Parshah Columnists

When you’re faced with a challenge and you’re feeling beaten down by the pressure, remember: you’re better than that.

Remind yourself of what truly matters, which things in life contain real value and which matters are more transient.

Many of the Torah’s laws of marriage are derived from the passage (Deuteronomy 24:1–4) legislating divorce. Isn’t that kinda . . . strange?

For survivors of trauma, the ability to let go of frightful memories is essential to the healing process.

Well before environmental spokespeople were echoing a call for greater sensitivity towards the planet planet, G‑d had formulated the concept

Some wars were Divinely ordained, for reasons known to G-d alone. Others were necessary for self-defense or other purposes. The ultimate goal, however, is for the world to be at peace.

When challenges come your way, you can confront them head-on. Better, however, is to come down upon them from above.

One end of the Torah is here on earth and the other end is in heaven, and it is on this bridge that G-d wants us to walk.

Judaism’s perspective and insight into the profound meaning, beauty, romance and mystery of marriage can be discovered by exploring the meaning behind the seemingly technical details of the law.

The world is an often chaotic field; we were placed on this earth to “work” it—to create order out of the chaos, to discover the fertility hidden within the earth, to plant and to harvest, and ultimately to bring the world to perfection.

In the real world we don’t just ride into the sunset and live happily ever after.

There is nothing superfluous in G‑d’s world. So what is the purpose of an anti-Semite? Just that—to remind Jews that they are Jewish!

Any new endeavor requires checks and balances to ensure it remains safe.

When the body is facing death you use the tourniquet; otherwise it does more damage than good

In order to succeed and avoid being dragged into life’s many distractions, we must remain sufficiently removed from them.

When the mother bird is driven from her nest, she cries bitterly for her brood.

On a profound level, each of our souls has chosen to be here. Each has chosen the battle of life

A basic principle of Jewish belief is that G‑d rewards us when we carry out His commands. G‑d will “do good to you, and give you length of days.” But does it always work like this?

If you want to uplift someone spiritually, you've got to minister to the whole person.

Once you’ve rolled off the bed, how much of the “Modeh Ani” do you take with you? So you spent eight seconds admitting that you owe your life to G‑d. Does that really affect the rest of the day?

Too often we build the house and assume that the “and they lived happily ever after” will just automatically happen.

How do we fight inner coldness? Well, the most obvious antidote to ice is heat. With enough heat you could melt a glacier. But there's another way...

There are houses made of bricks, and houses built of effort and accomplishment. One can “build” up a friend to be a solid edifice of G‑d-centered living, or build a network that develops into an oasis of spirituality.

As I draw out each string, I think of the things I will do in the day that stretches out before me and ask myself: are these things my business or G‑d’s?

The experience of life as a war between two impulses is normal. It is the way G‑d intended it. However, to gain the upper hand in this struggle requires a superhuman effort, an act made possible only by the grace of G‑d.

s it true that the Torah requires rape victims to marry their rapists, and the only punishment to the rapist is a fifty-shekel fine paid to the victim’s father?

Yes, it's true that life is a classroom, but not always must you be the student!

Marriage in Jewish thought is not two people working together towards the same cause; it is the merging of two beings into one.

"Know your enemy" is often the key to knowing yourself. And knowing yourself is always the key to defeating your enemies...

Placing an infinite value on every human life means an utter rejection of any "scale" by which to quantify and qualify its worth.

According to the School of Shammai, if your spouse is unfaithful; according to the School of Hillel, a burnt supper is grounds; Rabbi Akiva says, "even if he found another more beautiful than she."

Certain opportunities exist that are so sublime that they cannot be evoked through a conscious act. They are so holy that we do not have the power to make them happen. They have to come along on their own.

The haftarah begins: “Sing, barren one who has not given birth.” Who is the “barren one”?

Many view those less observant than them negatively. They may ignore them or even worse, tell them off and denigrate them.

Every verse in the Torah is meant to be understood on many levels. When we look deeper into this verse, we can learn lessons that apply to all of us, even to someone who doesn’t own a house.

Call out from the depths of your heart, and the depths of heaven ring.