(NOT) Hebrew School

The Jewish nation suffered an unfathomable and unspeakable tragedy with the death and injury of so many during the Lag Baomer celebration in MERON. I think it is important to try to speak out the appropriate response we should have.

In this weeks Torah portion we have a command to “love our friend as we love ourselves”. How can the feeling of “love” be commanded?

People think that the true meaning of freedom and happiness is having no restrictions and the ability to do anything we want. However, we know this cannot be true because we know many people who are totally “free” and not really happy. The reality is that just like we can be enslaved to a master we can also be enslaved and paralyzed by infinite possibilities. So what then is the true meaning of freedom and happiness?

The answer is that freedom and happiness does not come from having infinite choices, it comes from actually CHOOSING making choices that express who we really are.

That’s why the TORAH - Jewish bible - is really our ticket to our freedom and happiness. Because it empowers and frees to make choices that express and develop our true selves. It’s been said that our mothers womb is where we develop physically and this world is where we develop spiritually.

If somebody insults me and I don’t respond I BECOME that act of self-control. If I am upset at my MOM and I still smile at her I BECOME that act of kindness. If I ask the infinite to help me do well on my final I BECOME that act of faith and humility, if I celebrate Shabbat I BECOME that act of faith and connection to the Infinte.

I remember when I was in high school I got in fight with a dear friend and we were both waiting for the other one to apologize. After a long time (i’m embarrassed to tell you how long) I called him up to apologize. You can well imagine the feeling of freedom and self actualization that brought.

I’d love to hear if you have an experience to share where you felt that you expressed your true self and felt complete freedom.

What is the deal with Passover? What is the deal with Matzah? How can Passover teach us skills that will flood us with happiness, serenity and peace of mind? Let’s understand this awesome holiday.

The Jewish nation is compared to the moon. Jewish women personify why that is.

What exactly is a MISHKAN that the Jewish nation was commanded to build in the desert. Why couldn’t they wait till they get to the land of Israel? Why do we need to know all the intricate laws? Is it better to learn TORAH or to do KINDNESS?

Why do we need to know so many intricate laws about the Mishkan (home for Gd)? Why did the Jewish people have to build a traveling Mishkan in the desert, why couldn’t they wait till they got to Israel? How do all these laws affect our daily lives?

This Thursday night (February 25) and Friday is the holiday of Purim, one of the holiest days of the Jewish year! There are four ways that we celebrate the day! You can do it yourself!

Learn to turn your natural powers into supernatural powers!

Torah portion (Parsha) of the week.What is the reasoning behind the first laws we received? Aren’t they somewhat anti-climactic?