Lag B’Omer: The Fire Inside

Lag B’Omer, the thirty third day of counting up from Passover to Shavuot (the day that Hashem gave us the Torah) which took place this past Tuesday, is a day of fire. On the outside, we see bonfires, singing, warmth, and celebration. But like everything in Judaism,...

Time is the Essence

As we approach the final days of Pesach, we have an opportunity to pause and reflect on the enduring lessons of the holiday. At the Seder, we retold the story of the Exodus, recreating the experience for ourselves and our children. We ate Matzoh and Maror, recalling...

Because of This

At the beginning of Passover, we tell our children: בַּעֲב֣וּר זֶ֗ה עָשָׂ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ לִ֔י בְּצֵאתִ֖י מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃ Because of this, Hashem did for me and took me out of Egypt. Exodus 13:8 The simple meaning is as an explanation for the Seder.  Hashem took us out...

The Big Shabbos

This Shabbos is Shabbos HaGadol.  The Big Shabbos.  The Shabbos before Pesach. Many families have already “turned over” their homes to be completely clean for the holiday.  Some people have been working tirelessly all week vacuuming, scrubbing, and...

Who’s Really in Charge?

Freedom is one of the most cherished ideas in human life. We all want the ability to make our own choices, to live on our own terms, and not feel controlled by others or by circumstances. But what does “freedom” really mean? In the Torah’s perspective, one of the most...