Abraham hosted G-d Himself in his tent. When he saw three passing Arabs, he asked G-d to wait while he welcomes and cares for them. Only later did he reveal that his guests were in fact angels in disguise… Did Abraham keep G-d waiting for a fake mitzvah?
An original analysis of the Biblical story
The builders of the Tower of Babel invented bricks, thereby revolutionizing construction. Pharoah later used the same techniques for the building of the pyramids. Are the two great construction projects related?
History, Incarnations and education
A rare, exciting and inspiring event, united the entire Jewish people in one place for an extraordinary experience. What’s the real story of the mitzvah of “Hakhel”, why is it so special, and is it still relevant today?
🌏 The lesson is available in Hebrew, English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Women’s rights became a prominent issue in the 20th century. The revolution that the Rebbe spearheaded in this regard may come as a surprise to many.
Not long ago, we each purchased a Lulav and Etrog set for Sukkos for a tidy sum. A pair of Tefillin is even more costly, and to send a child to a Jewish school you need to open a savings account. Why must things be this way?
Your advisors always tell you to delegate authority and focus on a target audience. Can these principles be applied to the world of education as well?
Joseph brings his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to be blessed by Jacob before his demise. Jacob surprises them by putting his right hand on Ephraim, the younger son, and his left hand on Manasseh, the older one. Joseph jumps in to correct the mistake. But what exactly bothered him? What was so wrong about Jacob’s choice?
A lesson about education, sibling rivalry, and honoring parents.
Joseph lived in a very unforgiving world. People weren’t as tolerant of other nations and other religions like today. Even the forefathers, who preached G-d’s word to the world, preferred to be shepherds, where they wouldn’t be forced to engage with the basest elements of idol-worshiping society. Yet Joseph was fully immersed in their world, and in fact, he was personally responsible for the...
Torah delineates a variety of punishments and penalizations, but imprisonment is not among them. Torah describes Joseph’s incarceration as a feature of the Egyptian ‘judicial system’ – not as a recommendation. In Torah law, prison is not mentioned at all.
Yosef was sent to prison where he met Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker. He asked for their assistance in securing his release, and in response, Hashem punished him with two more years of imprisonment. Yet those two ministers were instrumental -- by Hashem’s design -- in Yosef’s ultimate release. How does this make sense?
Yaakov asked his son Yosef to inter him in the Cave of Machpelah. He took the opportunity to explain why he buried his mother on the road near Beit Lechem instead of bringing her to the Cave of Machpelah - so that the children of Israel on their way into exile would pray at her gravesite and ask her to intercede on their behalf. But why should Yosef come to terms with his mother’s loneliness? How...
The Zohar notes an interesting distinction in Torah’s description of the angels who met Yaakov on his way out of and into the Land of Israel. Who searched for whom, and why?
Our Sages command us to honor the Shabbat and promise that the costs won’t be included in our destined portion for the year. But there is a caveat: If you have no assets, don’t go into debt. Why can’t we borrow with the power of our faith in G-d?
What is the Jewish approach to understanding G-d’s involvement in the world? Is He involved in every detail, or is He only interested in the ‘important’ things? The Rambam, the Baal Shem Tov, and the first Chabad Rebbe chime in.
What is the responsibility of a pious individual among sinners?
A deeper look at three of our most famous ancestors, Noach, Avraham and Moshe.
If G-d wants our Mitzvot, why does He place obstacles in our path? Is there meaning to our efforts, or are they just a conduit to success?
And how does a single deed make you a partner with G-d?
The holidays of Tishrei precede the fall months when fields need rainfall. Nonetheless, our Sages delayed the prayer for rain until the last traveling pilgrims would arrive home safely. But why does one Jew’s comfort override the critical need for rainfall?
A powerful lesson in the importance of Ahavat Yisrael, and how deeply it can impact a person.
The Sin of the Tree of Knowledge is the spiritual source of all sins throughout history, and it could have all been avoided through direct talk with Eve. When Hashem gave the Torah to the Jewish people, He changed His approach; He sent Moses to speak to the women first. What does this teach us about men?