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Bereishit 5770 - October 16, 2009

Chabad.org Video
A Universal Question

What is the most intelligent question regarding the world’s origin?
The Shema: A Meditation in Four Parts

Imagining creation, the metaphor of speech, the essential secret, and going back out into the world
Who Stole My Cookies?

A fresh batch of delicious--but forbidden--cookies... A few mischievous and hungry children... Is the combination of these two ingredients a recipe for disaster? Or a precious lesson in the baking...?
The Subway Man

Someone who thinks he's G-d -- on a New York City subway (where else?)
Daily Classes With Rabbi Gordon

Study the daily Chumash with Rashi, Tanya and Rambam with master teacher Rabbi Yehoshua B. Gordon.
Parshah
The Parshah in a Nutshell
G‑d creates the world in six days and sanctifies the seventh. The serpent convinces Adam and Eve to eat from the Tree of Knowledge, and they are expelled from the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve bear children, and Cain murders Abel.
Imperfect Perfection

Did G-d create a perfect world, or an imperfect one? That depends whether it's Shabbat or not.
Created to Lead

Are we natural leaders or followers? Humans or apes? Adam was created peerless in order to answer this very question.
The Doctrine of Perpetual Creation

Aside from stimulating our minds and inspiring our mystic wonder, what are the practical ramifications of the truth that G‑d is creating the world anew every moment of time?
G‑d's Business

Was Adam and Eve's sin part of "the plan"?
The Adam Files

"Look," he tried. The poor angel was almost hysterical. "Our job was software. How were we supposed to know that the hardware was to be made from mud? We pleaded with The Engineer to find a more fitting encasement for such an ultimate being than this gray meat patty..."
Living
A Celestial Impact

Is it worthwhile to crash a $79-million satellite into the moon in order to perhaps uncover a single droplet of water?
The Guru Jew

Off to find the ultimate, Gil was soon on a plane headed to the guru's ashram in central South India. Though he devoted himself with zeal to the Hindu teachings, long years of deep meditation "brought me no joy, just a stronger desire to find the Eternal."
The Road to Happiness in Marriage

Of course, the way to build emotional equity in marriage is to make as many deposits as possible. Every time you tell your spouse that you appreciate them, and their actions, you are building more emotional wealth...
Winning Attitudes

Dealing with a problem-prone child
Life Out of the Box

Sure, it's essential to a focus on your priorities. But life is fluid and full of curves–changes, stages, and junctures. Take spirituality and connecting to G‑d. I would call that a real "big rock"...
Jewish Stories
R. Levi Yitzchak’s “Atah Hareisa”

Finally, in a dramatic denouement, Levi Yitzchak placed the tallit firmly back in its place and announced: “If you’re a chassid and a scholar, then you lead the prayers!” and stalked back to his seat near the side wall of the synagogue . . .
Ten Stories of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev
Tishrei 24 (this year, Tuesday, October 13) marks 200 years from the passing of chassidic master Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev (1740-1809), known as the great "advocate" of his people before the Heavenly Throne...
Judaism
Shabbat: An Island in Time
Shabbat: the island of time that defines the Jew’s week. The rituals, the practices, the do’s, and the don’ts of the Jewish Sabbath—and how you can experience it all for yourself.
May it be Your will before You, that the Holy Temple should be built speedily in our days, and grant us our portion in your Torah
— From the Daily Prayers
Print Magazine

On Simchat Torah we dance with our feet, not with our heads.

We are celebrating the Torah, and the Torah is something we study with our heads. But we dance with our feet, not with our heads.

If we would dance with our heads, each one would dance a different dance, each in a different space, some with friends but not wit...