The Inner Circle Download the PDF Version Here  Picture this: You are at a close friend’s wedding waiting for the bride and groom to appear in the ballroom. Suddenly the band leader introduces the couple for the very first time and the opening dance begins. After a song or two of circling the dance floor, […]

  Psalm 97  Download the PDF Version Here  In recent times, the world experienced many “natural disasters”. We have witnessed earthquakes and tsunamis as well as hurricanes and cyclones. In our current state of exile, we are unable to explain exactly why they occur and why they took place in the countries they did. However […]

  Singing a New Song Download the PDF Version Here  Psalm 96, Shiru LaShem Shir Chadash is all about singing a new song because in the times of Moshiach the entire world will change their views and “Sing a New Song”. Let’s contemplate for a moment a few of the significant changes that will occur […]

Lechu Nerannena Download the PDF Version Here Kabbalat Shabbat begins with Psalm 95 and continues through Psalm 99 followed by Mizmor LeDovid, Psalm 29, and then Lecha Dodi. The Yaavetz explains that the recital of the six Psalms corresponds to the six days of the week and Shabbat corresponds to Lecha Dodi. The Malbim (1809-1879) […]

The fourteenth blessing in our daily blessings regimen is הנותן ליעף כח – G-d grants strength to the tired.

The next two blessings we recite are אוזר ישראל בגבורה-G-d girds Israel with strength and עוטר ישראל בתפארה- G-d crowns Israel with splendor. Simply understood these two blessings correspond to different stages of our getting dressed in the morning.

Birchot Hashachar Cont. In his classic work, Chovos Halevovos, Rabbi Bahya ibn Paquda of Saragossa, Spain, describes the human phenomenon whereby people do not appreciate how good their lives really are. He explains the matter with the following metaphor: “If a baby is rescued from a wild jungle and nurtured, raised, protected and educated in […]

The next two blessings, #7 & 8 of Birkat Hashachar acknowledge G-d, Hashem as the Matir Assurim – ‘who releases the constrained’ and Zokayf Kefufim – ‘who straightens up the bent’. After thanking Hashem for opening our eyes and providing clothing, we now focus on our actual awakening from sleep and our actively arising from bed and stepping into our day.

In his classic work, Chovos Halevovos, Rabbi  Bahya ibn Paquda of Saragossa, Spain, describes the human phenomenon whereby people do not appreciate how good their lives really are. He explains the matter with the following metaphor: “If a baby is rescued from a wild jungle and nurtured, raised, protected and educated in a traditional home, the child will eventually expect the good […]

Misheberach l’Chayalai Tzahal Our need to identify with Tzahal and to pray for its success should be part of our daily prayers: for children in school, people in shul, and on erev Shabbat when we light the candles. We can all unite behind Tzahal. Hopefully, hundreds of thousands of voices raised in prayer will have […]