BS”D On the surface, the days of Sefiras HaOmer seem to have two, somewhat contradictory themes: On one hand, it’s a time a mourning when we limit joyous activities, like making a wedding, listening to music or buying new clothes. According to the Talmud, in the weeks between Pesach and Shavuos, Rabbi Akiva’s 24,000 students died in a…
Read More “Chodesh Iyar: The Key to Unlocking Divine Compassion” »
BS”D Straight after the first day of Pesach we enter a seven-week cycle known as Sefiras HaOmer (the Counting of the Omer). The 49 days from Pesach to Shavous really represent a journey of 49 steps to spiritual growth and emotional refinement that help us renew our acceptance of the Torah on an individual level. On the first…
There are two big takeaways from the continuing upheaval and the events of the past few weeks: Hashem is running the world. In an instant and unexpectedly, our lives can dramatically change. While that change may be uncomfortable, we can choose to remember the One Who is Pulling all the Strings and work to focus…
Read More “Seeing Ourselves As if We Personally Left Egypt” »
BS”D A few weeks ago, before Coronavirus dominated the headlines, life was pretty normal… Oh, how things have changed!!! A seemingly small and insignificant ailment has somehow set off a heavy-handed, global response. Governments throughout the world are implementing a series of increasingly militant, often bizarre regulations and laws that can (and do) change by…
BS”D The Zohar tells us that Yom Kippur, the most spiritual day of the year, is really, Yom Hak’purim, which means “a day like Purim.” (Tikkunei Zohar 21: 57b) The essence of this connection is that the two days are actually similar. On both days, a Jew can experience spiritual elevation and closeness to God,…
