ב"ה

Chai Elul 5762 - August 26, 2002

Chai Elul
"Chai Elul" - the 18th day of the month of Elul - is the birthday, in 1698, of the founder of Chassidism, Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov. It is also the day on which his "spiritual grandson," the founder of Chabad, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, was born, in 1745
Parshah
Nitzavim-Vayelech in a Nutshell
The diverse unity of Israel, the practicality of Torah, the future redemption, freedom of choice . . . Also: The last day of Moses’ life, the Torah is put in writing, a disheartening prediction and an encouraging promise.
What is a Soul?

After my on-line chat with that tech-support angel, I did my research. Here's a little conversation I dug up that tells it all. Phone call from Copenhagen to Berlin, 1926...
Story
The Man Who Crossed the River with a Kerchief

"Perhaps I can help you," said the Baal Shem Tov. On small slips of paper he wrote, in simple Yiddish, "morning prayers," "addition for Mondays and Thursdays," "for Shabbat," and inserted them in the innkeeper's siddur
Parenting
Now or Later?

Raising children requires an investment of time. Regarding that, we have no choice in the matter. But we can choose when that time will be spent
Achashverosh was a fool: first he killed his wife at the urging of his friend, and then he killed his friend at the urging of his wife.
— Yalkut Shimoni
Print Magazine

Adam trudged past the gates of Eden, his head low, his heart heavy with the pain of remorse.

Suddenly he stopped. A thought had struck him.

He turned to the heavens and exclaimed, “You had this planned! You put that fruit there knowing I would choose to eat from it!”

“But tell me: Why?

The heavens were silent.

But ...