Real Torah for the Real World » Parsha

what to do vs what to be

gavriel — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:06:17 +0000

in our study of Parshat Vayechi, we see how Ya’akov’s life is reframed beyond the classic good/bad mentality. And Rebbe Nachman tells us a bit about how to get there.

What are you scared of?

gavriel — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 17:59:36 +0000

Parshat Vayigash – the cliffhanger concludes with the dramatic unmasking of Yosef. But it could only happen when the brothers, and especially Yehuda, could do their own work.

A tale of two houses

gavriel — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 00:19:22 +0000

Going over Torah from Shabbat Metzorah. Thinking about two houses – one in Egypt where the ezov is on the door to keep evil out, and the house in metzorah where the ezov is used to get the evil out of the house itself.

And more.

The incense – all of me

gavriel — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 06:05:50 +0000

The incense is a gift from the angel of death. It was given to Moshe when he embraced his full humanness. When we embrace all the wonderfully flawed aspects of being a human, we can conquer death. parshat korach ketoret all of me

Haviv – a shaliach mitzvah is MORE haviv than one who does it himself

gavriel — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 05:35:48 +0000

Doing the work to get invested in something that I am not naturally committed to – this is the highest level. The ability to make the mitzvah precious to me makes me precious to G-d. Only this movement TOWARD Hashem creates attachment.

The 7 roots of lashon harah

gavriel — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 22:29:42 +0000

The penitent metzorah receives 7 sprinkles of blood – why seven? Someone who has been in contact with a dead body need be sprinkled only one time, but on two separate days. What is unique about the metzorah?

Parshat Bshalach – teaching us about da’at and relationship

gavriel — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:45:41 +0000

Parshat b’shalach provides a series of opportunities to learn about relationship – if we are ready to. They are all meant to show us that manna doesn’t just fall from heaven, water doesn’t just come from a rock, and seas don’t just split.

Parshat Yitro – bridging this world and the next

gavriel — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:29:42 +0000

Sinai was a peak moment, a peak behind the veil. But it was not meant to last forever. It was meant to be one of two poles of reality. How do we stay connected to it, and stay connected to the two poles at once?

Parshat Miketz Chanukkah – seeing and Seeing

gavriel — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 12:37:04 +0000

Chanukkah and the Yosef story are always intertwined. This year we explore how Hanukkah and the Tzaddik can help us see what is and also what could be. Yosef helps the brothers see who they are and then see what is possible, and Hanukkah helps us look at our own lives in order to truly see what is there – and then see what is possible.

sometimes up is down – Yosef, Hanukkah and more

gavriel — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:59:03 +0000

What makes something an ‘up’ moment or a ‘down’ moment? Follow the theme through Parshat Vaeyshev for an interesting and enlightening conclusion.