Exile
Exile is not a noun but a verb.
Chains, fences, and barbed wire create physical exiles; but there are exiles that run much deeper. Being chained off from your own self, or handcuffed from your own abilities, is devastating; being imprisoned within your own insecurities, or constricted by your own fears, is sadness personified. In many cases the keys to the tumblers that lock us down are within our very own pockets – or at least within our very own souls. Every single person has been to an exile or ten. And every single person has had the ability to be free.
Can We Achieve Triumph From Tragedy?
Through trials, tribulations and destruction in Jewish history, our nation endured. Discover how difficulties in our lives can spawn unprecedented power.
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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.
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Bo: Israel – The Inside Story
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.
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Back to the Tzimtzum
The reality that we live with seems harsh because the world was created dark, but everything in this world has a higher purpose that we can’t see.
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The Seder Plate: A Microcosm of Your Psyche
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.
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Four Steps to Freedom
There are four steps that G-d used to take His nation out of slavery in Egypt, mirroring the four steps necessary to achieve freedom today.
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The Stutterer
In Parshat Shmot, Moses is revealed to be the first stutterer. Yet, he overcomes this challenge to become G/d’s communication channel to the world.
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Tisha B’Av: Pain and Pleasure: The Birth of the Future in the Belly of the Beast
Tisha B’av at the Western Wall: Do we see the light at the end of the tunnel? will we have the courage and strength to solve the problem at its root?
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Cholent: The Purpose of Exile
The purpose of exile as explained through the metaphor of cholent, a stew eaten on the Jewish Sabbath. What cholent teaches us about the meaning of exile.
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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
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A Slumber and a Headache
Revisiting the 42-stationed journey in the desert from the Exodus of Egypt (that marked our birth as a nation) to our entry into the Land of Israel.
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Ricochet Dance
History is a dance. G-d & the “maiden of Israel” have been dancing these steps some 4000 years now, advancing & retreating, drawing apart & pulling together
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The Hard Life
Both Mattot and Massei are parashiyot read during the Three Weeks – both are lessons on galut.
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The “Impossible” Dream
Caleb’s role in the tragic story of The 12 Spies in Parshat Shelach.
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A Brighter Future
Small piece of insight by Rabbi Sholom DovBer of Lubavitch, the Rebbe Rashab, on the present, future and coming of Moshiach.
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Land and See
One of the greatest tragedies of Jewish history was the debacle of “The Spies” in Parshat Shelach. The spies failed their mission: it all came down to sight
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Passover: Faith and Flesh
Did you hear about Israel’s latest plan to polish its image for the American public? Girls. Yes, you heard that right….
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The Wilderness & the Torah
Teaching from the Alter Rebbe which highlight the significance of receiving the Torah in the desert and how this is a lesson for our daily lives..
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The Amphibian Soul
Just as a fish lives submerged within the environment that sustains it, we must also immerse ourselves in the truth of our existence.
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A Jew in Madagascar
A freely-translated excerpt from a letter the Rebbe wrote in the fall of 1961 to a Jewish woman living in Madagascar.
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A Border Birth
A story of Yocheved, Moses’ mother, being born on the threshold between freedom and slavery.
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Devorim: The Death of Modern Zionism ?
As we approach the 1937th year since the Temple was destroyed in Jerusalem, Israel is still struggling with its own the identity and raison de’ etre..
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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.
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Mixed Feelings
Jacob teaches us the proper perspective of exile; refusing to become reconciled with it or accepting it as a state that is normal or comfortable.
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The Mysterious Sin
From the Chassidic Master, Rabbi Velvel of Zbaricz, we gain insight into the phenomenon of exile.
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The Wealth of Nations
Discover how every object, force and phenomenon in existence has a spark of G-dliness within it. Learn to hasten a personal and universal redemption.
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Few and Deficient
Jacob teaches us what it means to lead a righteous life; a life of purpose, altruism and compassion.
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A Holy Land
Just as there were two primary modes of sanctification of the Land—the “conquest” mode of the First Temple Era and the “settlement” mode of the Second Temple Era—so, too, are there two modes of sanctification in the macrocosmic endeavor of life.
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The Last Jew
The month of Cheshvan, by virtue of its ordinariness, represents the very purpose of life on earth.
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It’s Up To You!
It is not sufficient to mouth slogans. It is up to each and every of you to bring the ultimate redemption with your actions.
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Chayei Sarah: Can East Meet West?
Abraham surely knew how religious zealotry can breed intolerance, condescension, judgmentalism and prejudices of all sorts — feeding into the ugliest elements of human nature.
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On the Non-Existence of Evil
Take a deep look at the non existence of evil. Explore the idea that “Everything that G-d does, He does for good” conception of evil and suffering, as experienced by Rabbi Akiva.
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Signpost: Cities of Refuge
Discover the spiritual meaning of the Biblical cities of refuge. You can create spiritual cities of refuge in your life. The imperative to build cities of refuge has special meaning to us today, when the roads of life are teeming with spiritual refugees. It is our sacred duty to station ourselves at all the crossroads and serve as living signposts, calling out “Refuge! Refuge!” and pointing the way to the haven of Torah.
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Why Does Israel Dominate Headlines?
Why does Israel so dominate the headlines? A country barely the square miles of New Jersey, with a population less than most countries in the world, captures people’s attention far more than any other.
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Vayechi: 2500 Seekers
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.
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Vayeitzei: Jewish Roots
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.
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Bamidbar: The Blessing of Diversity
Like different musical notes in a large composition, each community, group or even individual, contributes his or her unique note.
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Beshalach: Moscow 2009
Yesterday, Moscow was destroying lives, today it is building them. Yesterday, Moscow all but annihilated Jewish life and morale. Today Jewish life is thriving here.
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Behar: Israel’s Secret Weapon
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.
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Matos-Masei: 1967: The Summer of Awakening Part II
This week’s essay – a sequel to last week – discusses the power of inspiration and the profound consequences of not acting on a call from above….
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Balak: The Ultimate Stand
A personal story of 2 events on the same day in 1927 and 1967 that shaped the spiritual commitment to Jewish life and history revealing G-d’s Divine plan.
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Shelach: Six-Day War
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.
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Yom Kippur: The Kittel
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.
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Matos-Massei: Why is Jerusalem Still Burning
Torah chapters read in the Three Weeks of destruction address issues of Jerusalem under siege: the link between Hezbollah and the Babylonians & Romans.
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Simchat Torah: Rise Up
The most adverse conditions throughout history have resulted in some of the greatest achievements in Jewish scholarship.
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Massei: My Enemies Make Me Wise
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.
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Pinchas: Religious Violence Part I
Pinchas, in Parsaht Pinchas, is a peaceful, selflessness zealot & exemplary in the face of current politico-religious tensions, radicalism and liberalism.
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Shelach: The Journey Part I
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
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Passover: Back to Egypt
Reflections on a Puerto Rican Passover, the slavery of excessive freedom, and the search for the Divine inner light.
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Tazria: Divine Wrath
Understanding the apparent abundance of violence and anger in the Torah requires one to gain deeper insight into its literal and symbolic dimensions.
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Passover: The Slavery of Freedom
While hardship and lack of material prosperity are challenging, the opposites – freedom, ease, and wealth – beget soul-numbing complacency.
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Yisro: Vision
Without a clear enemy, nations often lose their visions of the future. Yet, within the Torah one can find direction towards a higher purpose.
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Vaeirah: Jerusalem Diary II
A detailed account of a trip to Israel (part II) including a visit to the Old City and the Dead Sea and the meaning derived from them.
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Shmot: Jerusalem Diary I
A detailed account of a trip to Israel (part I) with all of the emotions the Holy Land inspires.
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Vayetze: Rhythm
The soul’s restlessness is our healthiest response to a world that just doesn’t seem right. Don’t fight your restlessness; learn how to dance the dance.
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Korach: Atzilut Unplugged
In Parshat Korach we learn that Atzilut never can be unplugged. Our challenge is to recognize & acknowledge the connection and then reveal it & act on it.
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Behar: How Do I Find a True Rabbi? Part 2
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.
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Kedoshim: West of Eden
The present issues in the world are sourced in longstanding religious and metaphysical conflicts which revolve around the physical and figurative Babylon.
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Metzorah: In Search of Eden
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.
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Tazriah: The River Euphrates
The Euphrates River has seen the rise and fall of man many times over, and plays a significant role in the ultimate redemption.
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Shemini: By the Rivers of Babylon
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.
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Purim 2: Shushan War
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.
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Purim: Connect the Dots
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.
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Pekudei: Two Faces of Esau
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.
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