Balancing Immediacy with Decency Parashat Yitro 5785 / R Nico Socolovsky There is something deeply frustrating—infuriating, even—about the stage that social media gives to antisemites. It’s not just that Kanye West says something grotesquely hateful. It’s that his words are amplified, consumed, and recycled in real time, spreading across the internet before anyone can even formulate a response. The
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R Nico Socolovsky / Parashat Beshalach Who doesn’t love a good Would You Rather? But even the best ones often have a hidden sting. Sometimes, it’s not about choosing what you want—it’s about choosing what you can live with. Would you rather always feel like there’s a pebble in your shoe or have an itch you can never quite scratch?Would
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Raise your hand if you would take a bribe? Now, let me rephrase my question… Do you have any biases? It’s a straightforward question, but the answer is trickier than it seems. The Pasuk says… There is a verse in parashat Shoftim that clearly states “You shall not take a bribe.” (Deut 16:19) Don’t let anything deviate your judgment. And here
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“Have you Ever dreamed of ruling a kingdom? Be A King! Feel Like A King! The invitations to join this fantasy royal family are all over the place from Disney movies to mattresses advertising: Sleep Like A Queen! Our Sidra this week, Parashat Shoftim has a variation of this invitation to royalty! Deut 17:14 ידכִּֽי־תָבֹ֣א אֶל־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֨יךָ֙ נֹתֵ֣ן
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“I see why you wear that shirt, you’re trying to hide your belly, but you can’t do that, it’s right there so you better do some diet”. I remember that I felt beyond embarrassed, totally naked. “It’s late in the evening; she’s wondering what clothes to wear She puts on her make-up and brushes her long blonde hair And
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Taking the Time: Parashat Yitro 5779/2019 This week while trying to get an idea for a Tu’bshvat inspired Shabbat dinner I bumped into an article that compared between the traditional Jewish dish Cholent made over 16 hours and Cholent made in the instant pot. The conclusion was clear, the instant one doesn’t work. http://foodaism.com/instant-pot-cholent-v-le-creuset-cholent/ Once we used to think about
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Parashat V’zot Habracha 5779-2018 V’zot Habracha…FOOTNOTE: Footnote This is the blessing that Moses the man of God pronounced for the Israelites before his death.3 Surely it is you who love the people; all the holy ones are in your hand. At your feet they all bow down,and from you they receive your instruction,4 the Torah Moshe commanded us as an
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This week we read Parashat Bamidbar. Bamidbar is the first Torah portion and the name of the 4th book of the Torah. Bamidbar literally means in the wilderness, however its English name is The Book of Numbers. These two names are almost opposite sides of the same coin. Bamidbar, the wilderness, is the symbol of transition and confusion and on
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In the context of last week’s voices coming from Israel: Minister of religious affairs David Azoulay said: Reform aren’t Jews! and MK Moshe Gafni added: Reforms are Jews but they are stabbing Torah on its back! This week’s Torah portion, Parashat Pinckhas, has a very special meaning. The lack of “filters” when we read Torah or interpret god’s will
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During the last ten years I met many many friends and colleagues struggling with this, emotionally flooded. Beautiful, brilliant and talented people becoming closed, passing hard times. And most of them not asking for help and therefore not receiving what is required in order to continue, to get over it. One of the things which worry me the most is the
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Po Ve Sham 