Torah Talks

Me or We?

Is There Space for Both?

It's a familiar tension that pops up all the time: Who should I prioritize: myself or someone else? Sometimes it seems impossible to do both. A close look at Moses's life and his thundering words to Pharaoh tell us that when G‑d is involved, "me and you" can both be served.

Don't Fall Prey to the Gaslighter

Sometimes the Best Strategy is to Simply Scream

There's the truth, and then there are a million other versions. Usually, we know the truth. So when others come along and try to convince us otherwise, it's best to recognize them for what they are: lying, manipulating forces that deserve nothing more than a shout: "Get out of my life!"

One Mitzvah for You, One Mitzvah for Me, One Mitzvah for Everyone

Putting "Do a Mitzvah" on Everyone's Bucket List

Do you have a bucket list of things you'd like to do at least once in your life? Many people have such lists. What they may not know is that "do a mitzvah" could well be the most important item to add to that list, for the entirety of Creation depends on it.

Right Now You're Here-And Nowhere Else

Investing Everything into the Task at Hand. And Then Moving On to the Next

"Live in the moment" is a popular buzz phrase today. But what if the next moment is equally, or even more, important? The Jews' puzzling behavior with the spoils at the sea teach us an important lesson about this very question.

The Theory of Everything

Appreciating the Underlying Oneness in Everything-Including You

We live in an incredibly fragmented world; everything and anything eventually seems to splinter, come apart, or disintegrate. What is the secret glue that holds everything together-in our lives, throughout the world, and over history? Discover the Theory of Everything.

Positive and Pain Free

If Judaism Is Hurting You, You're Doing Something Wrong

Piety and asceticism have long been considered ideological allies. Indeed, fasting, abstinence, and a general disdain for the body and materialism are the assumed brand of the sincerely devout. But along came the Chassidic revolution and brought with it a somewhat brazen but ultimately beautiful version of Judaism that's yours to enjoy.

When Time Stands Still

There's Nothing Hypocritical about Your One-Off Good Moment

One of the greatest challenges to meaningful change is the nagging feeling that whatever changes we make are only incremental and not reflective of our true selves. So why bother? When it comes to your relationship with G‑d, the surprising and refreshing truth is that every move carries infinite, timeless value.

Get Out and Help Someone Else

Public Service Is a Critical Part of Life

In an era of self-development, self-actualization, and self-fulfillment, putting aside personal needs to help someone else is somewhat of a lost art. While Western society has shifted over the last century from the collective to the individual, Purim's other main character, Mordechai, teaches us to push back on the trend.

What Do You Really Want?

Finding a Map to the Real You

We all want a lot of money, a big house, nice cars, healthy relationships, good vacations, and even a sprinkle of happiness and meaningful moments. But what do you really want? And how do you get there? Discover the formula for identifying and unlocking the real you.

The Religious Creative

Is Religious Lifestyle Compatible with Creative Self-Expression?

Poetry, music, painting, liberal arts: none of these sound like the stuff of a devout religious lifestyle. Stories of tradition, conformity, and asceticism are the bread and butter of religion. Can the twain meet? Of course they can! Discover how.

Is It Really a Mistake?

Certain Mistakes Happen to Certain People

What do our mistakes say about us? Is "It was just a one-time mistake" an acceptable defense? Discover the lesson taught by an errant leader in Temple times: Moral lapses are not just one-off events to be ignored because they go unpunished. Instead, reflect on what your mistakes mean about your life at large.

Loyalty or Love: Which Do You Prefer?

When Loyalty Is as Endearing as Love

Is trudging through a relationship on brute commitment alone a good thing or bad thing? Well, it depends how you look at it. A detailed analysis of the leavening qualities inherent in the Passover matzah reveals that sometimes, loyalty and commitment are exactly the type of love we could all use.

The Process of Redemption

News Flash: It's Already Underway

When two Torah portions both seem to be misnamed, you can bet something deeper is at play. Indeed, this double anomaly teaches us an important lesson about healing and rebirth: the process begins a lot earlier than you might imagine.

Children Are Small Adults

It's Never Too Early to Start a Jewish Education

It's a common mistake: parents don't really take their children seriously, and one day, boom!: they're all grown up. Understanding just how developed children are at already very young ages is a clarion call for parents to get serious about their education.

Jews Don't Pray. They Daven.

G‑d Is Not a Vending Machine

"Daven," a mysterious word with uncertain origins, is one of those glorious terms that convey the heart of Jewish prayer. More than just a chance to ask G‑d for stuff, or a stuffy experience in a hard-backed pew, the Jewish conception of prayer is that it is a heartfelt and spiritually exhilarating opportunity to connect with G‑d.

"Pull Yourself Up by Your Own Bootstraps," They Said. It's a Lie.

You Can't Jump Out of Your Own Skin. Get an Objective Opinion.

The "self-made man" is one sacred cow long drilled into our collective psyche. A curious omission of a key family member on an important list of relatives in the Torah leads to an enlightening and honest conclusion: you can't mentor yourself.

Leadership Lessons: Personal, Local, and Global

A Multifaceted Discussion on Leadership

"What's a good leader?" is the type of question you debate with cab drivers and family members at Thanksgiving dinner. A long list of leaders in the very beginning of the Book of Numbers kicks off this lively and informative exploration of this important topic.

Judaism: No Longer Playing Defense

Minyan at the Airport: You In or Out?

When G‑d gave the Torah, He nominated every Jew as a king. The original Chasidic master, the Baal Shem Tov, provides a blueprint for a Jewish attitude that sees a world not in opposition, but rather as a loyal subject to her king, G‑d, and His Torah.

Unleash Your Power

Every Individual Is an Entire Collective

A tribal prince offered a sacrifice millennia ago on Shabbat, and we're mining the lesson ever since. It's time to give yourself permission to feel important and significant. Your every action matters and cosmically so.

Passing Up the Bonus

If It Costs the People, It's Not Worth the Gain

Suppose the "masses" are slacking off, and you now have the opportunity to distinguish yourself and shine. Would you do it? From a glaring narrative hole in the parshah, we learn that a true leader would never do that. His or her fate is always with the people.

To Commit, To Question, or . . . Both?

A License to Question Isn't a License to Reject

If to think is to question, to discover, and reject when necessary, to accept and obey means to not think. So how do we approach religion: accept without thinking, or question and challenge? The story of the spies provides the answer: both.

Power to the Little Guy

Why Judaism Cherishes Ordinary People over Holy Saints

Jewish history and lore is replete with sages and saints, and with matriarchs and patriarchs. But let's face it: most of us are never going to be any of the above. Where's our place in Judaism? The quelling of Korach's revolt surprisingly tells us that it's actually front and center.

Trauma, Trauma, Wherefore Art Thou?

Reframing the Past to Fortify the Future

Shoving trauma under the rug is never a good idea, but dwelling on it and letting it dictate your life isn't either. An entire parshah named after a famous villain shows us how to strike a healthy balance between fleeing and facing a traumatic past.

Why You Must Learn from Your Own Mistakes

Some Things Cannot Be Taught. They Must Be Learned and Earned.

"You got burned trying to go the cheaper route? I told you it wasn't a good idea!" said every parent to their child. But that's life: to really appreciate something, we sometimes have to learn it the hard way And so it is with our relationship with G‑d: it cannot only be taught; it must be learned and earned.