Parsha: Vayechi (2025)
Friday will be a fast day, Asarah B’Tevet, the 10th day of the Jewish month of Tevet. On this day in the year 425 BCE, the armies of the Babylonian emperor Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem. It’s a time to fast and repent. It is also a time to reflect on negative experiences we might […]
Parsha: Vayigash (2025)
There was once a plane full of people flying overseas. During the flight there was a lot of turbulence, it felt as if the plane was being tossed back and forth. Everyone was frightened, some were screaming, and some tried to control their fears. There was one passenger a young 10 year old girl, who […]
Parsha: Mikeitz (2024)
Happy Chanukah! Stories of overcoming challenges and adversity are inspiring and allow us to reframe some of our own challenges so we can overcome them as well. So it comes as no surpirse that the Torah has Holidays and stories in the Torah that convey this message. Chanukah has a message which conveys this point. […]
Parsha: Vayishlach (2024)
The first time the Torah alludes to the concept of Bar Mitzvah is in a very powerful story of a rescue mission. The Parsha this week describes how Dina was tragically abducted and taken hostage by Chamor the son of Shchem. At that moment two of her brothers, Shimon and Levi, began to mobilise and […]
Parsha: Vayeitzei (2024)
There’s a powerful idea in the Parsha this week that can be a source of inspiration and resilience. When Leah gave birth to her fourth son, she named him Yehudah (Judah), saying: “This time, I thank (“odeh”) G-d.” The Midrash comments that this was the first instance in all of history of someone thanking G-d. […]
Parsha: Toldot (2024)
Digging wells? A central focus of Isaacs life is focused on digging wells. What does it teach us? How is it relevant ? The Torah puts an emphasis on Issac digging wells. A seemingly unimportant detail in the life of Issac. One lesson that we can learn is the concept of perseverance. Such an important […]
Parsha: Chayei Sara (2024)
What are the most important moments in life? It is easy to get distracted from what we know really matters to us. I heard a good line a few years ago. “If what you’re stressed about won’t matter to you in five years, don’t spend more than 5 minutes on it.” When we step back […]
Parsha: Vayeira (2024)
One of the key ingredients to Jewish survival throughout the ages was the constant presence of Synagogues and institutions of Jewish learning. Whenever Jewish people would arrive in a new place they would make sure to set up a spiritual home. It is due to this dedication and sacrifice that our heritage is still accessible […]
Parsha: B’H Parshat Lech Lecha (2024)
In order to understand our own life’s journey and story, we sometimes have to look back at our origins. This week’s Parsha tells the story of the first Jew. The story of Avraham who trailblazed the path for all future Jewish people. Avraham had some experiences that we all come across during our lifetime as […]
Parsha: Noach (2024)
Are you a leader or a follower? It is easy to just go with the flow. First we can see what everyone around us is doing, and then decide to follow suit. Why make a scene and cause an uncomfortable situation by standing out? We might as well just “fit in”? While this is how […]