Person in the Parsha: HA’AZINU (Shabbat Shuvah)

September 19, 2014

By RABBI TZVI HERSH WEINREB

“TRAUMA AND TESHUVAH“

My graduate training in psychology taught me a great deal. But there were major topics that were simply not part of our curriculum. Interestingly, these topics eventually proved essential for...

Person in the Parsha: NITZAVIM-VAYELECH

September 12, 2014

By RABBI TZVI HERSH WEINREB

“LESSONS OF EQUALITY“

For the past several weeks, certain ideas have dominated my consciousness. Don’t worry, these are not obsessive thoughts, and I am not a candidate for a psychiatric diagnosis. Rather, whenever...

Person in the Parsha: KI TETZEI

August 29, 2014

By RABBI TZVI HERSH WEINREB

“THE DUTY OF CIVILIANS IN WAR“

It seems that war is one of the most common of all human activities. Study history of the human race, and you will not...

Person in the Parsha: SHOFTIM

August 22, 2014

By RABBI TZVI HERSH WEINREB

“THE PARTICIPANT OBSERVER“

I have had a long and abiding interest in the process by which we make decisions in our lives. Long ago, I was taught that the best way to make...

Person in the Parsha: RE’ EH

August 15, 2014

By RABBI TZVI HERSH WEINREB

“WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?

The old and crumbling building housed a synagogue that was a “gift” from Joseph Stalin to the Jews of Odessa. Historically, Odessa was a metropolis with a large...

Person in the Parsha: EIKEV

August 06, 2014

By RABBI TZVI HERSH WEINREG

“DISCIPLINE AND SUFFERING“

As a parent, grandparent, and psychologist, I am often considered to be something of an expert on parenting and child-rearing. In that capacity, I have frequently been asked to review...

Person in the Parsha: VA’ETCHANA (Shabbat Nachamu)

August 01, 2014

By RABBI TZVI HERSH WEINREB

“ANSWERING UNANSWERED PRAYERS“

Did you ever really pray for something you wanted? I mean, really fervently, desperately, pray hard for something that was vitally important to you?

If you did, and...

Person in the Parsha: DEVARIM (Shabbat Chazon)

August 01, 2014

By RABBI TZVI HERSH WEINREB

“THE JEWISH OBSESSION“

The popular media often accuses the Jewish people of an obsession. Some accuse us good-humoredly of an obsession with food. Others maliciously accuse us of being obsessed with...

Person in the Parsha: BEHAR

July 23, 2014

By RABBI TZVI HERSH WEINREB

“ANNIVERSARY, BIRTHDAY, JUBILEE!“

My father, may he rest in peace, worked for many years in the garment industry. He worked hard, and there were times when he was without a job. I remember...

Parsha Maasai: The secret to happiness

July 23, 2014

By DAVID MOELLER

This week’s Torah portion opens with “These are the journeys of the Children of Israel” and proceeds to enumerate every travel station, however long or short the stay there, from the time the Jews left Egypt until...