ב"ה
Purim 5769 - March 10, 2009
Living
“What’s a Jew, Mama?”
Every day brought new torment. Katya sat at her desk in the classroom, alone, isolated and shunned. She never cried, though. She didn’t cry when they chased her, or threw stones at her, or struck her with their backpacks.
Every day brought new torment. Katya sat at her desk in the classroom, alone, isolated and shunned. She never cried, though. She didn’t cry when they chased her, or threw stones at her, or struck her with their backpacks.
Two Stages in Marriage
In the pre-marital phase we are focused on "what am I getting." In the post-marital state our focus shifts from to "what am I giving."
In the pre-marital phase we are focused on "what am I getting." In the post-marital state our focus shifts from to "what am I giving."
Getting Kids to Help More
The two most relevant concepts in getting kids to help out are establishing family routines and consequences.
The two most relevant concepts in getting kids to help out are establishing family routines and consequences.
Parshah
The Parshah in a Nutshell
The Jews are counted, instructions are given for the remaining holy vessels, and two architects are chosen to direct the Tabernacle’s construction. When Moses doesn’t return on time, the people create and worship a golden calf. Moses breaks the two tablets, returns to heaven, and descends with two new tablets.
The Jews are counted, instructions are given for the remaining holy vessels, and two architects are chosen to direct the Tabernacle’s construction. When Moses doesn’t return on time, the people create and worship a golden calf. Moses breaks the two tablets, returns to heaven, and descends with two new tablets.
The Best Kept Secret in the World
Strip life of its false starts, of its missed opportunities, naive presumptions, fumbling first attempts and learned-it-the hard-way experiences, and what's left? Nothing worth writing home about, let alone going through all that trouble to live a life...
Strip life of its false starts, of its missed opportunities, naive presumptions, fumbling first attempts and learned-it-the hard-way experiences, and what's left? Nothing worth writing home about, let alone going through all that trouble to live a life...
Two Equal Tablets
What is the primary concern of the religious person -- man-to-man relations or a focus on the Divine?
What is the primary concern of the religious person -- man-to-man relations or a focus on the Divine?
True Mercy
Why is "an abundance of truth" considered one of the attributes of mercy? Truth is a severe and honest judge, unwilling to overlook misdeeds and transgressions...
Why is "an abundance of truth" considered one of the attributes of mercy? Truth is a severe and honest judge, unwilling to overlook misdeeds and transgressions...
Priceless National Treasures
Is there ever a good reason to destroy a national treasure? A trip to the National Archives got me thinking about this subject...
Is there ever a good reason to destroy a national treasure? A trip to the National Archives got me thinking about this subject...
The Calf’s Mother
King Solomon was baffled; Moses turned pale. Indeed, only the most incomprehensible of Divine decrees—the law of the red heifer—can act as an antidote for the most incomprehensible of human experiences—the phenomenon of death.
King Solomon was baffled; Moses turned pale. Indeed, only the most incomprehensible of Divine decrees—the law of the red heifer—can act as an antidote for the most incomprehensible of human experiences—the phenomenon of death.
The Jewish Woman
In Disguise
Before this, I was the kind of person who never lied. I felt that honesty was truth and that I needed to engage in truth, at all costs.I have greater insight now about the issue of concealment . . .
Before this, I was the kind of person who never lied. I felt that honesty was truth and that I needed to engage in truth, at all costs.I have greater insight now about the issue of concealment . . .
Holidays
Miracles Masked
Strange is it not? A book of the Bible and not even one explicit reference to G‑d? Why is that? Perhaps we can answer this question with another question....
Strange is it not? A book of the Bible and not even one explicit reference to G‑d? Why is that? Perhaps we can answer this question with another question....
What is the Secret of our People's Survival?
No manner of assimilationism provides an escape from the Hamans and Hitlers; nor can any Jew sever his ties with his people by attempting such an escape.
No manner of assimilationism provides an escape from the Hamans and Hitlers; nor can any Jew sever his ties with his people by attempting such an escape.
Esther's Story
Originally, there were two different conceptions of how the miracle of Purim should be commemorated, propagated by the two heroes and founders of Purim, Mordechai and Esther
Originally, there were two different conceptions of how the miracle of Purim should be commemorated, propagated by the two heroes and founders of Purim, Mordechai and Esther
And these [Purim] days are remembered, and re-enacted, in every generation, by every family, in every province and every city. And these days of Purim will never pass from among the Jews, nor shall their memory depart from their descendants
— Book of Esther 9:28
Print Magazine
Due to the limitations of your reality, some of your best friends can enter only incognito.
In fact, the really big ones sometimes sneak in disguised as ugly monsters and vicious enemies. Otherwise, the guards at the gate would never permit them entry.
These are the events optimists call “blessings in disguise.”
Here’...
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