Something Spiritual

To watch the weekly youtube videos and more, click here: www.youtube.com/rabbistern

To watch the weekly youtube videos and more, click here: www.youtube.com/rabbistern

To watch the weekly youtube videos and more, click here: www.youtube.com/rabbistern

To watch the weekly youtube videos and more, click here: www.youtube.com/rabbistern

To watch the weekly youtube videos and more, click here: www.youtube.com/rabbistern

To watch the weekly youtube videos and more, click here: www.youtube.com/rabbistern

To watch the weekly youtube videos and more, click here: www.youtube.com/rabbistern

To watch the weekly youtube videos and more, click here: www.youtube.com/rabbistern

To watch the weekly youtube videos and more, click here: www.youtube.com/rabbistern

To watch the weekly youtube videos and more, click here: www.youtube.com/rabbistern

It is natural to be worried and anxious at challenging times like these. Negativity can be felt all around and it over-takes us to the point that we start thinking negatively too. However, our thoughts are our own, and the way we respond to these times is totally up to us. The phrase 'wood choppers' in the beginning of this week's portion can also be interpreted to mean 'cut down the negativity'....

How focused are we when our spouse is speaking to us? I consider myself a Jew, but what does that actually mean? Torah teaches us not to suffice with a superficial lifestyle, but rather to be mindful and fully absorbed in our relationships and what we are doing. We learn this from the opening of this week's portion: "When you will come into the Land of Israel." What do the words "when you will com...

What's more important - the first half of the Ten Commandments or the second set? Many think that the first half is more significant, because it deals with our relationship with G-d and the second set deals with our relationship with man. However, It is precisely for this reason that the second set could take precedence. The Mitzvah of sending away the mother bird before taking away the chicks or...

As a young child grows up he explores the world, finding new insights and opportunities every day. But who is the child's mentor and guide? Often parents feel that children should investigate t life for themselves, and in the process figure out right from wrong. However, we can learn from the tree that this is not the ideal way. A mark made in a small sapling can have a life-time effect, and so it...

The opportunities of world we live in today are so enticing. We get totally absorbed in the fashions and fads of the modern world, to the point that we lose focus of the important things, like Torah and Judaism. However, the Sukkah reminds us that all of that is temporary; it won't remain with us when we move on from this physical world. What will remain with us permanently and eternally, is our m...

How did G-d create the world? 'And He said', states the Torah, meaning, G-d created the world using His speech. Often, we use our words superficially. We think one thing, and we do another. However, being created in the image of G-d, means that our words are as powerful as His. Just as his words created the world, so too our words can create worlds. The way we speak to our spouse, children, and an...

The Sinai Experience took place over 3333 years ago, when we heard the Ten Commandments from the Almighty. The miraculous quality of the Torah and G-dly wisdom is that it is equally relevant today as it was then. The nations of the world know that our wisdom is based on G-dly wisdom and that the Torah is our guiding light... even the Japanese want to study the same texts that we do!

Which is more powerful: to hear the word of G-d or the word of man? Naturally we would say that the word of G-d is more powerful as it comes from the Almighty Himself. However, the Chassidic Masters have taught that the entire purpose of creation was for the word of G-d to permeate the world. G-d wanted humankind to be infused with the inspiration of G-dliness and Judaism. And so, there is somethi...

Freedom of Speech is one of the freedoms of the modern world, but is it always positive? What if one's speech is hurtful and harmful, is it still a positive 'freedom'? As with many of the privileges of the modern world, there needs to be guidelines in place in order for our words, writings or social media posts to be constructive and beneficial to society. In the journeys of the Jewish people, we...

Have you noticed that when pointing a finger to someone else, there are actually three fingers pointing back at yourself? G-d wants us to improve ourselves all the time, and one way of doing He assists us is by highlighting someone else's wrongdoing. It's not necessarily to sort them out, but rather for us to reflect on ourselves to see how we can improve. Balaam did not realise this when hitting...

There are spiritual beings, such as angels. There are physical beings, such as animals. So where do humans fit in? Well, the humankind is a unique species in the fact that it is a combination of physical and spiritual. The body is physical, while the soul is spiritual. It is this dichotomy that we live our whole lives, as we play tug-a-war games between these two extremes on a constant basis. In f...

We all have many questions for G-d. Especially during a challenging time like Covid-19, we cannot understand G-d's thinking. Why would he bring such pain and suffering to the world? What is the goal and the end-result He is hoping for? This week we learn about Korach who had many questions against Moshe, and ultimately G-d, too. His questions were based on logic and he felt that his arguments were...

Baking Challah is part of the Jewish way of life. We all long to eat the the Challah at our Friday night dinners, especially if it is homemade! Besides for the eating of the Challah, the process of preparation is also a special experience. As the dough is ready, we remove part of it and put it aside. In the days of the old we would give it to the Cohen as a representative of G-d. Today we wrap the...

Moshe was asked to use two trumpets when leading the Jewish people through the desert. But where would come from? Who would supply them? Would the community pay for them or would Moshe pay for them? The latter was true; it needed to come directly from Moshe. This small detail gives us an important lesson into leadership. A leader must lead from the front with clarity and with confidence.

We live in a fast moving world, which has an affect of our relationships too. When we greet someone, we are often saying 'hello' and 'goodbye' in the same breath. The instruction given to the Kohanim regarding the Priestly Blessings is so relevant to each one of us. The Torah is teaching us to slow down and to be mindful of the greetings and the blessings we give others. It is important to say the...