Thought of
the week.

What is the difference between joy and happiness? In the words of J.D. Salinger, “happiness is a solid, joy is the liquid”. Joy is what leads to happiness, and is a feeling that is truly achieved through experiencing adversity. Fleeting happiness comes from stuff, or shiny objects—whether that be toys,…

Forgiveness demands introspection, and in most religions, there is a time dedicated to a deep dive into our past year. We then plan for our current year, cleaning up what we can in our lives, and creating space for blessings to come to fruition. Forgiveness of self and others truly…

Sitting in judgement, jumping to conclusions, and giving the benefit of the doubt are all areas that in certain places I struggle with, and in certain circumstances I’m able to handle favorably. When it comes to self-judgment, I’m extremely harsh. Yet when it comes to how I want others to…

Tocqueville defined individualism as “a mature and calm feeling which disposes each member of the community to sever himself from the mass of his fellows and to draw apart with his family and his friends,” leaving “society at large to itself.” We know that a democracy is the best form…

The practice of gratitude is incredibly important; it has actually been proven that it prolongs life by as many as 7 years. This fact is based upon a study published in 2001 that looked at the lives of approximately 700 nuns. Astoundingly, it was found that those who had a…

I just had the honor of officiating at the funeral of a gentleman who lived for 94 years and truly lived a full life. Firstly, I’m so grateful that I was able to perform the ceremony and give back to a man who gave to so many. Not only was…

Albert Einstein memorably spoke of Judaism’s “pursuit of knowledge for its own sake, an almost fanatical love of justice, and the desire for personal independence– these are the features of the Jewish tradition which make me thank my lucky stars that I belong to it”. I read this quote and…

I have the privilege of helping people help themselves recover from whatever they may be struggling with. I’ve often said, I gain more than anyone else, especially when I do it without any expectations of remuneration. I want to talk about two concerns of mine: one being, why do I…

In Judaism, there are only three sins where one must choose death rather than transgress. The first one is murder; if you are told to kill or be killed, you must choose to be killed. The second includes immoral sexual acts like incest; if you are told you will be…

I had the incredible privilege of being a partner in opening a center for the youth of Sderot, which is the city closest to Gaza. The youth suffer from trauma on a daily basis, fearing missile attacks from a neighbor who is less than 1 kilometer away. This home will…