From My Notebook

🎙️ Chemistry or Character? | Parshas Chayei Sarah

How do we know when we’ve found the right person to marry?

In this week’s Parsha, Eliezer’s search for a wife for Yitzchak teaches us a powerful lesson about what truly matters when choosing a spouse.

Attraction and chemistry are important, but are they enough to build a lasting marriage?

Chemistry tells us how we feel about someone. Character tells us what kind of life we can build with them.

In this week’s episode of From My Notebook, we explore the importance of kindness, character, and looking beyond the excitement of a new relationship.

Because a successful marriage isn’t just about finding the right person. It’s also about being the right person.

What happens when your spouse needs something that doesn’t come naturally to you?

In this week’s episode of From My Notebook, we explore how Avraham’s test at the Akeidah and Hashem’s instruction to listen to Sarah offer a lesson in marriage: choosing to stretch beyond our instincts, listen with humility, and respond to what our spouse needs.

Sometimes, going the extra mile begins with the words: “This takes effort for me—and you matter enough for me to make that effort.”

In this week's Parsha, Lech Lecha, Avram asks Sarai to identify herself as his sister rather than his wife. This distinction inspires a powerful lesson about the two kinds of love every successful marriage needs.

There's the deep, secure bond of family—the love that provides stability, familiarity, and belonging. And there's the romantic love between husband and wife—the love that requires continued effort, attention, and courtship.

But what happens when couples become so comfortable with each other that they stop actively connecting?

In this week's episode, we explore why comfort isn't the same as connection, why marriage shouldn't mean the end of courtship, and how small, intentional efforts can keep love alive.

A successful marriage isn't just about staying together. It's about continuing to choose each other, every single day.

🎙️ A weekly Torah-inspired insight into marriage, relationships, and building lasting Shalom Bayis.

Rabbi Yisrael Shurack, MSW
Therapist & Couples Counselor

Are we simply getting by in our marriage, or helping it reach its potential? Drawing on Parshas Noach and what it means to be righteous, "in his generation," this episode explores how ongoing care, effort, and connection can build deeper shalom bayit.

Why did G-d rest on the seventh day? What was still missing from Creation? This week, we explore how Shabbat teaches us that rest isn't simply a break from building, but an essential part of making something complete--and how this powerful lesson applies to sustaining meaningful, lasting relationships.

Explores the connection between the double parsha of Nitzavim and Vayelech and the ideas of free choice, achievability vs things being easy, and how this relates to marriage.

Parshas Nitzavim–Vayelech reminds us that what Hashem asks of us is within reach, even when it isn’t easy.
In marriage too, our choices, our effort, and our commitment to unity have the power to build something lasting.

Explores Parshas Shoftim and the connection between the laws of offering peace before waging war as well as not needlessly destroying things and how this relates to our relationships with people.

Explores the connection in Parshas Devarim, where Moshe reviews the journeys of the people, reflects on appointing judges to share the work load, and the sending of the spies; and how all three help guide us towards a healthy and balanced marriage.

Explores the double parshas of Matos & Maasei and what we can learn from the Jewish people establishing boundaries and cities of refuge in Israel with regards to the relationship of marriage.

Explores the connection between Parshas Balak and marriage. Bilaam uses his gifts to have power over others while Pinchas uses his abilities to save the Jewish people. How does this connect to marriage and the importance of using your gifts for the benefit of the couple.