When we view current events through eyes of emuna, we see the same phenomenal patterns evident in both the Ukraine and in Israel. We learn why nations and individuals win and lose wars. We also learn what true power is and that Moshiach is fast on the… [Read more...]

Sure, Jewish history in the Ukraine is bittersweet. On the bitter side, there are the murderers Khmelnitsky and Gonta. On the sweet side, there are the Baal Shem Tov, Rebbe Nachman and our grandparents. That sweetness permeates the pages of "Chassidic… [Read more...]

To paraphrase the tire manufacturers, "where the rubber meets the road" is the nit and grit of life. This world is no picnic. The test of our "spiritual tires" is how well we hold up under the challenging conditions of real life. Today's lesson shows how to avoid negative emotions and to maintain a… [Read more...]

The Chassidic Movement began in the Ukraine with the holy Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760). Many of the Chassidic Masters came from the Ukraine, such as the Maggid of Mezeritch, Rebbe Nachman of Breslev and many more. Ukrainian Jews have a very rich folklore that teaches us life's true values. This story… [Read more...]

The Hebrew term for washing hands in the prescribed ritual manner is netillas yada'im. It seems like an insignificant mitzva, but the exact opposite is true. There is an amazing connection between netillas yada'im and Purim. What's more, this mitzva is very conducive for strengthening emuna and… [Read more...]

Avraham Bell didn't let his second-class status as a black boy in the segregated U.S. South of the sixties to extinguish his dreams. He excelled as an athlete and as a musician. He was an honor student at Ohio State and went on to do an MBA at Arizona. An exquisite artist, he now pours his passion… [Read more...]

The Almighty is not only the Creator, but the ongoing Director of all creation as well. As He in His Divine wisdom defies logic, so do current events defy logic. Take for example, the juxtaposition of a comic and a Cossack, both in Kiev, both leaders and heroes of the Ukrainian people, but so very… [Read more...]

Before prayer, we do a warmup. We remind ourselves of the Almighty's mercy before we pray. Take no blessing for granted. Ponder how each day of life, each breath and each heartbeat is a priceless gift. There are 3 particular points that we must review in our… [Read more...]

We are now in the birth pangs of Redemption, or Geula. Today's events are simply pieces of the Geula puzzle. Meanwhile, everything is unfolding just as the Torah, Midrash, Zohar and Gemara told us they would. This is the Megilla of today, the story of Hashem setting the stage for… [Read more...]

Some people consider themselves folks of faith, but without spiritual awareness, they don't understand the loud messages from Above. Why wait for all-out wars and global crises to wake us… [Read more...]

Meet Naama Berger, Israel's #1 rock drummer in the mid 1990's. She was an Olympic weightlifter too. As the Israeli women's team 48 kg competitor, she broke the record for Israeli Women's powerlifting. Today, as a rabbi's wife and mother of five, she's still rockin' full throttle. Meet this amazing… [Read more...]

Basing our diet on whole and natural foods is vital, since eating properly is in fact 80% of conditioning, where the remaining 20% depend on exercise. What's more, fad diets, extremes and stringencies have nothing to do with healthy eating. By rethinking your eating, you'll be rebooting your… [Read more...]