Torah

Insights from the Torah, which includes Rabbinic literature and other sources

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The Fourth Revolution of Torah

The times we live in are unique. While troubling and challenging on one hand, they also provide never-before opportunities to connect with the Creator. Learn about the Fourth Revolution of Torah and how to take part.

Mysticism and Spirituality

Bitachon: The Cornerstone of Inner Peace and Resilience

Cultivating Bitachon (Trust) and embedding it more deeply into our psyche is a lot easier said than done. Often progress comes through hard times and significant life trials, similar to those we see in Abrahram's life.

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Mysticism and Spirituality

Babel and the Ethics of Technology

At first glance, the Biblical account of the Tower of Babel might appear to be closer to a children's story with its deceivingly simple moral, warning of the dangers of misapplied human ingenuity. However, the Rabbinic tradition whispers a much deeper story - one that is still relevant in our time.

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Mysticism and Spirituality

TzimTzum - Creating Space, Creating Potential

Though a foreign concept, "tzimtzum" offers a unique perspective that helps to understand a myriad of topics, such as; the creation of the world, the existence of time within eternity, good versus evil, and how the Divine interacts with the mundane.

Mysticism and Spirituality

What Does It Mean to be Made in the Image and Likeness of the Creator?

Rendered commonly as "image", Tzelem can also mean "form", or "shadow". Often, Tzelem represents the spiritual components of humankind, representing the fact that humans are composed of "soil" (adamah), "blood" (dom), and supernal qualities.

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Mysticism and Spirituality

Messiah: Part 2, The New Normal

In Part 2, we look at the key dynamics humanity now faces after Adam's sin, the role of the Messiah to repair these, and how we have a shared responsibility to participate.

Torah

A Sukkah of Peace

After having conducted a 40-day retrospective of our year, ultimately repenting for our mistakes on Yom Kippur - we are provided a moment to look forward to the year ahead. This is why Sukkot represents a kind of fresh start, the beginning of a new paradigm in our spiritual growth.

Mysticism and Spirituality

40 Days of Spiritual Metamorphosis

As summer fades into autumn, a sacred period arrives in the Jewish calendar that carries profound spiritual significance. We're all invited to embark on a transformative journey of self-discovery, repentance, and reconnection with the Divine during this time.

New Testament Insights

The Divorce of Israel

Did G_D divorce the Jewish people? Has He abandoned any covenantal ties with the people of the promise, or has a misunderstanding occurred?

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Mysticism and Spirituality

What Does the Bible Say About the Afterlife?

The concept of the afterlife, particularly heaven, and hell, has been the subject of fascination and contemplation across various religious and cultural traditions. But, what does the Bible say about these topics?

Torah

42 Journeys

The people of Israel endured 42 stops along the path from Egypt to Israel. What if these were strategic destinations, ordained by the Creator for an unseen purpose? What can we learn from such a perspective that applies to our lives today?

Mysticism and Spirituality

Developing the Soul - Mussar Series. Part 3 ▶

In this study session, we look at an often-overlooked presupposition that we must consider when we begin spiritual development. In this, we look at the issue of impurity that stems from the sin of Adam.

Mysticism and Spirituality

Developing the Soul - Mussar Series. Part 2 ▶

In this session, we look at the concept of Derech Eretz, also known as "Decency" or customs and manners. Derech Eretz is defined as, then ancient Jewish principle that refers to the decorum, dignified behavior, and gentlemanly conduct that should characterize a Jew at all times.

Mysticism and Spirituality

Developing the Soul - Mussar Series. Part 1 ▶

In this series, we will explore the discipline of Mussar and understand how it is a vital component of spiritual development. In the first session, we introduce the concept, the history of the late movement and how it is anchored to the Biblical texts.

Mysticism and Spirituality

Rethinking Money

The wisdom of the Bible calls us to view our lives through a different logic than we may be accustomed to. Instead of viewing actions and experiences as isolated or disconnected singularities, we are challenged to hold a more holistic view. This is especially true when it comes to money.

Torah

Messiah

Much of the New Testament relies on a reader's pre-knowledge of the Jewish Oral Torah, often referred to as the "Mesorah". From this, we derive ubiquitous concepts like, Messiah, the World to Come, Sin, heaven and Hell.

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Torah

Esther, and the Art of Concealment

The book of Esther is truly fascinating, though its brilliance can easily elude us. Perhaps this is why the thematic thread running throughout the book can be summed up in the word "concealment".

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Mysticism and Spirituality

King Without a Crown

The Creator is always sending us hints if we are open to hearing them. Listening to music last week, "King Without a Crown", by Matisyahu, cycled through my playlist. I realized the answers are hidden in these lyrics.

Torah

How We Get Faith Wrong

When we try to define "faith" we find it is somewhat prone to misapprehension. You know we're off to a bad start when a popular English dictionary gives you eight different meanings¹. How can such a critical concept be so obscured?

Torah

One Day, One-Thousand Years

We should understand that time is not random, and there is a fractal pattern before us. We should recognize that as each day has a unique energy, so too does each millennium. As each day carries with it a distinct vantage point in how we live, so too does our current age.

Mysticism and Spirituality

Battling Doubt - At War with Amalek

As a descendant of Esau, Amalek had a natural predisposition against the nation of Israel. In the Midrash¹, we are told that [Amalek] was one of the counselors of Pharoah who advocated for the persecution and destruction of the Jewish people.

Torah

Parts of a Whole - Parasha Tetzaveh

In this excellent podcast episode, Abigail True explains the juxtaposition of the holidays on the Jewish calendar, and how each one corresponds to the one across the calendar from it.

Torah Featured

The Evil Inclination - Yetzer Hara

No matter how old you are, or with how much zeal you pursue spiritual development, every one of us has an inner battle that we are engaged in on a daily basis. Believe it or not, the human experience has been more or less designed this way.

New Testament Insights

A New Commandment

Did Jesus teach a new and separate commandment apart from the commandments of the Torah?

Wellness

The Importance of Gratitude

Studies have shown that the human brain processes up to 11 million bits of information per second through our various senses. Since the body is hard-wired for survival, University of Berkeley scientists have discovered...