A Taste of Text

Women often seek love and connection. Men often seek respect and appreciation. Embedded within the Torah is advice on how to create a successful relationship.

When life is rushing by leaving you with an endless to do list, when you feel swamped with the demands of life, how can you cope?

Things do not always go according to our plans and expectations. In fact, they rarely do.

We hear of the miracles that great people’s prayers can accomplish. But is prayer also for us regular folk?

We often reminisce about the yesteryears of our lives. Impatiently, we may look forward to the tomorrows. But are we as successful with living fully in the present?

A child shouldn’t be expected to be a miniature replica of his parent. Individual character traits need to be honed and channeled.

There are some moments in our lives when we are at peace with our inner, spiritual selves. The majority of our experiences are strenuous, often painful, and challenge us to overcome the negative urges of our psyche.

How to react when confronted with an opportunity that may challenge, tempt or oppose your beliefs or goals . . .

Anger and self-pity rob us of our serenity. Bitterness and victimization blind us from seeing another’s pain.

During the good times, spiritually, emotionally or materially, we need to nurture our priorities and cultivate a sincere bond with G‑d. The time and energy invested will provide us with the tools to survive during the crisis years of famine.

We can educate, inspire and assist another, but ultimately, the only one who can effect any real and lasting change is the person himself.

Can we look beyond the faults or inadequacies of another to envision what our matriarch saw?

When confronted with a situation that seems hopeless, don’t resign yourself to inactivity with the excuse that the little you can do can’t possibly make a difference.

Times of extraordinary illumination from above are preceded by periods of profound darkness.

The catalyst for any awakening is action. Transformation begins as soon as we are ready to take the first step in the right direction.

Inspiration alone is insufficient. An awakening must be followed by action, or doubt can easily neutralize it.

The gateway to tolerance is humility; but humility must be tempered with healthy and guarded self-assurance.

Unquestioning acceptance of G‑d’s commandments does not mean that we are to perform them with mindless obedience.

The Tabernacle was to be built by every man, woman and child. Even a Jew who may appear to be a sinner is still obligated and capable of building a dwelling for G‑d.

When “giving in” can actually help you achieve what you essentially want.

When one partner betrays the other, for reconciliation to occur, each must feel that “we are so connected that you mean more to me than whatever it was that you did.”

Do you define yourself by who you are, or by what you do?

Experience your largeness, but at the same time feel your smallness. Talents are gifts endowed to you by G‑d.

When you love life, you’re less likely to feel weighed down by your inadequacies.

Though we are not expected to react like Aaron, our own lives are rarely easy. To accept life’s challenges, we need to cultivate our faith that G‑d runs the world.

Can you imagine a world bereft of evil talk, rumors, slander and gossip? What would it look like?

On a simple level, loving another means treating them with the respect with which you would want to be treated. On a deeper level, it is the ability to love another, like a father loves a child, regardless of who and what they are.

The holidays are spiritual days that “call to us” to stop the ordinary activities of our lives. They also enable us to “call forth” and tap into the spiritual resources that these days hold.

In a healthy relationship, the love must deepen and grow, or the relationship is at risk of becoming static and stale. The same is true in our relationship with G‑d.

When we realize the importance of our individual roles, we are empowered to tackle and transform our personal wildnerness.

We are still “married” to our ideals and spiritual vision; we simply need to be reunited with our true, inner selves.

Lighting up another means helping to ignite his latent abilities by appreciating his unique role and mission in this world.

Why the mitzvah of separating challah is integral to bringing G‑d into our lives.

Our to-do lists are filled with mundane and important chores, little and big things that all require our immediate attention. It can be difficult to keep our eyes on the big picture. Surprisingly, Korach teaches us an important lesson in how to keep our priorities in order.

While devoting yourself to helping others, safeguard time for your own spiritual and emotional growth. Focus energy inward as well as outward.

The face evil presents to us is powerful and compelling. But in essence it is an illusion.

Only by making itself vulnerable to the mortality and pitfalls of the physical state can the soul of man gain the power to make of itself more than it is.

The six constants that apply to every Jew, at all times and in all circumstances, are readily accessible to one who seeks refuge from his failings.

No one is immune to feeling hurt when being admonished. Moses teaches us how to rebuke carefully and sensitively.

Even though Moses’ fervent prayer seems to not have been granted, he teaches us to never give up on our prayers being answered.

We cannot ignore the “heel” mitzvot. They must be done with the same enthusiasm as the “head” mitzvot, because ultimately they are both the wish of G‑d.

Only if amibition is accompanied by integrity are we assured against deception.

There is always some explanation, some justification, some perspective for another’s behavior. If you cannot see it, you are not fit to be a judge.

Set up guardrails to carefully control and temper your ego.

In the myriad responsibilities of the daily grind, realize what most important to you and give it precedence.

How can we truly unite with another? Only by realizing that every person has a quality that is unique that only he or she can contribute.