Good & Evil
One lights candles, while the other tries to snuff them out.
People are afraid of good and evil. As a matter of fact, people are often more afraid of good than they are of evil. Good compels you to be good, but evil doesn’t compel you to be anything. You may deny evil, or even ignore it; but you cannot be indifferent to good. We like to believe that there are no absolutes. But just because we like to believe doesn’t mean those beliefs are true. Absolutes can be broken down into actions: a good deed (charity) is absolute good; an evil act (hate) is absolute evil. Do more good deeds than evil and the world becomes good. Absolutely.
Tazria: Divine Wrath
Understanding the apparent abundance of violence and anger in the Torah requires one to gain deeper insight into its literal and symbolic dimensions.
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Matos: Religious Violence Part II
The context behind waging war in Biblical historical events and the Torah’s perspective thereon, as seen in Parshat Matot in the Book of Numbers (Bamidbar).
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Vayeitzei: Before the Battle
Jacob’s descent to Charan and subsequent struggles in Laban’s household represent our own difficulties in this world, and indicate the necessity of bringing light to the darkest places.
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The Dust of History
The cosmic struggle to reconcile spirit and matter are captured in the story of Jacob and Esau and the battle between these two opposing forces.
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Shelach: Jury Duty
Learning Samech Vav while doing jury duty: Living a spiritual life in a material world means engaging and transforming life not just avoidance & insulation.
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Yom Kippur: The Kittel
Comforts and freedom often lead to complacency, but Yom Kippur reminds us simultaneously of our troubles and our triumphs, encouraging us to reflect on the mysterious cycle of life.
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Bereishit: The Origin of Consciousness
Just like a machine cannot run if it’s not being used for what its engineer intended, we too cannot function smoothly if we are living dichotomies.
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The Calling of Our Generation
The 20th century experienced some of the worst destruction and greatest advances this world has ever seen. In light of this dynamic globe, what is the purpose of our generation?
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Beyond Virtue
In practical terms being holy means going out of your comfort zone and conventional behavior.
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