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Sparks – by Rabbi David Aaron

September 26, 2019September 26, 2019 by admin Comment Closed

Who is G-d to Judge? How to Celebrate a Day of Judgment I did not grow up in a religious home but we did go to shul (synagogue) every Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. I remember one Rosh Hashanah the rabbi got up and said, “We’re about to open the ark. It is customary for the congregation to stand while the ark is open, but it will be open for quite some time. So if you get tired, you can sit down.” I thought to myself, “I only come here twice a year, so if standing and going through a little torture is going to take away my sins, then why not stand for the whole thing?” When they opened the ark, everyone stood and then everyone sat. I was the only one who remained standing. I figured, how long could it last, five minutes, ten minutes? I stood there in terrible pain for an hour and a half, figuring ‘OK. I guess...

Sparks – by Rabbi David Aaron

September 12, 2019September 12, 2019 by admin Comment Closed

Getting From the Real to the Ideal The Journey of Personal Transformation When you go forth to war against your enemies, and the Lord your G-d has delivered them into your hands, and you have taken them captive, And you see among the captives a beautiful woman, and desire her, and take her for a wife - Then you shall bring her home to your house... ... and she remain in your house and weep for her father and mother for a month, and after that .... she shall be your wife. And if you do not want her, you shall send her out on her own; you shall not sell her at all for money, you shall not treat her as a slave, because you "violated" her. (Deut. 21:10-14) The Torah permits this only as a compromise to the yetzer ha-ra (evil urge). (Talmud Kiddushin 21b) 'And you shall take her unto you as a wife' - the Torah only permits this in...

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

July 25, 2019 by admin Comment Closed

In 1801, Thomas Jefferson had finally had enough. For the better part of twenty five years Americans had been paying ransom and tribute to the Arab nations of the Barbary coast (Yemen, Morocco, Tunisia, and the Algiers, amongst others) to avoid having their ships taken and their sailors enslaved. But by 1801, when Jefferson was inaugurated as President of the United States, America was paying ten percent of its national budget in payments to the Pirates. There were many, John Adams amongst them, who believed paying the Tribute was the best option. Still recovering from the American Revolution, with barely a navy to speak of, the Americans had attempted negotiations with the Pirates to no avail. When asked by Jefferson (when still Ambassador to London) and Adams by what right the Barbary states preyed upon American shipping, enslaving both crews and passengers, Tripoli’s Abd Al-Rahman responded that nations who had not accepted Islam were sinners and that the Koran mandated war...

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

December 20, 2018December 20, 2018 by admin Comment Closed

It was finally the day; after over a year of training I was finally about to get my bars and join the very special family of IDF Officers. My parents had flown in from the US for the occasion along with my younger brother and were on their way down for the ceremony which was a couple of hours away, deep in the desert on the Shizaphon Armored Corps base. We were being inspected by the base sergeant-major an hour before the ceremony when we would be receiving our officer’s bars at long last. The Army Chief of Staff (Moshe Levy) would be attending so everything had to be perfect. He stopped in front of me and, looking down, saw my Tzitzit (religious fringes) hanging down to my knees and snapped an order: “tuck those in immediately! I had better not see those hanging out during the ceremony!” To be honest, I don’t normally wear my tzitzit out; they have been wrapped around...

Sparks – by Rabbi David Aaron

November 29, 2018 by admin Comment Closed

WHY IS LIFE SO DIFFICULT? Making peace with our battle In this week's portion, Jacob asks for peace and relaxation, but G-d had another plan. “Jacob settled (down) in the land of his father's dwellings, in the Land of Caanan.” — Genesis 37:2 The foremost commentator, Rashi, explains: Jacob wanted to settle down in tranquility but then the ordeal of his son Joseph (sale into slavery) fell upon him. The righteous seek to dwell in tranquility but G-d says, 'Is it not enough for the righteous what has been prepared for them (reward) in the World to Come that they need to seek tranquility also in this world!'" Some people turn to G-d and religion, hoping to find refuge from all the turbulence of life, from doubt, from inner conflicts and mental turmoil. They want instant inner peace, spiritual contentment, and tranquility for their troubled souls. According to Kabbalah, that is not the purpose of life on earth. In fact, it is just the opposite. We...

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

June 14, 2018 by admin Comment Closed

Many years ago, a good friend of mine who ran a High School shared with me parts of the process he used to employ in interviewing prospective applicants. The boys were invited to a day of interviews, tests and experiences, and in the Middle of the day they broke for lunch. When they entered the dining room the tables were set with six seats per table. On each table a large platter was waiting, with rice, and five pieces of Schnitzel. The boys who took first, were usually the ones he was less interested in. Without discussing the ethical and practical implications of that ‘test’ (not sure I am personally comfortable with such a methodology) what I think this educator was attempting to ascertain, was whether the boys were takers, or sharers. This week, we read the portion of Korach, which tells the story of Korach’s famous rebellion against Moshe and Aharon, which does not end well for Korach who is...

Sparks – by Rabbi David Aaron

December 15, 2016 by admin Comment Closed

Real Love Means Embracing Conflict The Secret of Jacob The Torah (Bible) teaches us that Jacob went to the house Laban, his uncle, and dwelt there for many years. He married Rachel and Leah, Laban's daughters, and had eleven sons there. After years of struggling with Laban constantly deceiving him he finally left to return home and face Esau who hated him. In the middle of the night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two handmaids and his eleven sons, and sent them across the Jabbok River shallows. After he had taken them and sent them across, he also sent across his possessions. Jacob alone remained on the other side of the river. It was there that the famous "stranger" appeared and wrestled with him until just before daybreak: When the stranger saw that he could not defeat him, he touched the upper joint of Jacob's thigh. Jacob's hip was dislocated as he wrestled with him. "Let me leave!" said...

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

December 15, 2016 by admin Comment Closed

A small mutzav (fortified position) on the Qasmsiyeh Bridge deep in the IDF security zone in Lebanon and far from the border and Hezbollah, until the IDF as part of a gradual withdrawal, pulled back below the Awali River. Overnight, this unit of Hesdernikim (boys who combine their army service with yeshiva study committing to five years of service rather than the normal three years) found themselves on the front lines and things started heating up. Firefights, midnight ambushes, and roadside bombs became the norm, and morning roll calls and pre-mission briefings took on a whole new meaning. On March 19, 1985, Hezbollah terrorists opened up on one of the patrols as they crossed the Qasmsiyeh Bridge and Dani Moshitz and David Cohen ob”m, were both killed. Just a few days earlier, as part of their efforts to stay one step ahead of the enemy who clearly had a ‘home court’ advantage, they tried to change up their patrol routes...

Sparks – by Rabbi David Aaron

November 18, 2016November 18, 2016 by admin Comment Closed

Enjoying Heaven on Earth In this week's Torah portion G-d appeared to Abraham and yet He said nothing. "G-d appeared to [Abraham] in the Plains of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance of the tent in the hottest part of the day. [Abraham] lifted his eyes and he saw three strangers approaching and ran towards them." Until now G-d appeared to Abraham to instruct, promise or bless him. The Talmud (Sotah 14A) comments that G-d was visiting sick Abraham who was recuperating from his circumcision. What does this mean? When you visit a person who is ill it is not in order to say something; your mere presence communicates your pure desire to identify with this person in his/her time of need. You go for the sole purpose of being there. So it was when G-d visited Abraham. For the first time G-d appears to Abraham only to be with him, identify with him and share this special moment. Sometimes the highest moment...

Emunah B’Iyun – An Advanced On-Line Course with Rabbi David Aaron

November 8, 2016October 23, 2017 by admin Comment Closed

Infuse new vitality and spiritual inspiration into your Avodas Hashem. Explore the profound meaning of Yichud Hashem. Master secrets to living a soulful life of devaykut. Get sophisticated sensitive answers to the most complex questions of life. (apply here) Rabbi Aaron probes the profundity of the essential sugyos in Emunah and offers systematic, transformational, yet down-to-earth clarity drawn from classical works of Sifrei Machsahava, Emunah, Chasidut and Kabbalah. This extraordinary course is available to Torah educators, Outreach professionals and advance students (men and woman with a minimal of 3 years study in Yeshiva Gavoah/Seminary) by application only. [complete application here] Course Fee: $799 Topics include: מגמת לימוד אמונה בעיון אמונה וקדושת הכפירה סוד שמות הקדושים יחוד השם אין עוד מלבדו סוד בריאת העולם ושליחות האדם הוא היודע הידוע והדעה שלמות והשתלמות צמצום יחוד קודשא בריך הוא ושכינתה These teachings enabled me to help my congregants and students develop a deeper and healthier relationship with Hashem and Torah life. What I have learned and shared from Rabbi Aaron has proven invaluable for both the spiritual seekers and those...

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