Shemot
CategoryThought Control
It’s all in the mind. “Where do our thoughts come from?” is a question I was recently asked. The short answer is that there are two “reservoirs” (as I like to call them) of thought. One reservoir contains holy thoughts: how to imitate God by being patient, forgiving and doing kindness; how to be more … Continue Reading
The Real McCoy
“The people said to Aharon, ‘Make us a god who will lead us because this man Moses, who took us up from Egypt—we don’t know what happened to him’” (Exodus 32:1). I’m often asked about the importance of having a rebbe. I’m also asked what is a rebbe. What does it mean to have one? … Continue Reading
TRANSPARENT
As longtime readers of Pathways know, for Parashat Tetzaveh, in which Moshe Rabbeinu’s name does not appear even once, we often write about the concept of tzaddik. We’re doing it again this year! I’m often asked, “What does it mean to be m’kushar (attached) to the tzaddik?” For those yet unfamiliar with this idea, allow … Continue Reading
OPENHANDEDNESS
This week’s Torah reading has Moshe Rabbeinu (Moses our Teacher) calling upon the Israelites to donate towards the building of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) in the desert (Exodus 25:1-8). They responded by giving liberally. Each person gave as much as he wanted of what he had. Almost overnight, the Israelites donated more than enough of the … Continue Reading
Let The Healing Begin
I’m choosing to write about this for Parashat Shekalim because part of the story takes on a Shabbat Parashat Shekalim long ago, and because I had the privilege to be in Uman this week, to say the Tikkun HaKlali (General Rectification/Remedy) at Rebbe Nachman’s gravesite. For those of us who don’t know, the Tikkun HaKlali … Continue Reading



















