Saturday, April 20th 2024 |
By RABBI DAVID WOLPE
Purim is a holiday of masks. A mask doesn’t fully change you, but it obscures identity, distorting who you are. A mask permits you to assume a slightly different way of being in the world. The boy who dresses as Mordechai can act old and wise, but everyone recognizes him as a boy playing a role; the girl who dresses as Esther can play at being bold,...
By RABBI TZVI HERSH WEINREB
“INCREASING GRATITUDE“
There are certain phrases or expressions that many of us find hard to say. “I love you” is one of them. Another such phrase is “thank you”.
Although these words are difficult for us to pronounce, they each reflect powerful emotions and, when finally uttered, have an unbelievable impact upon the person to whom they are addressed....
By RABBI DAVID WOLPE
In an internet age, there is a great deal of discussion about the right to privacy.
The Torah already contains a provision for privacy – a creditor may not enter a debtor’s home even to fetch what is due to him (Deut. 24:10-11). The prohibition on entering another’s home unannounced is then embraced by the Rabbis of the Talmud as a general principle. R. Shimon lists entering...
By RABBI DAVID WOLPE
One of the characteristics of great sages is that they rise above their times and express truths despite the prevailing climate of opposing opinion. The following was written in the 16th century:
“Even if his words are spoken and directed against faith and religion, do not tell a man not to speak and suppress his words. Otherwise there will be no clarification in religious matters. On...
By RABBI TZVI HERSH WEINREB
“AN ENEMY ON MANY FRONTS“
Three very different individuals inspired me to write this week’s column. One was a newspaper editor who “dared” to censor a sentence in one of my submissions. The other was a very wise sage whose pre-Purim lecture I was privileged to hear many years ago. And the third was an anonymous Jew who was fond of the use...
By RABBI TZVI HERSH WEINREB
“THE WAY OF THE WORLD“
Many people have a misconception about Judaism that impedes their ability to take our religion seriously and to commit to living the Jewish way of life. Let me tell you about one such person and about the conversation that I had with him. Let’s call him Richard.
Richard was a very dedicated participant in a...
By RABBI DAVID WOLPE
There is a poignant story of Reb Aryeh Levin, a saintly and renowned Rabbi of Jerusalem who passed away in 1969. Once before the holiday of Succot, when people were busily seeking the perfect etrog (the fruit used for the Succot celebration) Reb Aryeh was seen heading into an old age home. A student asked him why, when visiting an old age home was possible at...
By RABBI TZVI HERSH WEINREB
“CULTURE, COUNTER-CULTURE AND CREATIVITY“
It was quite a few years ago that I spent almost every Sunday afternoon in one of the great museums of the city in which my family then lived. I no longer remember what first stimulated my interest in art, and specifically in the type of art known as Impressionism. But I know that I relished those...
By DAVID WOLPE
“When God saw that Moses turned aside to look, God called out of the bush (Exodus 3:4)” Why? What was so special about Moses turning aside to look that only then did God call out? The rabbis teach that the bush had been burning since the beginning of time but only Moses saw that it was special, that it was not consumed. In this Moses teaches us...
By RABBI TZVI HERSH WEINREB
“THE INEVITABLE COMEDOWN“
It was over forty years ago, but I remember the feelings very well. They were overwhelming, and were not dispelled easily.
It was just after I had completed all of my course requirements and dissertation defense in the process of obtaining my doctorate in psychology. Like any graduate school experience, this was the culmination of several years of study and...
