Yael: Sacrificing Morality for God

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 9, 2023 | Judges, Modesty

By Rabbi Elie Mischel Would you consider a woman who seduces an army general, lulls him to sleep, and then murders him to be a religious hero? Incredibly, the Bible does! “…Yael came out to greet Sisera… he entered her tent…she opened a skin of milk and gave him some...

The Key to a Successful Marriage

by Eliyahu Berkowitz | f 6, 2022 | Holiness, Ki Teitzei, Marriage and Relationships, Modesty

It was love at first sight; lightning that hit my heart and bowled me over. But like two star-crossed lovers, fate seemed determined to keep us apart. Normally, I would take my new love interests to meet my parents. But that was not possible. So I took her to meet my...

The Blessing of Privacy

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 11, 2022 | Balak, Community, Holiness, Modesty, Purity

In today’s world of social media, nothing is private. People post and share everything about themselves, from what they ate for breakfast to their most personal and intimate moments. Sometimes it seems like privacy and personal space is a thing of the past, but is...

What did Balaam see that changed his mind?

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 11, 2022 | Balak, Chosen Nation, Community, God, Leadership, Modesty

Have you ever gone into a camping goods store and been overwhelmed by the beauty of the tents? Of course not. Clearly, Balaam was not commenting on the handiwork of the Hebrew tentmakers when he complimented the beauty of the desert dwellings (Numbers 24:5).  When...

The Ritual Bath: A Spiritual Rebirth

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 7, 2022 | Marriage and Relationships, Metzorah, Modesty, Purity, Repentance, Temple

In modern times, we rarely think of the state of our spiritual purity. We can go into a synagogue, travel where we want, handle fruits and vegetables and sit on any chair without thinking about the spiritual ramifications. But in ancient Israel, when the Temple stood,...

The Status of the Menstruant Woman

by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 5, 2022 | Chosen Nation, Holiness, Marriage and Relationships, Metzorah, Modesty, Purity

When a woman has her menstrual period she becomes ritually impure. The Torah laws concerning this (referred to as the laws of niddah) are the basis of family purity, one of the most important aspects of the Jews’ status as a holy nation. This Torah portion of...