Sacrifice and self-sacrifice
This week’s Torah portion is named after Pinchas whose zealous act retracted God’s anger and atoned for the Jewish people’s sins of promiscuity. The final...
Tag : Temple
9th of Av: the Seer of Lublin's Yahrzeit
The Seer of Lublin passed away, at the age of 70, on the 9th of Av 5575 (1815), a day of national mourning, but also,...
Uniting the Four Elements in the Soul
The two elements of fire and water unite in the Temple. The two elements of air and earth unite in the Land of Israel. In...
If You Can't See It It's Not There?
An important Talmudic rule says, "'We didn't see it' is no proof [that it doesn't exist or that it didn't happen]". In Hebrew, "sight" (רְאִיָה)...
The Mind's Eye, the Heart's Eye
Both the mind and the heart possess an "inner eye." On Shabbat the inner eye of the mind opens to see Godliness in contemplative meditation....
Awe of the Temple
"Keep My days of Shabbat and stand in awe of My Temple." What do Shabbat and the Temple have in common? Both relate to the...
Kabbalah and the Art of Tying Your Shoelaces
First put on your right shoe, then your left shoe, then bind your left shoe, and finally bind your right shoe. That's the way Jews...
What to Pray For
Bat Sheva prayed that her son, Solomon, be wise and fitting for prophecy. David's other wives prayed that their sons be fitting to rule. King...
Where Are You Headed?
In English one may ask "where are you headed?" instead of "where are you going?" The parallel Hebrew idiom is, "where is your face set?"...
…to Everything
Our origin is in the Divine nothing. Our goal is to understand everything, as it says, "Those that seek God shall understand everything." We come...
