Most people don’t realize that through its choice of words, the Old Testament places emphasis on goal setting. In fact, it seems that God expects us to set targets for ourselves and at least to try to hit them. In other words, we are supposed to take the time to come up with resolutions or …
Do you have faith in God? If not, why? Does your lack of faith constitute a sin? On Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish Year, the Day of Repentance, we contemplate faith. This past summer while I as at the Aleph Kallah, author Arthur Kurzweil taught me that the “Jewish way of holiness …
Ever wonder why you keep turning over a new leaf-the same leaf-year after year? Ever wonder why you keep asking for forgiveness-for the same sins-year after year? Ever wonder why your targets never change even though you keep resetting them and trying harder to hit a bull’s eye-the same bull’s eye-year after year? On the …
How honest are you with other people and with yourself? It’s easy to figure out the latter and to repent for the sin of being dishonest with others. We can even tell them we are sorry and ask for forgiveness. We can even try to right the wrong. It’s harder to admit how we have …
Halfway through the Days of Awe, and we – I – turn contemplate the reason I’m here at all. What is my soul’s purpose? What am I supposed to be doing with my days on the physical plane, and, more importantly, and I fulfilling my soul’s purpose? Some people have a hard time discovering their …
The High Holy Days and the Days of Awe revolve around the theme of t’shuva, a Hebrew word that means “turning” or “to turn.” I often think of it as “returning” as well. Today, we think about t’shuvah. Anyone can contemplate this subject. What you are turning towards at this time? From what are you …
Fourth Day of Awe: Turning Towards Your Best Self Read More »
As Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year came to a close on Saturday evening, the Days of Awe began. They lead us right up to the holiest day of the year, Yom Kippur, the Day of Repentance. During this time we are told to turn inward and reflect upon our words and deeds over the …
We’ve had a new president for five days. Has anything really changed? Many of us felt more hopeful watching the inauguration, but what about now? Has that hope lingered? It’s hard to keep hope alive. It’s hard to stay positive, especially when nothing seems to change – or at least not to change quickly or …
A New President Doesn't Mean Instant Change for the U.S. or In Our Lives Read More »
Yesterday I learned that Rabbi Alan Lew had died. I didn’t know Rabbi Lew well, but I had the honor of teaching at an event where he was the keynote speaker two years ago. I remember his speach well; in fact, I used what I learned from him later in a talk I gave – …
The Torah portions we read the past two weeks, Vayigash (Genesis 44:18-47:27) and Vayechi (Genesis 47:28-50:26), offer us a chance to look at our own lives over the past year and to consider how past events during the last 12 months have gotten us to the place we now stand. It also helps us to look forward …
January and Joseph: Where You've Been and Where You're Going Read More »
The New Year shows up every year heralding our hopes of change. As Barak Obama’s book title states so well, each year we have the audacity to hope for change. More often than not, however, we don’t see that change. For Jews, the New Year seems to come twice a year – once with the …
I often receive emails from our local Chabad rabbi, Yochanan Friendman, who I like very much. He actually taught my son to lay tefillin, and inspired him to do so for a month – actually more – and bought him a beautiful tefillin bag for doing so. (I’ve done some editing for his father, Manis …
Chabad and LOA: A Lesson in Consciousness for the New Year Read More »
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