Minerals

What lies behind the tendency of humans to splurge, flaunt and luxuriate in their wealth?

"Quite a change, is it not?" said Abraham with a pleased smile on his face. "Yes, quite a change," the Rebbe sadly replied

Single-minded people aren't much fun. We wouldn't want to be like them -- well, maybe just a little bit...

Likkutei Sichos, Vol. VI, p. 13ff. I. The Talmud explainsSotah 11b. that the verse:Shmos 1:14. “And they embit­tered their lives with mortar and bricks, and all [sorts of] work in the field, all their work...,” [reflects a sequence]. First, they ...

This week: We read about the different kinds of metal that were used in the building of the Tabernacle and what we could learn from the inclusion of even cheap metals, like copper

For us "copper" folks, occasionally well-intentioned but dragged down by the weaknesses of the flesh... how tempting to concede in despair and leave the building of G-d's sanctuary to the spiritually successful "gold" and "silver..."!

Descent can catalyze a sweetening of judgments.

How does one simultaneously dwell in two contradictory worlds—the world of the spirit and the world of the flesh? Sprinkling every area of life with salt is the solution.

Considering that gold has virtually no practical use, why is it so treasured? And why did G-d command us to use it in the construction of the Tabernacle?

We always dip the bread in salt, not only on Shabbat. Our table is considered an altar (see Ezekiel 41:22 and Ethics of our Fathers 3:3), and in the Holy Temple salt was offered together with every sacrifice (Leviticus 2:13). Salt never spoils or decays, ...