Jerusalem is indeed a unique city, not just geographically, historically, or religiously, but experientially. People visit Jerusalem from all over the world and many report strange emotional states, a sense of heightened meaning, and even psychological disturbances. This phenomenon, known…
We are used to living with a certain level of uncertainty. We incorporate it into formulas, define probabilities for different scenarios, and prepare possible responses. However, when a great threat stands before us and we suddenly lose control and everything…
Can we neutralize our enemies’ evil thoughts even before they lead them to act against us? What would we be willing to give for such a weapon, one that would spare us pain and loss? Let us start from the…
The wisdom of Kabbalah explains to us that the whole of reality is a single system. In all of nature, one general force operates, and we exist under it. If we are wise, that force is much wiser. Moreover, if…
Every breaking is a preparation for correction. There is no destruction in the world that does not give rise to the condition for a renewed and higher construction. All suffering, exiles, and losses are a call to the soul to…
What can help people of Israel today who seek protection, an anchor, security, and safety? There is a critical point that usually is given zero importance, time, or activity: the point of connection. I am not speaking about a regular…
In Israel, we know how to unite when there is a military operation. We put aside our quarrels and go out together to defend the country. If we learn how to unite also during routine times, we will discover that…
Jewish spiritual leaders throughout the ages warned us time and again that unless we united, we would suffer. However, time and again, we would not listen. Today, the price for not listening will, in all likelihood, be too heavy to…
The Jewish nation began in the cradle of modern civilization: Mesopotamia, known as “the land between two rivers.” Mesopotamia was a vast and fertile land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in what is now Iraq. It was the birthplace…
The story of our exile in Egypt begins with intense hatred among brothers, continues with their reconciliation and prosperity, collapses again into division and crisis, and ends with unity and a miraculous escape. And the prize for our restored unity:…
More than 45 years ago, I left the Soviet Union for Israel. Back in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), I once witnessed a brutal attack on a Jewish man. When I stepped in to help, the police explained that they punished…
Shavuot marks the moment of receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai. But what exactly is the Torah? Also, what was truly bestowed upon us? The Torah is not a historical record. It is a guide for shaping our lives that…