When times are difficult, we tend to focus on the negative. Now, unfortunately, is one of those times.  As we concern ourselves about the security of Israel and...

This week’s Middat HaShavuah is taken from our Torah portion, Parshat Vayishlach. The Middah is:  Key Verse: וָאֶשְׁלְחָה לְהַגִּיד לַאדֹנִי, לִמְצֹא-חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ.   בראשית לב:ו   Middah: Resolve...

This week’s parshah, “Vayetzei,” meaning “And he left” or “he went out,” is found in Genesis 28:10.   Ya’akov leaves his hometown, Beersheba, and journeys to Charan....

This week’s Middat HaShavuah is taken from our Torah portion, Parshat Toldot.The Middah is:  וַיֹּאכַל וַיֵּשְׁתְּ, וַיָּקָם וַיֵּלַךְ; וַיִּבֶז עֵשָׂו, אֶת-הַבְּכֹרָה  (בראשית כה:כג)  Middah: Take time...

There is a popular bumper sticker which reads, “Perform Random Acts of Kindness.” The sentiment sounds promising, but leaves me wondering: is kindness something random? In...

The Middat HaShavuah is taken from our Torah portion, Parshat Vayera. The Middah is: וַיָּרָץ לִקְרָאתָם מִפֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל (בראשית יח:ב) Middah: Be welcoming  In this week’s...

Our Middat HaShavuah this week reminds us to be flexible. It comes from this week’s Torah portion, Lech Lecha, where Abraham demonstrates his flexibility in letting...

Why do we wear kisui’im at Heschel?  Parashat Noah, and the rainbow placed as a sign in the heavens gives us a clue. This week we...

This past Saturday, synagogues throughout Israel were scheduled to celebrate Simchat Torah and begin the reading of the Torah cycle with Parshat Beresheet.  The irony of...