Category Archives: Inspiration

Mother’s Day Special: Lessons in Gratitude and Appreciation

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Unfortunately and ironically, we often appreciate the least the people to whom we owe the most. If a total stranger gave you $235,000 – the amount it costs parents to raise a child to the age of 18 – you would be eternally indebted to him/her. But our parents contribution to us extends far beyond the financial. Who woke up for us as babies; cleaned our messes; worried for us; attended PTA, soccer games and graduations? Our parents did so much for us – we ought to be eternally indebted to them as well.

Why, Pray Tell? The Centrality of Prayer in Jewish Practice and Harnessing it’s Unlimited Power

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Moses prayed 515 times to God that He rescind His decree of banning Moses from entering Israel. After this relentless prayer assault Moses ceased praying. Why would Moses stop after 515 and not continue and what does that teach us about the effectiveness of prayer?

*Shalom Cypress, April 15, 2015

Jewish Life Cycles: From Pre-Conception to Post-Mortem and Beyond

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What is foretold about man even before conception, and what is significant about that?

The Talmud declares that a child studies the entire Torah in utero and as it enters the world an angel strikes it’s mouth and the child forgets it all. What can this possibly mean?

What is the nature of the oath administered to a fetus upon entry to the world?

Why do we have a mitzvah to circumcise young boys?

What happens after we die?

These are but some of the very interesting elements of the Jewish timeline of Pre-Life – Life – Post-Life. In this class we dig in and investigate the various points of interest in a Jewish life and outline the meaning behind the practices associated with these milestones.

TORCH Bar and Bat Mitzvah Program – 2015

How to get your Prayers Answered: An Exposition on the Philosophical and Practical aspects of Prayer and Liturgy

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Jews are obligated to pray to the Almighty 3 times daily and prayer is named by the Mishna as one of the three pillars that uphold the world. Yet the very principle of prayer is somewhat troubling. For example, when someone is sick the Jewish response is to beseech to God to provide a healing for the ill; Yet the source of the illness is none other than the Almighty Himself. If so, why are mortal and narrow minded humans trying to intercede, intervene and intermediate in matters that are more suited for the Almighty to decide? After all, He knows what is best for His subjects and Judaism teaches that all that all that the Almighty does is for the best? These questions among others are discussed in this class, and additionally a practical approach to getting our prayers answered is outlined.