Small Tastings of Torah, Judaism and Spirituality from Rav Binny Freedman

Small Tastings of Torah, Judaism and Spirituality from Rav Binny Freedman

(print version) Yom HaKippurim: The day of atonement; that is how we usually translate it; but is that what it really means? I heard a remarkable story this summer, in the midst of all the fighting in Aza, though in all honesty I have not troubled to corroborate the story. Apparently a group of Ultra-Orthodox residents from Bnei Brak came to a field near the Gaza strip to harvest wheat for Pesach. Every summer they search for wheat ripe enough to harvest in August when the sun dries the wheat most intensely as part of the process in producing ...
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Small Tastings of Torah, Judaism and Spirituality from Rav Binny Freedman

Small Tastings of Torah, Judaism and Spirituality from Rav Binny Freedman

(print version) One of the great challenges in life is knowing when to lead and when to follow. This is especially true in the military, as witness the different philosophies of the role of officers in the field, in different military doctrines. The Israeli army, almost since its inception, has trained its commanders to lead by example. Many attribute the birth of this concept to the battle for Latrun in 1948. Latrun sits on top of one of the most strategically important crossroads in Israel, on a hilltop overlooking the main highway from the coastal plains to Jerusalem, and it commands the entrance to the valley through which one must travel to Jerusalem. Every army that ever wanted to take this holy city had to pass beneath this hill, which is why it is not only the site of many ancient fortifications, but was used by the British as a prime location for one of their Taggart fortresses. In 1948, when Israel was fighting its...
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Sparks – by Rabbi David Aaron

Sparks – by Rabbi David Aaron

(print version) How Happy is Happy Hour? And you shall be happy in all that the Lord your G-d has given you (Deut. 26:11) The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature. --- Anne Frank Many people have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose. --- Hellen Keller Money can't buy you happiness, but it does bring you a more pleasant form of misery. ---- Spike Milligan ****************** King Solomon said in his famous book Ecclesiastes, ...
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Small Tastings of Torah, Judaism and Spirituality from Rav Binny Freedman

Small Tastings of Torah, Judaism and Spirituality from Rav Binny Freedman

(print version) Teaching in the Old City of Jerusalem, one develops a certain awareness, almost a radar, for the different types of people that can wander in off the street. Many of the people who frequent the old alleyways and ancient stones of Jerusalem are incredible people with incredible stories. But every once in a while you can get interesting characters who walk in the door....
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