Secular Avodah Zara
In Parshas Toldos, Yaakov Avinu shows great hesitancy at the ruse of his mother to dress up as his brother to receive the Brachos. The Medrash teaches that Yaakov feared to appear like one who worshipped Avodah Zara.
The Need to Connect
Meta (Facebook) CEO Mark Zuckerberg Recently laid off 11,000 employees. At the time, that was 13% of its workforce. During the pandemic, Facebook was a staple in many homes. It allowed the company to grow at an exponential rate, faster than it would have in normal circumstances.
Avodah for the High Holidays
The Yomin Noraim instill a sense of hesitancy, awe, and fear in the heart of a yid. The other holidays seem easy in comparison, at least from my perspective.
The War for Your Soul
During these days of Elul, we find ourselves in a state of war. Elul is a season of war, but not one of base physical means. Rather, it is a month of spiritual war – a month when we are empowered to launch an attack on the yetzer hara.
Finding Peace in the Tumult
Our world is is tumultuous times. War Loss Mourning Economic crisis Natural disasters Pandemic
The Miracle of Chanukah – The Real “Reason for the Season”
It’s the winter holiday season again in the world. For most, Chanukah is simply a blip on the radar. For others, it’s a Jewish holiday that’s like the other days (that one with the man in the red suit, for example). It seems that a majority fit in this second category. Then there’s another group…
Justice, Justice You Shall Pursue
As many are aware, Americans in particular, today began a historic event within the history of the United States. Today began the first-ever trial of a non-sitting President for Impeachment as well as second impeachment of a President. Legalities aside, what is the Jewish approach to this?
Elections, Rulership, and Decorating Pigs
The governments of the world are fascinating. Today’s society revolves around either dictatorships, a pseudo-monarchy, or democratic governorship (such as the democratic republic system that the United States of America uses).
Here We Are – My Chuppah Pledge
Today my wife and I will veil, walk, and circle under a Chuppah as we recite our Jewish vows following our completed conversion to Orthodox Judaism. We’ll also break glass, have kiddush, and dance after the yichud room.
Levels of Authority
Everyone has a hierarchy that they report to, in one way or another. For some, this is identified through religious structure. Others, political. Still others, the list goes on. Everyone has this systematic structure of authority in their lives.
Change, Here and Now
The United States is in a perilous time. Semiotically, it’s easy to see not only the painfully obvious signs of distress and fracture, but it’s also clear that we are in an unprecedented time. It can seem like a scary time to be an American. In fact, it’s scary just to be in the world…
America & Civil Religion
Everybody has a religion. For some, this religion is theological. For others, it is the religion of science. In fact, most have a religion of nationality. Religion is the belief in and worship in a superhuman controlling power. Google Dictionary, February 2020 To fully appreciate this conversation, some history may be of benefit for the…