Though Hashem controls the world and decrees human suffering (as we saw in previous pieces), humanity is its cause. All Good The Torah’s very
Most Yerushalmim visit Har Herzl once a year—on Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day for Israeli soldiers). Sadly, we have all been there many more times this
Hundreds of people attended a bittersweet brit milah at Yeshivat Hakotel last Thursday, of a baby born to Yehonatan and Aviyah Luber. Three especially powerful
Our last piece addressed the importance of our intentions. The mishna at the beginning of Avot’s second perek relates to another aspect of our psyche—our
Important Intent My past two pieces presented Avot’s definition of the world’s goal as glorifying Hashem. This goal should impact not only what we do,
As we saw in the last piece, Pirkei Avot explains that the world was created for the glory of God. Though the whole universe proclaims
For Him Pirkei Avot ends with a powerful and critical message. Building off Sefer Yeshaya, the mishna writes, “Everything that Hashem created in His world,
אמר רבי חנינא הכל בידי שמים חוץ מ צנים פחים שנאמר צנים פחים בדרך עיקש שומר נפשו ירחק מהם (בבא מציעא דף קז:) אמר רבי
Though Hashem controls the world, we are responsible for doing our part. We do not determine the ultimate result but are responsible for making good
Chag Tu B’Shevat At first glance, Tu B’Shevat, the Rosh Hashanah for fruit trees (Mishnah, R”H 1:1-2), seems to be of mere technical significance—the calendar
An Unhappy Place Even though happiness is “the ultimate good at which all humans aim” (Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book 1), the world has become a
God Intends The Good Yosef Hatzaddik was in a terrible situation. Sold into slavery by his own brothers, he had every reason to feel wronged.
