Kindness To Animals
Animals are one of the most important “educational tools” God provided to humanity in order to teach them to be “givers.” While animals can’t communicate with the same ability as humans,…
Beyond Their Means
It goes without saying that life would be simpler if all things were black and white. Alas, however, we live in a world filled with many shades of grey. An excellent example of this is…
The Torah Service
The Torah Service is central to the Saturday morning synagogue service and has much ceremony and fanfare. It begins with the opening of the aron ha’kodesh (holy ark - the cabinet housing…
Sabbath Prayers: The Blessings Over The Torah
On Shabbat morning, seven different people are called to recite the blessings over the reading of the Torah. Each person is referred to as the oleh, "he who has come up." The blessings…
The Blessings of the Amidah: Redemption from Difficulties
The nineteen blessings of the Amidah make up the core of the Jewish prayer service. The seventh blessing addresses our need for help, our need to be redeemed from difficult situations.…
The Building of Solomon’s Temple
The 17th of Cheshvan marks the day on which King Solomon declared the work on the Holy Temple (Beit Hamikdash) to be complete. By then, Solomon had been king for eleven years, and the…
The Morning Blessings-Blessing #4: For Women
Every morning, a set of 15 blessings are recited to express our thanks to God for all the things that we, as healthy human beings, are capable of doing. Ba’ruch Ah’tah Ah’doh’nai…
What’s In The Book: I Samuel
The First Book of Samuel concerns the establishment of the Israelite monarchy. It opens with Samuel the Prophet, the last Judge, who was raised under the tutelage of Eli, the High……
The Blessings Over Food: The Final-Blessing Bo’ray Ne’fah’shoat
The mitzvah of making a blessing after food is a direct Torah commandment. “You will eat and be satisfied, and bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you”…