Comment

Based on the insight of the Alter Rebbe and the Rebbe Rashab, the concept of a true tzaddik is explored in the context of the nature of this world.

Father: I Will Ask You

Stories •Weekly Op-Ed • 4 Comments

Rabbi Jacobson tells a story about his own Passover growing up, intertwined with a discussion about the four questions and the experience of life.

Shemini-Passover: Kaddish

Weekly Op-Ed •April 22nd, 2006• 9 Comments

Nothing can console those who have lost a loved one. The only thing keeping them whole is a connection something greater than death and life, G-d.

Yom Kippur: The Kittel

Stories •Weekly Op-Ed • 7 Comments

Comforts and freedom often lead to complacency, but Yom Kippur reminds us simultaneously of our troubles and our triumphs, encouraging us to reflect on the mysterious cycle of life.

Shelach: Six-Day War

Weekly Op-Ed •June 8th, 2007• 4 Comments

Paralleling the miraculous Six-Day War victory with the story of the Twelve Spies in Parshat Shelach – how Jewish leaders should learn from past mistakes.

Tazria: Bad Religious Experiences Part 2

Weekly Op-Ed •March 28th, 2008• 7 Comments

With the breakdown of authority, it is absolutely critical to ensure that each of us “own” our choices; that the path of faith become your path, not someone else’s.

Beyond Virtue

Weekly Op-Ed • 6 Comments

In practical terms being holy means going out of your comfort zone and conventional behavior.

Emor: Lysergic Acid Diethylamide

Weekly Op-Ed •May 9th, 2008• 23 Comments

Even as we invalidate the method (LSD) used to reach G-d, we can never invalidate the person and his needs that led him to go there in the first place.

Behar: Israel’s Secret Weapon

Weekly Op-Ed •May 16th, 2008• 0 Comments

Since Israel’s birthday is in the news, it’s hard to ignore the relevance of this week’s Torah portion, which defines in succinct and pointed terms the purpose of the Land of Israel.

Naso: Longevity

Weekly Op-Ed •June 6th, 2008• 0 Comments

Yes indeed, Jews and Torah are “in business” for 3320 years and counting.

Chayei Sarah: Beyond Self-Interest

Weekly Op-Ed •November 21st, 2008• 4 Comments

The model of shlichus – that an individual, or a couple, leave their comfort zone and self-orbiting life and go out to build communities – is a model for us all: the ultimate antidote to modern-day self-indulgence.

Vayishlach: Giving In Difficult Times

Weekly Op-Ed •December 12th, 2008• 0 Comments

The words of the Zohar speak for themselves. They tell us in no uncertain terms that we must stand against any voice and challenge (including economic conditions) that argues against supporting (or weakening our support of) good causes.

Vayikra: Restoring the Balance

Weekly Op-Ed •March 27th, 2009• 2 Comments

When we are able to revisit our birthing, prior to the scars we gathered through life, we achieve two things: We see how things ought to be, and we are empowered to realign who we have become today with who we truly are.

Shemini: Shame On You

Weekly Op-Ed •April 17th, 2009• 11 Comments

Our challenge – and choice – is to use technology and all the gifts we were blessed with not merely for personal gain and self-interest, or for entertainment and killing time, but for bettering the world in which we live.

Bamidbar: The Blessing of Diversity

Weekly Op-Ed •May 21st, 2009• 10 Comments

Like different musical notes in a large composition, each community, group or even individual, contributes his or her unique note.

Vaetchanan: Religion and Ethics

What should our attitude and response be when we witness Rabbis arrested in chains?

Ki Teitzei: Religion and Dysfunctionality

Weekly Op-Ed •August 27th, 2009• 21 Comments

Our calling is to marginalize (and possibly eliminate) so-called “religious” behavior that feeds the stereotype of close-minded, unevolved and condescending religiosity. And more importantly, reintroduce the alternative – faith and religion that allows man to actualize and shine in his full glory.

Vayeitzei: Jewish Roots

Weekly Op-Ed •November 27th, 2009• 12 Comments

Perhaps the venerable New York Times can learn a thing or two about “all the news that’s fit to print” from living with the times in this week’s Torah portion.

Vayishlach: Hypocrisy

Weekly Op-Ed •December 3rd, 2009• 9 Comments

Instead of seeing hypocrisy in our inconsistencies, we should be seeing in them our struggle to discover our true selves—a struggle that inevitably creates a dichotomy between what you believe and what you do.

Vayeishev: Didgeridoo

Weekly Op-Ed •December 10th, 2009• 2 Comments

A didgeridoo, also known as a didge, is considered to be the world’s oldest wind instrument. Jewish spiritual connection to the didgeridoo…

Vayechi: 2500 Seekers

Weekly Op-Ed •December 31st, 2009• 17 Comments

Let us always remember that whomever you meet in the coming year will not be an accident. It will be an opportunity – a dual opportunity: For you to illuminate, inspire and warm that person’s soul, to inspire encourage that person to add and extra good deed; and for you to be illuminated and inspired in return.

Vaeira: Haiti

Weekly Op-Ed •January 14th, 2010• 20 Comments

Rabbi Simon Jacobson reflects on the humanitarian response to the Haiti disaster, and how it reflects a shift in global spiritual engagement.

Ki Tisa: To Serve

Weekly Op-Ed •March 5th, 2010• 7 Comments

If you need a strong wake-up call (and who of us does not?) visit a military base. It will teach you the dramatic difference between a life of duty and one of no duty.

Vayakhel Pekudei: Service or Slavery?

Weekly Op-Ed •March 12th, 2010• 13 Comments

We humans must shed the blinding force of self-interest and respond to the call for service; we must weaken the grip that keeps us trapped and enslaved to our own temptations, and allow ourselves to be mobilized to serve – not human structures, but to serve – our higher calling.

Passover: Steve Jobs and Passover

Weekly Op-Ed •April 4th, 2010• 5 Comments

The iPad mania reflects the design and marketing genius of Steve Jobs and his gifted team. But it also reveals the gaping vacuum in our lack of spiritual visionaries.

Time To Sing

I realized and continue to realize the deep grief of so many tormented souls; children whose lives were forever altered because of a self-indulgent, sick adult.

Emor: How to Speak

Weekly Op-Ed • 11 Comments

Passionate faith can spill over into dogma and intolerance. We must be vigilant that the path of faith should be saturated with love and inspiration.

Rosh Hashana: New Year 5772

Weekly Op-Ed •September 27th, 2011• 3 Comments

If we only allow ourselves to pull ourselves a bit back and out from our enmeshed lives, we can transcend many of our doubts, and see new opportunities, as an old world gives way to a new one.

Tzav Passover: Money and Spirituality Part V

Weekly Op-Ed •March 22nd, 2013• 1 Comment

Wealth without its spirit, is the world in which we live in today. Wealth with its spirit is the economy of tomorrow.

Can 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.

Korach: Gilad, Naftali and Eyal

Weekly Op-Ed •July 3rd, 2014• 7 Comments

Every man, woman, and child, is responsible when they hear about such news, to do something about it — as Maimonides explains.

The Skeptic & the Believer

Essays • 2 Comments

A skeptic and a believer have an in-depth conversation about Judaism, God, and Torah. What follows is an illuminating discussion on faith.

Is G-d Religious?

Is G-d religious? Why are there so many laws in the Bible? Find out from an expert Bible scholar!

Herd Mentality: Does Religion Demand It?

Essays • 4 Comments

Does religion demand that a person become part of a herd mentality? Or is there room for the individual in religious life? One truth is that materiality dictates conformity, and spirituality dictates individuality.

How Do I Find a True Rabbi? Part 1

Questions & Answers • 2 Comments

How to identify an authentic rabbi. How to find a teacher who walks the walk, and does not just talk the talk.

Was Moses Orthodox? Part 2

Essays • 5 Comments

To understand if Moses practiced orthodox Judaism, we need to first understand what makes a Jew a Jew. The purpose of this article is to unite and empower. The soul makes a Jew a Jew, not a denomination.

Was Moses Orthodox? Part 1

Did Moses practice orthodox Judaism? Do the distinctions between Jews really have a spiritual meaning? A controversial article by Rabbi Simon Jacobson.

How Do I Find a True Rabbi? Part 2

Essays • 2 Comments

Divisiveness might have kept you away from rabbis and from Judaism. Here is how to get past the shenanigans and find a true spiritual teacher.

Matot: What Can I Do About the Situation in Israel?

Weekly Op-Ed •July 17th, 2014• 2 Comments

Let us create a true revolution. Let us reconnect to our Divine mission. Let us move heaven and earth with our actions. We have been promised that when we do, we will save the universe – literally.

Shemini Atzeret: Breakthrough

Stories •Weekly Op-Ed •October 15th, 2014• 1 Comment

Go deeper into your experience of concluding this year’s Torah reading cycle and beginning anew with ideas and stories from The Meaningful Life Center.

Chayei Sarah: Can East Meet West?

Weekly Op-Ed •November 13th, 2014• 3 Comments

Abraham surely knew how religious zealotry can breed intolerance, condescension, judgmentalism and prejudices of all sorts — feeding into the ugliest elements of human nature.

Daughters Near and Far: The Atzeret of Sukkot

Our receiving of the Torah on Shavuot is the “Atzeret” of our liberation from slavery seven weeks earlier.

A Shattering Reunion

Shorts •Stories • 0 Comments

It is told of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev that one year after Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, he stayed up all night waiting to put on tefillin.

The Hellenist Coachman

Essays •Stories • 0 Comments

It was not the Torah per se that Hellenic regime wished to uproot from the people of Israel, but Your Torah.

Toldot: Our Response to Tragedy

Weekly Op-Ed •November 20th, 2014• 6 Comments

The Jewish response to a gruesome attack, is to channel all our outrage and fury into a spiritual eruption of building an even stronger Jerusalem, both physically and spiritually.

Vaeira: Why is Paris Burning?

Weekly Op-Ed •January 15th, 2015• 3 Comments

Inside “secrets” provide perspective to current events in France — and the world — illuminating for us: why is Paris burning? Why is France, of all places, at the forefront of today’s upheavals?

The Thousand-Year Difference: The Mitzvot of Purim

Purim revealed a new dimension to our observance of Torah, establishing it as a freely-elected way of life, as opposed to a set of compelling duties. And this thousand-year difference is reflected in several of the mitzvot of Purim.

Means of Marriage

How do a man and woman become husband and wife according to Torah law?

Pre-Marital Marriage

The following is a freely translated excerpt from a talk the Rebbe gave to women’s gathering on Iyar 25, 5744 (May 27, 1984) about the woman’s role in marriage.

The Eruv: A Private World

The ultimate function of Shabbat is to establish an eruv in our “multi-occupant courtyard”: to integrate the diverse forces and realities of our world as a singular, harmonious expression of the divine truth.

The Meaning: You Shall Be Holy for I Am Holy

Essays • 2 Comments

What does the commandment “You shall be holy for I am holy” mean? Our relationship with G-d is complex. We contribute as much and even more than we receive.

G-d’s Relationship With The Kohen Gadol

A discussion based on Chassidus, Jewish mystical thought, on the basis that we refer to G-d as a kohen or a kohen gadol, as well as in other human terms.

Lamps and Lives: The Holy Temple Menorah

Spiritual meaning of the Holy Temple Menorah, based on an essay from the Rebbe on Parshat Behalotcha (Numbers 8:1-4).

Lost in Translation: Understanding G-d

When understanding G-d in personally relevant terms, we invite Him into the core of our lives, rather than relegating Him to the periphery of our existence. Lessons from the incident of the golden calf.

Disillusionment with the (not so) Pious

Transcripts/Sources •Level: Advanced • 0 Comments

Ownership of Israel

The Torah is establishing that it is more than a “rulebook,” more than a list of things to do or not to do. It is G-d’s blueprint for creation, our guide for realizing the purpose for which everything in heaven and earth was made including ownership of Israel.

Walls

Since the destruction of the Temple and our exile from the Holy Land, these venues of connection (mitzvos) with G-d have been closed to us.

Making an Eiruv to Allow Carrying

Transcripts/Sources •Level: Advanced • 0 Comments

The True Meaning of Divine Service

Insight into the true meaning of Divine service. Why did Aaron have to remove the ashes to the outside of the camp? This lowly task shows the true meaning of Divine Service…that true service is stepping down from your status on behalf of other people.

The Third Millennium

In Abraham’s 75th year, a new era opened – the era of Torah. The era of tifferet, of the harmony and synthesis of the Divinely bestowed and humanly earned.

Separatism

A divorce of deed from faith and feeling is obviously antithetical to the very essence of Judaism.

Yes and No

Gain insight into why G-d created the world and discover the spiritual significance behind the unique mitzvah of circumcision.

Life, Death and Reality

Discover a new perspective on death from the scope of spiritual reality. Learn how Torah operates within the confines of nature but is not limited by it.

Smorgasbord

The Baal Shem Tov teaches us about the importance of perseverance in our spiritual pursuits and our dynamic relationship with G-d.

The Mysterious Sin

From the Chassidic Master, Rabbi Velvel of Zbaricz, we gain insight into the phenomenon of exile.

The Oath

Stories • 1 Comment

The story of an honest man’s unwillingness to swear to the truth, therefore, honoring the Torah.

Fire and Earth

Through defining the Halachic term of an earthen vessel, we learn two important factors in serving G-d appropriately: Humility and Passion.

No We

Quotes • 0 Comments

Through this explanation by Rabbi Bunim of Pshis’cha, we understand the depths of Joseph’s Loyalty to Potiphar. Joseph exemplifies loyalty.

Devarim: Leaders That Unite

We is the saddest nine days of the year concluding with Tisha B’Av, which marks the tragic day both Temples were destroyed, a time to harness unity..

The Human Biosphere

Spiritual and material principles are discussed in the context of laws of shechitah (slaughtering), as well as Chassidic perspectives of man.

Charity

Giving charity is nice and praiseworthy because you have the choice to do otherwise, but G-d expects nothing less–its the just thing to do.

An Unreasonable Source

Our every mitzvah should be saturated with the self-sacrifice and depth of commitment that motivated Shimon and Levi.

The Bottom Line

Discover how the unity of G-d can infiltrate even the most mundane of activities.

The Chase

Each and every creation, no matter how material and mundane, has at its heart a spark of holiness that needs to be elevated.

The Prisoner

An old chassidic story that exemplifies the awe chassidim have for their Rebbe.

The Power of Rejection

Weekly Op-Ed • 0 Comments

In this week’s Torah portion we read: Devorim – “these are the words that Moses spoke…” in the last 37 days of his life and from him there is much to learn.

Sheep

The Jewish nation was founded amidst sheep because our self-negation and unquestioning obedience to G-d is the foundation of our Jewishness.

Oil and Rock

Oil represents a person’s self-abnegation and submission to G-d. Only one who has totally abnegated his own will to that of G-d is capable of true sacrifice.

My Encounter With The Rebbe

Stories • 3 Comments

“When the Creator of the world gives us a gift, we must treasure it and defend it, and not look for ways to rid ourselves of it!” – The Rebbe

Forbidden Piety

Ultimately, we must recognize and utilize the fact that the Torah is the only source of life and well-being for the Jew, both spiritually and physically.

The Intimate Estrangement

Linking G-d’s bond with the Jews as a marriage with the ten haftarot called “the Three of Rebuke and the Seven of Consolation” in explaining the galut/exile.

Giving Up Your Life

The choice of words used to describe the sacrifices and the notion that we are bringing our inner beast to the altar are discussed.

An Eye and a Sigh

Stories • 1 Comment

A story of two devoted neighbors, one living a spiritual life and the other a material one, and their surprising judgments at death.

The Infant Shepherd

Even as a baby, Moses was instrumental in bringing the Children on Israel out of a mindset of materialism and into one of spirituality.

Matter

A description on the Alter Rebbe’s youth and greatest works revealing the relationship between the spiritual and material worlds.

Historical Fact

Is there historical proof of the revelation at Mt. Sinai?

The Blow

Stories • 2 Comments

A miraculous medical recovery with a blessing from the Rebbe.

Soul Wash

In this letter, the Rebbe probes the deeper significance of an aspect of modern life to inspire with a lesson that is both personal and universal.

Eikev: Religion VS. Spirituality

When it comes to religion and spirituality, are they mutually exclusive or can they sit comfortably side by side?

Olympic Thoughts

Sports are all consuming in today’s society, but what can we learn from this about reality and illusion?

The Three Loves of His Life

Love of G-d, love of Torah, and love of one’s fellow are in essence one. True love cannot exist in one of these areas alone, for they are all connected.

The Zealot

The Torah introduces Pinchas in Parshat Pinchas with the lineage of Aaron and not of his father Jethro, which explains why his murderous act is peaceful.

Reading Right

Shorts • 2 Comments

Learning Jewish law is a process. Read carefully and correctly so as not to be hasty in judging others.

Absorbing The Joy: The Significance of Shemini Atzeret

Sukkot is followed by a day in which our joy reaches its peak and the holiday that preceded this day is internalized.

Dwelling on Sukkot

It is not enough to merely have faith. Sukkot is the time when we take the faith we’ve sown and incorporate it into our practical daily lives.

The Servant and the Minister

The minister serves his king with his mind; the servant with his body. Our service of the Creator includes both elements – embodied in Torah study & mitzvot.

The Rebbe In His Laboratory

The story of why the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, once referred to a person in a letter, known to be an irreligious man, as a “G-d fearing man.”

Life in the Regular

The Torah delegates various aspects of our relationship with G-d to “appointed times” but we should also endeavor to make “every day an appointed time”.

Signpost

The “cities of refuge” were six cities in the Land of Israel designated as havens for murderers. They also exist on the spiritual plane.

The Subconscious of G-d

Our sages describe the age of Moshiach as a reality which “the heart does not reveal to the mouth,” where we will inhabit the “subconscious” of G-d.

A Feast and a Fast: The Fast of Esther

With their joy the Jews rejected their uniqueness as a nation under the special protection of G-d. To save the Jews Esther knew they had to reconnect to G-d

A Roll of Dice: The Purim Lots

Purim derives its name from the lots cast by Haman. It is not some incidental detail but the single event that most expresses what Purim represents.

A Singular People: Jewish Uniqueness

Purim celebrates the salvation of a singular people: Torah, the festivals, circumcision and tefillin are symbols of Jewish uniqueness.

Purim: Joy on Demand?

Questions & Answers • 0 Comments

Purim is a day of joyous abandon that transcends conventional boundaries. It is a day when a window opens up that allows us deep inside of ourselves.

Totalitarianism Today

Essays •Quotes • 0 Comments

The connection between accepting the yoke of Heaven and Rosh Hashanah. What kind of person can accept the yoke of heaven? Can you?

On Diplomacy, Pride and Self-Respect

Transcripts/Sources •Level: Advanced • 0 Comments

Diplomacy is a delicate art form, and the Rebbe assures in this letter that contrary to popular belief, “truly Jewish self-respect”, “avowed trust in G-d” and “pride in our Jewish heritage and tradition” are key in diplomatic success.

Bereishit: War In Israel: What We Must Do

Weekly Op-Ed •October 8th, 2015• 8 Comments

Let us create a true revolution. Let us reconnect to our Divine mission. Let us move heaven and earth with our actions. We have been promised that when we do, we will save the universe – literally.

Vayeira: How to Treat Infidels

Weekly Op-Ed •October 30th, 2015• 0 Comments

The evolution of religion and all its manifestations and distortions can be traced back to Abraham’s passionate faith and what he taught his children, and what they did or did not do with these teachings.

The Soul of Religious Bigotry

Questions & Answers • 0 Comments

There is a great vacuum that feeds bigotry, nourishing it where you’d least expect to find it; but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Standards of Expectation

Questions & Answers • 0 Comments

A profound but clear elucidation of Judaism’s view on judgmentalism and standards of expectation.

Why is Paris Burning?

Weekly Op-Ed •November 19th, 2015• 1 Comment

Inside “secrets” provide perspective to current events in France — and the world — illuminating for us: why is Paris burning? Why is France, of all places, at the forefront of today’s upheavals?

Passover: From Boredom To Freedom

Weekly Op-Ed • 0 Comments

Using Torah thought to personalize the Seder experience on Pesach, rendering it into a powerful psychological/spiritual journey into our own hearts & souls.

Crime of Passion

Weekly Op-Ed • 10 Comments

The fire of our souls, like any fire, can be the source of sustenance (healthy fire), or… an inferno (“strange fire”). The challenge is great. The choice is ours.

Rosh Hashanah Stories

Essays •Stories • 4 Comments

Four Hasidic stories. Rosh Hashanah stories from Hasidic masters including the Baal Shem Tov and Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berditchev.

Chanah’s Prayer

Chana’s prayer taught us how to pray on Rosh Hashanah and throughout the year. This essay is a deep look into Chana’s prayer as the source of Jewish prayer as we understand it.

Yom Kippur: Why the High Priest Went Home

Seven days before Yom Kippur, the Kohen Gadol (“High Priest”) is removed from his home to his chamber in the Holy Temple. Learn about the significance of home in relation to Yom Kippur.

Five Roots of Trauma Revisited

Using the concepts of The Five Roots of Trauma, this article looks at the five tragic events that took place on the 17th of Tammuz..

The Ten Days of Teshuvah

The first ten days of the Jewish calendar are known as “the ten days of teshuvah.” These are days for soul-searching, repentance and return (teshuvah) to G-d.

Abraham Today

Weekly Op-Ed • 27 Comments

Interesting to envision how a man who lived over 3700 years ago would react to our world and what he would do to improve our condition.

Rosh Hashana: One Request

Weekly Op-Ed • 13 Comments

On this day each year we return to our origins: Not the dust part, but the spirit – the dimensions that makes us uniquely human.

How to Treat Infidels

Weekly Op-Ed • 5 Comments

Faith in G-d extends to loving other people, regardless of their background and similarity to you. Faith is about extending love and compassion.

Giving Up Your Life for God?

Shorts •Essays •Weekly Op-Ed • 3 Comments

Should we “give up” our lives for God? Certainly not! That’s sacrifice. We shouldn’t give up our God-given talents and behaviors; we should bring them closer to their purer state.

Creeps

A discussion about the significance of the commandment to refrain from consuming sherotzim, creeping creatures, and why Moses took issue with it.

When No is Greater than Yes

Avoiding the wrong thing is better than doing the right thing; protecting is better than serving (Samech Vav) as seen in Parshat Naso and the wilderness.

Light

Weekly Op-Ed • 7 Comments

Many lessons can be gleaned from Parshat Behaalotcho, three of which I learned from my father: light, independence and perseverance.

Think Different Part II: On the Nature of Intelligence

Part two of a discussion about cognitive processes, particularly the twofold approach for expanding one’s mind and tuning into the collective unconscious.

Are You Your Own Worst Enemy?

The great gift of Torah is that it provides us with a Divine blueprint on how to live our lives. Your unique mission statement is embedded within you.

The Pure Ones

Weekly Op-Ed • 9 Comments

The innate purity within children and their effortless connection to the Divine is examined, despite popular scientific theories and thought to the contrary.

Religion and Refinement

Weekly Op-Ed • 5 Comments

The contrast of a person being so devout on one hand, while being so coarse on another, is terribly unnerving.

Israel: Is this a Political or Religious War?

What if we’re to find out the Middle East is indeed in the midst of religious war; one that is threatening the entire world? That this really is about G-d?

Will G-d Strike Me With Lightning?

List • 2 Comments

Seven myths and facts about the ancient mystical Jewish view on the relationship between our choices and their outcomes…

Where Is G-d?

Weekly Op-Ed • 10 Comments

A correspondence between Rabbi Jacobson in response to a self-proclaimed agnostic.

Help! I Need A Spiritual Guru!

Shorts •List • 0 Comments

Finding a spiritual guru takes a lot of due diligence. This is what you should look for in a spiritual guru.

To See the Divine

Weekly Op-Ed • 5 Comments

To see the Divine, you learn to savor every sight, every sound, every taste, every touch, every smell.

The Seder Plate: A Microcosm of Your Psyche

Weekly Op-Ed •April 8th, 2006• 5 Comments

The Seder plate serves as a reflection of both your purpose in life and your greatest potential, and contains in its structure multiple layers of symbolism.

Is G-d Vulnerable?

True love means being vulnerable. Our relationship with G-d is one of vulnerability and equal dependence on each other.

The Education Crisis

Weekly Op-Ed • 47 Comments

Undoubtedly education of the young is the key to preserving spiritual identity. Today, nothing less than a revolution is necessary in our education systems.

Possibilities

Weekly Op-Ed • 3 Comments

In Eikev, this week’s Torah portion, we begin to deal with one of life’s biggest questions: “What am I truly capable of achieving”…

The Two Floods

Weekly Op-Ed • 11 Comments

In our lives we have both options: A deluge of waters that will overwhelm and destroy us; or a deluge of Divine knowledge that submerges us in its watery embrace.

Giving Up Your Life for God?

Weekly Op-Ed •Essays • 2 Comments

Should we “give up” our lives for God? Certainly not! That’s sacrifice. We shouldn’t give up our God-given talents and behaviors; we should bring them closer to their purer state.

Drugs – Strange Fire

Questions & Answers •Weekly Op-Ed • 19 Comments

A soul burning with fiery passion is an incredible asset, but lack of self-control coupled with the pursuit of selfish desires lead to disaster.

One Heart: The Message of Shavuot

Weekly Op-Ed • 7 Comments

In Parshat Bamidbar what power did Sinai have that united the people when they “camped opposite the mountain”? Total fusion of matter & spirit; body & soul.

Are You Unique?

Weekly Op-Ed • 9 Comments

Become a giver, instead of a taker, and you will find the courage to be yourself, to finally allow your unique voice to play its own music.

Dancing Particles

Your soul has a mission whose contract has been renewed. This is your personal mission statement – the reason you are here on earth.

Our Response to Tragedy

Shorts • 0 Comments

The response to a gruesome attack, is to channel all our outrage and fury into a spiritual eruption of building an even stronger holy land, both physically and spiritually.

War In Israel: What We Must Do

Weekly Op-Ed •October 17th, 2023• 0 Comments

Let us create a true revolution. Let us reconnect to our Divine mission. Let us move heaven and earth with our actions. We have been promised that when we do, we will save the universe – literally.

8 Steps to Building Your Inner Menorah

List • 1 Comment

Some menorahs are made of gold, some of silver, some of plastic. The most profound menorahs are fashioned of flesh and blood, of tears and sweat, of you and I. We are menorahs. It is time to rise and shine.

Bo: Israel – The Inside Story

Weekly Op-Ed •January 29th, 2004• 1 Comment

A theory on the world’s fixation with Eretz Yisroel and how you can bring peace to the Holy Land and holiness to where you live.

Beshalach: Israel & the Non-Jews

Weekly Op-Ed • 3 Comments

Israel’s spiritual centrality serves as a gift to all the nations, including the Jews who are charged with the task of bringing these nations closer to G-d.

Yitro: Beauty or the Beast?

Weekly Op-Ed •February 5th, 2015• 7 Comments

Islam stands today at a crossroads: Will it embrace the beauty or the beast?

Open Your Eyes

Weekly Op-Ed • 3 Comments

A personal story about a blind woman who rediscovered her Judaism and the great miracle that occurred afterwards.

And Moses Gathered… My Georgian Genes

Find inspiration in Moses’ gathering the 600,000 Jews in Parshat Vayakhel to appreciate the great diversity within Judaism.

Bad Religious Experiences

Questions & Answers •Weekly Op-Ed • 31 Comments

True faith is a powerful force. Like a fire it has the power to warm and illuminate, but also the power to consume and destroy. When edging close to the fire great care has to be taken to ensure that you are able to take the heat and contain the light.

In Defense of Anarchy

Questions & Answers •Weekly Op-Ed • 9 Comments

The continued quest for an authentic teacher results in a discussion about the virtues of a specific anarchy and the refinement of our search for a rabbi.

Bamidbar/Shavuot: After 3336 Years How Far Are We From Sinai?

Weekly Op-Ed • 6 Comments

Israel is under attack, yet again. As we stand in proximity of Shavuot, when we relive the revelation at Sinai, this may be the best time to demand accountability of the Arab/Muslim world for their actions, and to call the rest of the world to demand a response.

Elitism: Are We All Created Equal?