Thought of
the week.

I’d suggest that the Ten Commandments are somewhat universal for every monotheistic religion, and have the basic tenets that make up a just and moral society. To me, the final commandment at first seems a little out of place, yet upon further and deeper thought, it’s probably the most important…

The Torah describes two types of enemies, one of which we are commanded to eradicate and never forget, the other we must tell the story of, yet we must find compassion for their suffering. The first enemy is Amalek, and the second enemy are the Egyptians. The Egyptians were drowning…

Forget the story of freedom and you will eventually lose freedom itself. The Jewish people have been storytellers from the earliest of times. In fact, Moses instructed the Jewish people during their exodus from Egypt to make sure they told the story to their children and their children’s children, forever…

Are you capable of becoming a thief? For that matter, are you capable of breaking your own moral code? As someone in recovery who has the privilege of working with others in recovery, the answer to the above question is a resounding yes. I have known amazing people who would…

How do we honor other religions? How do we honor holidays we don’t celebrate? And for that matter, how do we treat others when they embarrass us? I have shared this story recently, yet due to the holiday of Christmas tomorrow, I find it so apropo to share it now,…

When is it okay to lie? Or for that matter, is it ever really okay to lie? In the Torah, we see that Joseph’s brothers lied to him when asking for forgiveness. They told him that their father’s dying wish was for Joseph to forgive his brothers for the horrible…

Where do you think the essence of forgiveness comes from? And to add to that question, do you believe people can truly change? Changing is one of the hardest things in the world. Yet, I believe it’s possible and it happens all the time; the key is really knowing oneself…

Right now, we are celebrating the holiday of lights: Chanukah, a festival where we commemorate the miracle of the last remaining holy jug of oil that was supposed to last for one day, and ended up lasting for eight days. Additionally, we are celebrating the miracle of the many falling…

I sit here, staring at a wall that has been the scene of generations of disagreement, war, dispute, hurt, harm, anger, despair, tears, and sadness. I sit here, in front of a wall that has been the scene of celebration, hope, love, happiness, appreciation, and gratitude. It’s the Western Wall…

I’m experiencing a sort of existential crisis, and I would love your feedback and opinions, as I believe this is something that affects all of us. I’m blessed with the privilege of helping people help themselves. This is typically easy, as I know I’m not in charge, and I make…