Living Torah Archives

Children lead the crowd in singing ‘We Want Moshiach Now’.

All of Torah and Mitzvos must be done joyously. Maimonides writes that a Jew must strive to emulate King David, who literally “hopped and danced before the L-rd.”

On the very first word of the Torah, “Breishis”, the Talmud comments: “Do not just read it ‘Breishis — In the beginning’, but ‘Bara Shis — He created a foundation.’” The very first step in the service of G-d is to learn to see beneath the world’s surface, to its “foundation” — G-d, the Creator.

“And all your children shall be disciples of G-d.” G-d blesses children with a unique nature for their journey on the path of G-dly discovery. Thus, there is much that adults can learn from them, in their own service of G-d.

The exile was caused by a lack of love and unity amongst Jews. The Evil Inclination tries to convince a person that quarreling can achieve some good. But Maimonides states that Torah was given, “only to bring peace to the world” – “Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.” Division cannot lead to peace between man.