When Disagreement Is a Blessing Most of us see disagreement as something to avoid. We assume that if two people are arguing, one of them must be wrong. Yet Pirkei Avot offers a different perspective: “Every dispute that is for the sake of Heaven will endure. But one that is not for the sake of Heaven...
THE STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS OF THE HEART There is something dangerous about wandering without direction. Anyone who has ever gone window shopping knows the feeling. You say you are just looking around – you have no particular plan, no clear intention, no de ned purpose. And somehow, before long, you are drawn towards things you never came...
Making Every Stop Count People are planning their summer holidays. Students are looking forward to a gap year of travel. Others are preparing to settle into a new university. Life itself is a journey, filled with different stages, destinations, and experiences. But wherever we travel, physically or emotionally, how grounded are we in each stop...
I feel so sentenced by your words. I feel so judged and sent away. Before I go, I’ve got to know— is that what you mean to say? Words are windows, or they’re walls; they sentence us, or set us free. When I speak and when I hear, let the love-light shine through me. These...
Medics have coined the term “itch-scratch cycle”—a self-perpetuating loop in which skin irritation (the itch) leads to scratching. Scratching provides temporary relief by triggering pain signals that override the itch, but it also releases chemicals that increase inflammation. This, in turn, damages the skin barrier, leading to even greater irritation and stronger itching. Rabbi Elimelech...
Some of you would have heard the blessing of HaGomel, perhaps after surgery, a long flight, or a frightening experience. It is a blessing of thanks, recited publicly, acknowledging that we have safely emerged from danger. Its roots lie in this week’s parashah, and its message resonates powerfully at our Seder table. In the Torah...
When a Soul Makes a Mistake In his bestselling book Atomic Habits, James Clear writes: “Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.” What does that mean? It means that our actions do not only affect the world around us — they shape the person we are...
Who owns your time? At first the answer seems obvious: I do. Yet in a world of constant notifications, endless responsibilities, and 24/7 connectivity, many of us feel that our time is rarely our own. Between emails, messages, and the constant pull of our phones, it can sometimes feel as though everyone owns a piece...
Recognising the Gifts We Carry “If you need something done, give it to a busy person.” This idea is captured in a striking verse in this week’s Torah portion: “And into the heart of every wise-hearted person I have placed wisdom.” (Exodus 31:6) The Talmud explains why the “wise-hearted” are given wisdom: “The Holy One,...
