For a seven-day period you will celebrate before Hashem, your    G-d… for Hashem, your G-d, will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, and you will have nothing but joy.(Deut. 6:15)Are the words “you will have nothing but joy” a commandment? Rashi says no, rather they are […]

There seems to be a very fine line between manipulation and persuasion. Manipulation is generally perceived in a negative light whereas persuasion can sometimes be viewed in a positive, or at least neutral, way. However, both involve convincing someone of something. Ultimately, what is the difference between manipulation and persuasion? Manipulation involves deliberately attempting to […]

We begin the Torah’s final book this week, and it begins by citing the places the Jews traveled in the desert since leaving Egypt. Moses uses the opportunity to give veiled words of soft rebuke to the people. The following verse, relating the incident of the spies, is an example, but it’s not clear exactly […]

If someone who had never been exposed to Jews or Judaism encountered a Jew and asked, what’s the holiest day of the year for Jews?”Yom Kippur.””What do you do on that day?””We fast for 25 hours and spend most of that time in the synagogue praying and asking for forgiveness.””Wow, that’s incredible. How do you […]