Power Up!

What distinguishes humans from animals?

In the time of the Talmud most medicines were derived from herbs, which were prepared by grinding or pulverizing. This involves the melacha of grinding, therefore any form of medication or therapy was Rabbinically forbidden to safeguard the melacha. Even exercise would be included in this as it improves one's fitness. 1) As a rule any form of progressive therapy is forbidden, so any form of correc...

What's the most important Jewish value to instill in ourselves and our kids?

How to make a salad on Shabbos? Or otherwise put what could possibly potentially be wrong with making a nice salad on Shabbos? After the grain was isolated from the dirt it was ground into flour. The melacha of grinding is breaking down and reducing a sizable entity into small parts whereby it becomes suitable for a new use. So, crushing, chopping, pulverizing any object into small particles wheth...

The Jews are in desperate danger and mordechai is trying to convince Esther to put her life on the line for her people. But he tells her, don't worry the Jews will be saved anyway! Why should she bother? Well learn about conflicting worldviews and why we should push ourselves in our lives.

Cynicism is a normal defense system when we experience setbacks. We can feel stuck and hopeless. Let's look at the rather surprising ending to the book of Shemot and learn the key to resilience.

Some scenarios: 1) Removing bones in chicken or fish?  Can't do unless take some of good with it or whilst eating it to pull the bones out 2) Removing skin of chicken? Ok as considered same "type". 3) Trimming fat off meat? Must trim the meat from the fat. 4) Peeling an egg? This is fine as long as by hand and just before the meal. 5) Cracking a nut? Also fine. 6) Discovered small insects on lettu...

1) Could there possibly be something wrong with removing the naturally unwanted nuts from the yum chocolate that's in a bowl? 2) What about getting those annoying bones out of my salmon? 3) What then about eating the delicious chicken off my plate whilst leaving the veg? After threshing, a mixed collection of waste matter remained there with grain kernels. They were sorted and removed by hand. So,...

1) Crushing snow? 2) Warming up chocolate cookies (on shabbos hot plate) where the chocolate will melt? 3) Squeezing or shampooing hair? 4) Brushing your teeth? Gemara tells us that one may not crush snow and hail on Shabbos for purpose of producing water. From this we learn it's a problem to produce liquids by breaking down solids or even semi solids. This would extend to crushing or warming ice,...

Hear the story of Dovi Halpern, from Hashem's Warrior, who grew up religious, moved away from it and fought to find his own place in Judaism. Hear how he was inspired by the words of King David to find hope in darkness and start a metal band to spread messages of spirituality.

1) How to clean up a spill on Shabbos? 2) Grapes vs Strawberries  3) Making a lemon tea on Shabbos? 4) Washing up on Shabbos? After the stalks of wheat were sheaved they were brought to fields and threshed, which is the removal of the grain kernels from their chaff. The basic concept of threshing is extracting fruit or vegetable from its natural inedible shell, peel or similar attachment, eg break...

Can I  1) Pick up apples from the garden? 2) Rake leaves to form a compost pile? 3) Gather peanuts that have fallen in the kitchen? 4) Gather cutlery that has fallen? 5) Pick up a bunch of cotton shirts that have fallen? After reaping the cut stalks of produce were gathered and sheaved to be brought later to the threshing floor. Called the melacha of gathering. Essentially it's the collecting or c...

Bonus episode, due to popular requests! Do Jews believe in Astrology? And if something is written in the stars, can we change our destiny?

Seems little to do with our lives!, some of questions to investigate: 1) Picking a plum 2) Walking on grass 3) Using a hammock  4) Riding a horse 5) Smelling a fruit on a tree Reaping is the uprooting or severing of any living plant or vegetation from its source of growth. This can be by uprooting an entire plant or even by breaking off a leaf or a branch. Classic examples? Picking an apple e...

The Surprising Secret to Increasing Love in Our Relationships

Sowing is the initiation or promotion of plant growth, whether accomplished by sowing, planting, watering or any other means. 1) Placing a seed on mud? 2) Planting a seed on a well used path? 3) Throwing remains of your apple core in the garden? 4) Washing hands over grass when having a picnic? 5) So how can you take off a sukkah roof when it's water logged and will get into the grass? 6) Covering...

Blimie Heller, of Unconditional Parenting, talks to us candidly about her journey to gentle parenting and shares some truths and tools to parenting gently. Can you guess the lie? 1. Initially this way of parenting is harder, but it becomes more meaningful and makes parenting more enjoyable 2. Gentle parenting is permissive 3. We don't prioritize the child's needs over the parents needs and we don'...

Questions to look at: 1) Why would plowing be a problem? 2) What does plowing have to do with us anyway?? 3) Dragging a chair on mud, is that ok? 4) Digging in a sandbox, is that ok? 5) Can I remove rocks and twigs from a lawn? 6) Can I weeding? 7) Can I fertilise soil? 8) Can I place a bean in a jar of water? 9) Can I walk on soft soil and make a foot print? 10) Can I push a baby carriage on soil...

Can you guess which one is the lie? - You deserve beautiful things! - Your words create your reality! - You're either confident or not! We chat with Rivky Itzkowitz from Impact Fashion about body confidence for our kids... and  ourselves!

What's the secret ingredient that keeps us going? The Gemara tells of the evil government that stopped us bringing wood to the temple in order that sacrifices wouldn't be able to be brought. And they stopped us bringing the first fruits to Jerusalem, which was part of a beautiful ceremony. Why did they stop these 2? Why not outlaw shabbos, mikva or circumcision? These 2 mitzvot had great celebrati...

Accepted custom is the woman accepts shabbos at the time of lighting - when she says the bracha. Others may continue to do work until just before sundown.  When a man lights, his Shabbos has not yet commenced, it's either a few mins before sunset or when shul he's in does last part of lecha dodi. 3 reasons for candle lighting: honor, enjoyment, peace in the home. How? Usually one makes a bles...

The Wednesday night crew take a look at what impact our actions have, fear of G-d-- what is that anyway!?! And how all this contributes to living with Intention. Send feedback to gilaross@gmail.com or find me on Instagram @itsgilaross

I chat with Sari Kopitnikoff of That Jewish Moment about Prayer! Can you guess the lie?  ⭐️ There’s room for creativity and imagination within formal prayer  ⭐️ Knowing yourself can help you know God  ⭐️ Change what you pray every day to keep it fresh

Usually it's OK to start a melacha - a forbiden work before Shabbos even if the process will be activated during Shabbos, e.g. lighting a candle before Shabbos even though it will burn on Shabbos or setting a trap before Shabbos that will catch an animal on Shabbos. The exception to this is where the work is noisy, eg leaving on a clothes dryer, TV etc. One also has to be mindful of benefiting fro...

 Avoiding Distress, "Weekday Activities" and "Creative Changes" Not allowed to cause anyone anguish or emotional distress on Shabbos, e.g. can't share bad news. We don't comfort mourners under most circumstances. We don't fast on Shabbos. Don't even say tehillim for someone unless person is dangerously ill. Shouldn't play chess with someone if person will become depressed if he loses. In orde...